About Us

* Briallu Mini Rex *

"The Team"

Barbara and Piper Smith

2008 Pennsylvania Farm Show Banquet

Barb and Piper

Hello Everyone!!

My name is Piper Smith and I am 19 years old and a sophomore at Marywood University. Together, with my mom Barbara Smith, we have been breeding, showing, and raising Mini Rex rabbits for almost 10 years now. From 1998 through 2007 I showed in Youth. My mom and I began showing a small amount of Mini Rex in Open beginning in 2006. Since January of 2008 my mom and I have been showing together as a team and we are thrilled with how well we are doing against tough competition! My mom and I plan on showing our Mini Rex together and continuing to use our strenghths to continue producing top quality Mini Rex :)

I have been actively showing Mini Rex rabbits since 1998. Briallu Mini Rex have made a name for themselves on both the Youth and Open Show Tables. I raise Black, Blue, Broken, Castor, Otter, Tortoise, and White Mini Rex. I strive to produce animals that are closest to the Standard of Perfection. I only have a small herd of Mini Rex, but I believe that quality is far more important than quantity. With homebred rabbits, I have won 19 Best in Shows, 4 Reserve in Show, 23 Best in Specialty Show, 16 Best 4 Class, 112 Best of Breed, and 109 BOS.

Memberships

My mom and I are both active members of the American Rabbit Breeders Association, the National Mini Rex Rabbit Club, Pennsylvania State Rabbit Breeders Association, the Empire State Rabbit & Cavy Club, and the Majestic Mini Rex Specialty Club. I served as the District 9 Youth Director for the American Rabbit Breeders Association from 2006-2007. I was also the District 9 Youth Director for the National Mini Rex Rabbit Club for 2003-2005 and 2006-2008. I served as the Youth Director for the Majestic Mini Rex Specialty Club from 2003-2008. I also served as President of the Rockin' Rabbits 4-H Club. I was the 2007 Pennsylvania State Rabbit Breeders Association Queen and Commodity Representative. In addition I fulfilled duties as the Assistant Show Superintendant for the 2008 PaSRBA Convention and was also the head of the Signage Committee! Barb has been a member of the National Mini Rex Rabbit Club's Judges Nomination Committee. In addition, she was a 4-H leader for our Monroe County 4-H Rabbit Club's, R&R Rabbit Club and Rockin' Rabbits 4-H Club. We believe strongly in promoting active memberships in these organizations, and hope that by fulfilling our duties in these roles we make a small impact on how important it is to be active in your club.

How are we currently active in our clubs?

Currently I am serving on the National Mini Rex Rabbit Club's Youth Committee and also the Pennsylvania State Rabbit Breeders Association's Youth Committee. I am Pennsylvania's Representative for the National Mini Rex Rabbit Club. I will be serving as the Assistant Show Superintendant for the 2009 PaSRBA Convention. I also serve as the Sweepstakes Chairperson for Open Sweepstakes in the Majestic Mini Rex Specialty Club. Barbara is a member of the National Mini Rex Scholarship Committee. Barbara is also a Director for the Majestic Mini Rex Specialty Club as well as the MMRSC's Director for the Pennsylvania State Rabbit Breeders's Association. Lastly, Barb writes at almost every show including Convention and Nationals!! We credit her with always being able to receive correct legs and placements!!

My Breeding Goals

My goal as a breeder of Mini Rex rabbits is to strive to produce animals that have proven bloodlines, excellent body type, superior fur, and impeccable health. Lines found on my animal's pedigrees include: Iris Patch, Cresthill, Kings, and Higher Ground Farm. I believe strongly in breeding true to color. My Black, Blue, Broken, and White line is kept to itself and is my most prominent line, going back to our original rabbits. We occasionally have Chocolates and Lilacs that pop out of our "self" line. My Castors make up a completely seperate line as does my Tortoise line. In fall of 2007 we introduced some Otters. Currently we are using some of our self rabbits to aid with the Otters, but over time we hope to have a seperate Otter line. As I continue to raise Mini Rex rabbits I keep these goals in mind, as well as the constant striving to produce animals that are competitive on the national level!

Thank you! If you have any questions feel free to email me:

brialluminirex@earthlink.net

Piper Smith

Member of ARBA, NMRRC, PaSRBA, ESR&CBA, and MMRSC

My last youth show ever!!! Balitmore & Howard 2007

Best of Breed AND Best of Opposite Sex!!!

