Barker bids fair farewell

By ANNE KAZMIERCZAK
Register Reporter
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Amidst the scents and sounds, crowds and bustle of the baby barn, John Barker handed out the final rabbit awards of his career at the Allen County Fair Wednesday evening.
Barker, who has been helping facilitate the rabbit show at the fair for about 26 years — many of those as rabbit superintendent — quietly said goodbye to the task, with faith that a well-trained younger generation will take it on.
“I’m hoping the Allens will do it,” he said of the local family that raises, along with other livestock, a few different breeds of rabbits for 4-H’ers. Their Flemish giants are consistent winners.
The job includes assisting with rabbit judging and the awards ceremony.
Assistant rabbit barn superintendent Dorothy Sparks concurred that she has talked to Amanda Allen about the task. “We’ll probably do it together,” she noted.
Tasks include setting up cages, assisting youth with their entries and reminding them about proper care for their animals.
“Basically, we try to help the kids,” Sparks said.
Barker also built cages and helped refurbish the rabbit and poultry area of the baby barn after the 2007 flood, Sparks said.

BARKER wasn’t always interested in rabbits, or devoted to the fair.
“I was in 4-H all of three months in my lifetime,” he said.
It was his children who ultimately got him involved.
His daughter Brandie enrolled in 4-H when she was 7; she’s now 33. “She was big into cooking,” he said.
Then, “My son Christopher got me into rabbits.”
John has been assisting with the fair ever since.
“When we first started, we had very few cages,” he said. “Then at one time, we had 110 rabbits.”
Barker said interest in small livestock ebbs and flows among 4-H’ers.
Right now, interest in poultry is waning, he said, in part because “chickens are harder to raise.”
Plus, Barker noted, “Chickens have to be tested for diseases” before they are allowed to be shown.
Barker said his time as rabbit superintendent “has been a wonderful experience.”
Along the way, he has tattooed countless bunny ears, informed youth of proper rabbit care and enjoyed probably every minute.
“It’s just a bunch of good people,” he said.
Barker isn’t giving up every aspect of fair involvement — he sponsors myriad 4-H trophies “in honor of my kids,” he said, and will continue to do so. And, he’ll still tattoo ears, “if they want,” but Barker’s thoughts can now drift elsewhere — possibly to a vacation, he said.

08/06/10