Our 45th interview takes us to North Haven, Connecticut, an area close to many colleges and universities, where we are warmly greeted by our old friends, Harold & Ina-Mae Schmidt.  In central Connecticut, if you mention rabbits, the Schmidt's name comes up right away - they have been breeding for 39 years and served as Secretary and Superintendent for dozens of Open Shows and Fairs.  Harold explains, "yes, we have lived in North Haven for 55 years and been married for 43 years.  Ina-Mae retired after teaching grades 5 and 6 for 44 years and I have been senior accountant at Guida's Dairy forever, still work 1-2 days a week."

   The Schmidts have other interests including model trains in several gauges, music - classical and jazz, and they hire the entertainers for two large Fairs.  They travel far and wide - 447,000 miles on their last van and 344,000 so far on their present van!  Their son, Patrick, and his wife, Charlotte, share their rabbit hobby and enjoy horses as well.  Their MTB interview appeared in our Summer 2006 Issue.

   As we pass the garage, we come to three separate buildings with stacking rabbit cages.  Harold tells us, "besides Rex, we raise Himalayans, Tans, Netherland Dwarfs, Lilac, Thriana, and Harlequins because we superintend rabbit departments at several Fairs, and we want people to be able to see several different breeds.  We started with Rex and presently work with Amber and Red varieties.  We sell only to breeders, never to pet stores.  We have learned that rabbits are like humans in some ways - disposition may vary with each rabbit and sex seems to have no bearing upon the personality of a rabbit.  Some more active breeds can be wiry and muscular, making them more difficult to handle.  One time, Molly, a Harlequin doe, was situated next to Homer, a Mini Lop buck.  She or he never left their cages, but one spring day she delivered six squirming offspring.  But she didn't know what to do as she was only 4 and 1/2 months old, so they died - that's the closest we ever got to raising harlequin lops!  And we have observed two types of exhibitors:  those for whom winning sweepstakes points is most essential, and others who love their breed and wish to share their experience with others - we hope to represent the latter.  We received the ARBA Distinguished Award in 1993 and the same type of award in 2010 form the New England Show Circuit."

   Harold continues, "at this point our goals are simple because of our age - we will continue with rabbits until we can't walk or crawl out to our rabbitry.  We are members of the Northeast Rex Club, but we joined Mason-Dixon because it is very progressive and operates in an enthusiastic and business-like manner.  Though distant from our home, many of our friends are south of us, so we travel.  Fleetwood Park picnic is a really fun show for us - the people are so friendly and helpful.  We don't attend many National shows, but we have hosted several at the North Haven Fairgrounds.  This spring we welcome the National Himalayan Club.  If Northeast and Mason-Dixon Clubs get together a plan, we could host a Rex National here.  The last one in this area was Topsfield, Massachusetts in 1984."

   We always enjoy visiting with the Schmidts and this time we intend to talk with Donna about planning to host a National Rex Show.