The LRCA has a group of directors which represent various areas of the country. They express the areas concerns at executive meetings and share any pertinent news with the rest of the LRCA. Please feel free to contact your Zone Director, or any LRCA Officer.
Greetings fellow Lop breeders,
My name is Todd Pinkerton-Riegel and I currently serve as President of the Lop Rabbit Club of America.
As a young child, I was the kid who always brought home the stray animals. It was simple, they needed a loving home and I had love to give. By age six, I had poultry and started on the 4H scene. It was at my first show that I seen a French Lop and that was all it took. Over the next 12 years, I would raise French and English lops at the local level. Like many youth, graduating high school meant change was coming and I took a few years off. I’ve been back raising French lops for the past 10 years and can’t imagine life without them!
My Husband, Matt, and I have been married for 13 years this past October. Although Matt doesn’t appear at the show level, he is always offering support at home and puts just as much time in as I do. Without his support, I wouldn’t be able to enjoy all my different hobbies. In addition to Lops, I collect stoneware and love to antique.
In closing, I’m always available. If you have any interest in joining the LRCA or have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Hello fellow lop family!! My name is Dana Bramble, your newly appointed LRCA Vice President. Thank you Todd for choosing me to serve by your side! I am very excited to serve the LRCA to the best of my abilities.
A little about me…. I have raised French Lops since 1991. In 1994, I became a youth member of the LRCA and have kept my membership continuously to this day. Throughout my years of raising French lops, I have had the opportunities to attend many Lop National shows and ARBA conventions. In 2013, my husband Bill and I won BOB at Lop Nationals as well as the ARBA convention that year.. In 2015, we won BOS at Lop Nationals. In 2018 we won BOS at the ARBA convention and then went onto win BOB at Lop Nationals in Columbus Ohio in 2019. At the 2021 ARBA convention, we won BOV Solid.
On a personal note, I have been married to husband Bill for over 20 years and we have 3 boys; Billy, Jacob and Joshua. We live in the southern part of New Jersey. In June 2020, I became ARBA Judge 1034 and absolutely love judging rabbits. My husband is also ARBA Judge #937. We really have enjoyed judging together! Besides raising French Lops, we also have a small herd of black and broken Polish and Florida Whites that our children show. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to raise several breeds on a small scale, to include English Lops, Britannia Petites, Holland Lops, Mini Lops, Havanas, Netherland Dwarfs and a pet English Spot.
I grew up in the Gloucester County 4-H program, where I showed rabbits, sheep and hogs. As I aged out of 4-H, I became the sheep club leader for 12 years as well as I am currently the rabbit leader of the Paw Prints 4-H Club. Aside from my 4-H involvement, I am currently the President of the New Jersey State RCBA, member of the South Jersey RCBA and the show coordinator for the Mid Atlantic Rabbit and Cavy Shows ( MARCS). I was honored to have been selected to serve as the LRCA Standards committee chair from 2021-2022.
Professionally, I graduated from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia in 2002 with my BS in Health Sciences and my Clinical Masters in Occupational Therapy. I spent the first 10 years of my career as an Occupational Therapist working in pediatrics and now work with the geriatric population. I love my job!
I love the LRCA and look forward to serving its membership in the Vice President role. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions, concerns or suggestions. I look forward to hearing from you! My contact email is loprabbitclubvp@gmail.com
Fellow Lop Breeders,
My name is Jennifer Burr and I’m the current Secretary for the Lop Rabbit Club of America. I’ve owned and shown English Lops for over 20 years (wow – that makes me feel old) and have served on the Board of Directors for the LRCA since 2010. In the fall of 2020, I was lucky enough to be inducted into the LRCA’s Hall of Fame. So, let me stop and back up to tell you a little bit about myself.
I’ve always had rabbits. When I was a young child a family member stopped over with a rabbit in a box (a mixed breed lop eared rabbit) and said it was a birthday present for me. I named my new pet Patches, and I just fell in love with the lop-eared weirdo’s. Once Patches passed away, I was able to get another pet rabbit, this time with upright ears; Sweet Cocoa. She was another mut and I adored her, but as she aged, I told my parents that I wanted to get another lop eared rabbit. Somewhere in my house I have a picture of my dad when he was a teenager – long hair with a bandana holding it back while holding this big black rabbit that I learned to be a French Lop. I told my parents that I wanted a French Lop when I was roughly 12, and my dad said “you don’t want a French Lop – you can’t speak their language. You want an English Lop! And if we’re going to do this, we going to do it right and get some pedigreed purebreds.” I started doing my research, I received the breeder’s guide from the American Rabbit Breeders Association and wrote letters to Charlotte Bowley and Susan McCarthy (two great English Lop breeders in New York State) telling them of my desire to obtain and show English Lops. Susan wrote me back and said that unfortunately she did not have anything available at this time but recommended I contact Charlotte Bowley. Within a week I heard back from Charlotte as well, she wrote to me on what appeared to be a type writer (I’m dating myself now) saying that she did have English Lops and some available that I could look at. Better yet, she offered Youth and 4Hers a ½ price discount on her rabbits. I called Charlotte and set up a time for myself and my parents in early 2001 to drive out and see her set up all while picking out a couple of rabbits. At this time, Charlotte’s barn was full of black torts and fawns – that’s it. I fell in love with a broken black tort buck (that I named Sir William) and a solid black tort doe (later named Lady Penelope). The rest is history.
