Meet Harmon Gombash. Harmon is 11 years old and Flemish Giants, along with 4H, have helped him grow in so many ways. It's amazing how responsibility and integrity go hand in hand with proper guidance, that's just a part of how Harmon has grown. He loves his gentle giants. Harmon got his start with Flemish from Bob Bomia. He now breeds and shows, focusing on Sandies and Fawns, to produce what the standard calls for. The other people in his 4H club have nicknamed him the "sponge"...he just keeps on absorbing all the knowledge he can about his Giants!

The 4H group was recently featured in the Toledo Blade. A few of the kids have had some hardships this past year. A mother died of cancer complications and another family's barn burned with livestock inside... but through it all the kids held together and helped each other, showing each other's rabbits if someone couldn't, even loaning or giving rabbits to the ones who needed them. It's great group.

This picture shows his winnings from the Ohio State Fair this year. Harmon placed in everything he entered, it was a GREAT experience! From Skill-a-thon to showmanship to breed, he felt on top of the world. "Bill", pictured, won Best of Breed out of 24 entries. "Bill" is his herd buck.

New Youth Breeder

A lot of Flemish people may know me, probably more people in the Midwest than anywhere else though. My name is Julia Crawford, I raise Sandies in Minnesota. I have had rabbits forever, but I have had Flemish for almost 5 years. This article is not about me, however, it is about my younger brother Micah Crawford. You may have seen him in my shadow at shows, he does own a White Flemish, from Danielle Souster. Merlin is his first Flemish and his pride and joy regardless of what the judges say ;-) Micah also just purchased a Light Gray doe, this spring, from Danielle. Esmeralda, we hope, will become Merlin’s girlfriend.
Micah has had rabbits forever now too. His first breeds were Netherland Dwarfs, a breed I managed to put up with having in my barn. He also had Jersey Woolies for awhile. Micah, however, wished his fellow youth competition in these breeds could be more like the Flemish people, and that the atmosphere at the show table with the dwarf breeds would be more like the atmosphere at the Flemish show table. He liked my Flemish well enough, he just wanted a breed he could easily handle. And my 20+ pound Sandies are not what he considers easy to handle. Jennifer Souster did a great job, convincing Micah to trade his Netherland Dwarf buck for Merlin, a then young, junior Flemish. My brother reluctantly agreed and set out to hold Merlin everyday so that he could handle him when he got older. Merlin is what I call a good buck, not great, but not bad. Every show Merlin has ever shown at, he gets the same comment from the judges. “Unusually good white fur for a white.” This is due to the fact that Micah pets Merlin EVERYDAY. And Merlin gets treats and attention EVERY TIME someone goes out into the barn. He is very dedicated to raising good Flemish giants and is learning a lot about his now favorite breed.
Micah and I also agreed that we would each raise our own variety. I would keep with Sandies, and Micah would raise Whites and Light Grays.
So if you see Micah at a show, please congratulate him and encourage him to continue working with Flemish Giants. I really do not want to see Dwarfs in my barn again ;-)

Big Sis, Julia Crawford

Future Youth Breeders!

Meet Maysie, grand daughter of Don and Karen Clouse
Getting a head start at 2 months old!
(The beautiful Flemish is owned by Uncle Brad.)