Heritage High FFA rabbit team wins Best in Show at Fair

FFA members, from left: Brian Velasco, Brandon Simmons, Sophie Rodriguez, Wyatt Wilcox, Rylee Chapman with their award-winning chocolate Mini Lop Senior Buck. Photo courtesy of Chris Maddalena

Members of the Future Farmers of America at Heritage High School recently won a Best of Breed Mini Lop award in a class of 42 rabbits, then went on to win Best in Show among 150 entries at the Riverside County Fair and Date Festival.

The Rabbit Team, headed by captain Rylee Chapman, presented the chocolate Mini Lop Senior Buck, which was named Supreme Champion of the show. Chapman also had a third-place meat pen, and the rabbits were sold at the livestock auction for $300, "a terrific price," according to FFA advisor Chris Maddalena.

This is the third year the Heritage FFA team has competed in the rabbit show at the Date Festival. Last year they also had Supreme Champion and won numerous awards the past two years.

Heritage High has a very active FFA organization with many students involved. FFA is a national youth organization that promotes agricultural education.