I began showing in the New York show circuit in 2001, always in open as there was no youth English Lop exhibitors, and attended my first ARBA Convention in 2004 – Providence, Rhode Island. It’s here that I met members of the Lop Rabbit Club of America such as Dave and Trina Carlson and Mary Crawford. Little did I know that I would be meeting people I now consider family.
In 2009 I was at a show in Fulton, New York when I saw Charlotte Bowley going around receiving signatures on a form. She came over to me and told me to sign – which I did. Little did I know that this was my original petition to run for Zone 1 Director of the LRCA (back when Zone 1 consisted of just New York and Ontario, Canada). My first general membership meeting with the LRCA as a BOD member was Spring on 2010 in Perry Georgia. Since that time, I have seen the club go through many changes, highs and lows, and overall growth. New breeders entering the club while others depart for “retirement” and vacation plans. Even now, we see changes happening due to COVID-19 and RHDv2.
Outside of the rabbit world I spend a lot of time with my fur-kid, Walter. He’s a Chesapeake Bay Retriever and basically glued to my side at all times. He also loves the rabbits (although they aren’t sure of him) so it’s a win-win for me.
Currently serving for LRCA:
Treasurer
Constitution Committee
Previously served:
Zone 9 Director
Other Service:
Currently serving as a Northern California Lop Rabbit Club Director
Previously served as Northern California Lop Rabbit Club President, Secretary and Treasurer
My background with livestock started with FFA and 4H. It was while I was in high school that I was introduced to rabbits, market lambs, veal, and poultry. I participated in the fair system and won FFA Reserve Grand Champion Veal my senior year. loved the livestock judging competitions, Parliamentary Procedure Debate competitions, and serving in various leadership positions. I continued to mentor in 4H in later years and to serve on several officer teams locally and nationally.
My husband, David, and I have been married since 1989 and we traveled across the country while he served in the Air Force. After moving back to California, I started my rabbitry, K2M’s Hare Force Rabbitry, with my young daughters in 2002. We’ve had several breeds in and out of the barn, but French Lops have been my main passion. After winning Best of Breed at ARBA Convention in Portland, Oregon in 2015, I brought in the sable gene for fun. I’ve been diligently working on genetics, development, and improvement in all aspects of the breed.
I enjoy the behind-the-scenes aspect of the organization and administration in club function so that other members can enjoy the social aspect of the club. It has been an honor to serve the Lop Rabbit Club of America, Inc.
LRCA Zone Directors
Zone 1
Ken Nesbitt
New York, Ontario, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, New Brunswick, Quebec
My name is Ken Nesbitt And I currently serve as the Zone 1 Director and Convention Judges Selection Committee Chair of the Lop Rabbit Club of America.
I was blessed to have an active 4-H rabbit group as a child led by Mrs. Castle, an enthusiastic,innovative woman who was to change the course of my life. It was through my association with her that I was to get my first French lop in 1983 just over 10 years after they were first imported into the United States. Throughout my teenage years I would have many different rabbit breeds but the French lop was always my heart breed. Like so many, I took a step back from them when I attended college and established my career. Once we were living back in the country having gave up city life I quickly added chickens, ducks, geese, peacocks and some awful mini lops lol. My heart however longed for French Lops. Through the wonder of the Internet I was able to connect with some of the top breeders in the country and made my first trip to the Ohio Mini Convention to purchase some. A decade later I have shown French lops throughout the country, competing at conventions and nationals with my mentors and heroes. We had the honor of winning Best Of Breed French Lop at both the 2017 and 2018 conventions. Also in 2018 we won Best of Breed and Best in Show at the Lop Nationals that my home club hosted in Syracuse NY. That weekend was an incredible weekend in so many ways for me, I shared the win with my best friend who won Best Opposite of Breed. Then we were successful in winning all four Best in Shows, the national show, the specialty show and both open shows with three different rabbits.
I have made it my goal to prove that the French lop can, and is competitive on the open best in show table. In addition to showing I have also enjoyed working with youth as a mentor for the breed as well as frequently being asked to judge showmanship at the county fairs.
