Hi, my name is Linda Norris and I live in the rolling hills of central North Carolina. We just moved to this home in October 2004, so we are still getting the rabbitry set up the way we would like.

 

I originally got into raising rabbits about 7 years ago when I lived in Florida.  Kelvin had raised New Zealands and Californians for meat rabbits. He had one big beautiful Mini Lop buck, that he sometimes bred to the meat rabbits to produce pet bunnies. I fell in love with this buck, Papa Lop, and my fascination with the lop eared rabbits began.

 

The ones who really helped me the most with getting started were Jeanne Jones and her daughter Lisa Bush. Lisa was a youth breeder with a great talent for breeding winners. I purchased several Mini Lops from them and was off to a great start. I also purchased some Hollands from Gene Styles.

 

The rabbitry grew fast, and I found it too difficult, being new at showing to handle two breeds at the shows, so I gave up the Hollands, keeping only one small blue buck, Renegade, that I have to this day. My biggest influence in Mini Lops was my wonderful friend, Jody Bean in Colorado. She taught me to love colors, and that is why you'll find almost every color in my barn. I have also benefited from the help and advice of Rusty Westhoff in getting the type I needed in my herd.

 

I purchased some Hollands from area breeders and found the Hollands in this area of the country to have great temperament and personalities, which is one of my two main focuses. My other focus is on massive heads on my rabbits.

 

So many of the breeders in this area were helpful in getting me started again with Hollands. I would especially like to thank Laurie Stroupe who has taught me so much about the breed, and for her help in getting my lines tied together.

 

I have bloodlines from Saynora, Mountain Bunny Farms, Ormond's and, of course, The Nature Trail, all with common ancestors. These lines are really starting to click.

 

I would also like to thank Kristi Rogers for getting me started with oranges and chins. My newest color is black otter.

 

I am also adding my third and final show breed, the Thrianta. These are wonderful little red rabbits with great personalities that are easy to breed. The does never have problems raising their litters or fostering others. This breed should be approved for its third showing at the ARBA convention in October and be on the show tables in early 2006.

 

Kelvin continues to show his Californians and Red & White New Zealands under the name Carousel Rabbits. He is also hoping to raise and show some Dwarf Hotots. 

 

In addition to the rabbits, Kelvin also raises chinchillas. We have four pygmy goats, barn cats that are great at mousing, and two wonderful Australian Shepherd puppies, Rebel and Dixie. Rebel is the rabbit dog, helping find any escaped babies, and making sure nothing bothers HIS rabbits. Dixie is the herding dog that loves to guard the cats, and make sure no one comes on the property.

 

My rabbitry, farm, and website are dedicated to my Dad who passed away last year. He taught me that if you keep working at it, you can achieve your dreams, and a lot of what we have, we owe to him. We hope to have a small memorial garden dedicated to him ready by spring.

 

Linda Norris