The 30th Midden Drenthe Show for small animals is a fact. This weekend hundreds of visitors will again come to the riding school at the Hoefslag in Beilen, where all kinds of guinea pigs, rabbits and pigeons can be admired.
“Unfortunately no chickens and ducks this year either due to bird flu,” says Kees Verkolf, somewhat disappointed.
Verkolf has been involved in the small animal show since 2007. He walks around with a big smile, because all the animals are so beautiful and well cared for. “These animals are looked at by the judges. Then everyone is full of excitement, because is my animal the most beautiful? That is special to see every year. And then the applause for the winner, I still think it is wonderful.”
The animals receive a report from the judges in which the good points of the animal are described, but also what needs to be worked on. “Here for example,” Verkolf shows. “This card describes something about this rabbit. About its weight, the markings in the coat and the quality of the hair. It has a beautiful head and legs, you can read here.”
Although there are a lot of rabbits to see at the Midden Drenthe Show, Verkolf himself is enthusiastic about the show pigeons. “There it is,” he exults. There is a white pigeon in a cage with a red marking around its eye. The bird also has striking deep brown wings. “He is the champion of the Midden Drenthe Show, he is the ring champion and the champion of the Northern Netherlands. For the second year in a row.”
There are a surprising number of children walking between the cages. Sometimes they poke small straws through the bars in the hope of attracting the attention of a rabbit or guinea pig. Seeing so many youth makes Verkolf happy. “That’s what we do it for: passing on the love for animals. Encouraging youth to take responsibility and care for an animal.”
Verkolf notices that this responsibility brings about a change in children. “The best example is the story of a father. He told us with tears in his eyes that his son had changed positively after he was given care of two rabbits. These are the little things that make life beautiful.”