I am currently on the working COD for the Otter French lops. I am the secretary treasurer of the New York State Lop Club. I am the newly elected Vice President of the New York State Rabbit and Cavy Breeders Association. I am a member of the empire Polish club as well as the American Polish rabbit club.
I have been a registered nurse for 30 years, currently I am the nurse leader of the surgical care center located at my community Hospital. In addition to rabbits I have raised and exhibited poultry and waterfowl. I enjoy gardening and during the winter months, catching up on my reading.
My partner of nearly 28 years Joe and I live in that same small town I grew up in, located in the gorgeous Finger Lakes area of NY. We live in a beautiful old fieldstone barn that as a boy I would ride my bike by and admire, it is now our renovated home which we christened Bountiful Farms. With his support on the home front, I am able to travel and be as active as I am. Through this hobby I have met some of the most incredible people and made the best friends of my life. It is an honor and a dream come true to serve the Lop Rabbit Club of America.
Zone 2
Sandy Bennett
Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina
Hello from Zone 4!
My name is Candie Glasscock and I am happy to be your Zone 4 representative.
A quick snippet about me. I am married to Bobby Glasscock. We have seven grown children between us, four grandkids and more on the way I'm sure! I live in the southern most point of Kentucky near the Tennessee line.
We are currently showing and breeding English, French, and Holland lops. Our Rabbitry is Sugarbun's. I have been raising English lops going on 9 years now and that is what I am most passionate about. I do help my husband with his French lops though.
While I will help anyone that asks me about pure breeds, I truly love helping with our youth. I am also the President of the Lops of the South English and French Lop specifically club.
Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you. My email is sugarbuns70@gmail.com or call or text me at (859) 612-1012.
Hope to see you at a show soon!
Zone 5
Melissa Wist
North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Saskatchewan
Hello Zone 8, it is an honor to represent you on our board. I was born and raised in the great Pacific Northwest! I have lived in Amity, Oregon with my husband and our daughter Abigail for the past 21 years. In my adult life, I am a special education teacher specializing in Emotional Behavior Disorders with Salem Keizer School District.
As a youth, I raised and showed French Lops in 4-H, FFA, and ARBA. As an adult, I have served as a youth advisor, leader, and director on both local and national organization boards. In 2010 along with my daughter we began our rabbitry Lops of Faith Rabbitry. Our rabbitry currently consists of French Lops, Mini Lops, and 3 American Chinchillas.
It is a goal of mine to grow quality English and French Lops within our area. I am excited to see our states host more specialty shows and the number of exhibitors rises over the past two years. I am eager to hear about your successes and work as a team to encourage and build each other up to become a stronger network. Thank you for this opportunity and please do not hesitate to reach out with questions, comments, celebrations, and concerns.
My name is Dara Gribi and I am the current Zone 9 Director and Temporary Zone 8 Director. I am married to my husband Stefan and have twin sons Lucas and Elia. I have been raising English Lops since I bought my first one from the legendary Ross Malloy at the 1991 ARBA Convention in Pomona, CA. The following year I won youth BOB at the ARBA Convention in Columbus, OH with a beautiful broken black tort buck that Ross sold me. We have been hooked ever since.
My son Lucas as well as my Parents David & Trina Carlson also raise this wonderful breed. My son and I also raise Blanc de Hotots and he raises Himalayans and Havanas as well. Our newest adventure is the addition of 5 Angora Goats that we are having a lot of fun with. I also have a menagerie of aquatic creatures such as nano fish (Pygmy Sunfish, Pygmy Puffer Fish, Emerald Eye Rasbora, Strawberry Rasbora, Clown Killifish, Honey Gourami, Zebra Borneo Sucker Fish Florida Flagfish and Betta), freshwater shrimp and a plethora of live food. I also keep a few other creepy crawlers such as isopod’s, cockroaches and beetles and Lucas has a Northern Blue Tongue Skink and a frog. Lastly is our two dogs. Blazer is a 5 lb mini dachshund and Rocco is a 120lb LGD Italian Marrema Sheepdog that protects our goats.
Besides my menagerie, I enjoy spending time with my family, watching YouTube to learn things I didn’t know I needed to know, reading and needle felting plus anything crafty or creative.
If you have anything to report in Zone 8 or 9 please contact me at the eamil address above, I would love to hear from you.
Your Officers and Zone Directors would appreciate it if you would please always be certain to note the time panel to which you are calling from and to. Although it may be 8:00 AM on the East Coast, it may be 'quite early' in other parts of the Country. This would be the same for on the West Coast. It may be 8:30 PM there, but it can be 'much later' in the evening elsewhere. As a courtesy, please remember to check your time panel, and that of the person you wish to contact, before making your call.