🏆 “Cute Does Win” – The Story of Corkie

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      For nearly a decade leading up to the American Rabbit Breeders Association National Convention in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, I raised and exhibited Holland Lop rabbits in New York. Over those years, I built a highly competitive herd and set my sights on competing at the national level.

But just weeks before the convention, everything changed.

My top rabbit—the one I had full confidence in—wasn’t going to be ready. I seriously considered withdrawing altogether. At that level, you don’t just show up… you show up to compete.

One night, while caring for the rabbits, my wife Chris casually suggested, “Why don’t you take Corkie?”

I laughed. Corkie was far too young—undeveloped, immature, and nowhere near ready to compete with the best in the country.

“But he’s so cute,” she said. “You should take him.”

Frustrated and disappointed, I replied, “Cute isn’t going to win at convention.”

But she didn’t let it go.

After a week of hearing her insist, and with no better option, I finally gave in.
“Fine,” I said. “We’ll take him. And you’ll see—he’ll be one of the first eliminated.”

When we arrived in Harrisburg, the scale of the competition was overwhelming—over 11,000 rabbits in total. In the Holland Lop breed alone, there were 1,200 entries, and nearly 400 rabbits competing in Corkie’s class.

The judging would take nearly eight hours.

As it began, I quietly reminded Chris that Corkie likely wouldn’t last the first hour.

But after the first cuts… he was still there.

Then half the field was gone… and Corkie remained.

Two hours in, the top 100 were announced—Corkie was still standing.

Then the top 50.
Then 25.
Then 15.

At this point, I couldn’t believe what I was watching.

Now, Corkie stood among the top 10 rabbits in the entire country, under intense scrutiny from multiple judges, in front of hundreds of spectators.

I told myself—this is it. No matter what happens next, this is an incredible accomplishment.

Then the rabbits were lined up for final placement.

Corkie was placed in the 10th position.

I smiled, proud beyond words, and began walking toward the table to retrieve him.

And then… everything changed.

The head judge stepped forward, picked Corkie up, and moved him—from 10th… to 1st.

Over the next 30 minutes, the judges worked their way down, eliminating rabbits one by one. Before we knew it, only two rabbits remained.

Corkie was one of them.

The judges conferred one final time.

Then it was announced—
Corkie was the Top Rabbit in the Country.

I stood there, overwhelmed, with tears in my eyes.

As I turned to Chris to embrace her, she leaned in and quietly said:

“Cute does win.”

That moment was 13 years ago, and it’s a story we still tell today.

Corkie went on to win many awards over the years—but nothing has ever matched the magic of that day in 2013. Not just because of the win, but because it reminded us of something bigger:

Sometimes, the ones you least expect… surprise you the most.

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