Four members of Solano County’s 4-H clubs are in Fort Worth, Texas, this week, participating in the 91st annual American Rabbit Breeders Association Convention, said Valerie Williams, Solano County 4-H Youth Development Program representative.

Of the four attending the ARBA convention, Lilya Gardner and Audrey and Nikki Talkin are members of Roving Clovers 4-H Club, Dixon. Trinity Roach is a member of Westwind 4-H Club, Fairfield.

The convention is ARBA’s largest event, and this year, 22,545 rabbits and cavies are entered.

Trinity and Audrey were slated to compete in the youth contests on state and district teams, and Trinity also expected to enter the youth Royalty Contest for the title of National Rabbit Princess, Williams said.

“ARBA youth activities and contests provide a variety of enrichment activities that encourage youth participants to develop knowledge and skill regarding rabbit and cavy husbandry — responsibility, teamwork, and leadership,” Williams said.

“These skills enable youth members to thrive and succeed throughout their lives, within and outside of the hobby.”

She said 4-H is a non-formal educational youth development program offered by the University of California Cooperative Extension.

Its purpose is to help youth discover and develop their potential by encouraging them through developing their own projects to set goals and make their own plans and decisions as they complete those projects.

“By being part of a group, 4-H’ers learn to understand and cooperate with others. These two basic life skills help youth achieve a happy, useful life,” Williams said.

“This helps boys and girls mature and build self-confidence.”

The 4-H Club program is open to those 5 to 19 who apply by Dec. 31. Those interested in the program cay contact Williams by email at vawilliams@ucanr.edu.