Piper

2007 PaSRBA Queen and Commodity Representative

**Important Accomplishments**

In addition to breeding many quality Mini Rex, achieving great success with regard to sweepstakes rankings, and being able to be a strategic part of many clubs, I have also had great success within other venues of the rabbit industry. Below, listed by year, are my most important accomplishments =)

PaSRBA Youth Exhibitor of the Year

Winner of the National Judging Contest

Runner-Up ARBA Queen

District 9 Winner of the Medium Management Project

National Runner-Up for the Medium Management Project

National Runner-Up for the Senior Achievement Contest

Successfully passed my ARBA Rabbit Registrar's Test

Overall Youth Captain for all PaSRBA Teams attending the ARBA Convention

Captain for the PA State Senior Judging Team

Winner of the PaSRBA Senior Achievement Contest

Winner of the PaSRBA Medium Management Contest

Winner of the PaSRBA Breed Identification Contest

PaSRBA Queen and Commodity Representative

Guest Speaker at the PA Farm Show

Winner of the PaSRBA Senior Achievement Contest

Winner of the PaSRBA Medium Management Contest

Winner of the PaSRBA Overall Educational Contest

Winner of the Dauphin County Skillathon

National Winners for the Senior Judging Team

Winner of the PaSRBA Senior Achievement Contest

Winner of the PaSRBA Medium Management Contest

PaSRBA Youth Exhibitor of the Year

Piper with GC Briallu Take a Gamble

Taken at the 2004 South Jersey R&CBA Show right after he took BOB!!

Past National Mini Rex Rabbit Club and Pennsylvania State Rabbit Breeers Association Sweepstakes Placings:

2000, 2001, and 2002

NMRRC- Top 25 Overall Fur in BOTH Open and Youth

PaSRBA- Top 10 Mini Rex Sweepstakes Points

NMRRC- 5th Place District 9 Sweepstakes Points

5th Place District 9 Quality Points

PaSRBA- 2nd Place Mini Rex Sweepstakes

NMRRC- 16th Place Overall Sweepstakes Points

13th Place Overall Quality Points

1st Place District 9 Sweepstakes Points

1st Place District 9 Quality Points

8th Place Blue Variety Points

8th Place Chocolate Variety Points

6th Place Lilac Variety Points

6th Place Overall Fur Points

7th Place Colored Fur Points

4th Place White Fur Points

PaSRBA- 1st Place All Breeds Sweepstakes

1st Place Mini Rex Sweepstakes

1st Place Mini Rex Exhibitor Points

NMRRC- 11th Place Overall Sweepstakes Points

8th Place Overall Quality Points

4th Place Overall Fur Points

1st Place District 9 Sweepstakes Points

1st Place District 9 Quality Points

8th Place Blue Variety Points

8th Place Lilac Variety Points

10th Place White Variety Points

3rd Place White Fur Points

25th Place Open Overall Fur Points

PaSRBA- *2005 Youth Exhibitor of the Year*

1st Place Overall Sweepstakes Points

1st Place Mini Rex Sweepstakes Points

1st Place Overall Exhibitor Points

1st Place Mini Rex Exhibitor Points

NMRRC- 8th Place Overall Sweepstakes Points

7th Place Overall Quality Points

4th Place Overall Fur Points

1st Place District 9 Sweepstakes Points

1st Place District 9 Quality Points

8th Place Black Variety Points

3rd Place Blue Variety Points

9th Place Broken Variety Points

2nd Place Lilac Variety Points

PaSRBA- 2nd Place Overall Sweepstakes Points

1st Place Mini Rex Sweepstakes Points

1st Place Mini Rex Exhibitor Points

MMRSC- 2nd Place Overall Sweepstakes Points

1st Place Black Variety Points

1st Place Blue Variety Points

1st Place Broken Variety Points

1st Place Castor Variety Points

2nd Place Chocolate Variety Points

1st Place Lilac Variety Points

2nd Place White Variety Points

NMRRC- 9th Place Overall Sweepstakes Points

9th Place Overall Quality Points

1st Place District 9 Sweepstakes Points

1st Place District 9 Quality Points

3rd Place Blue Variety Points

10th Place Broken Variety Points

8th Place Castor Variety Points

2nd Place Lilac Variety Points

4th Place White Fur Points

Cathy Patrick Memorial Show- July 2007

Gallaghers & Smiths... "Not a dry eye in the house..."

Bunny Busters R&CBA- Fall 2005

Piper and Nikki

**UPDATED AUGUST 27, 2008**