Ronald Loutsch, left, watches the rabbit show at the Plymouth County Fair. Loutsch started the show about 48 years ago, and he still raises rabbits to this day. [Click to enlarge]

So perhaps it should be no surprise that the two white rabbits Ronald Loutsch was given as a 10-year-old started a snowball effect -- he started the Plymouth County Fair rabbit show which now boasts nearly 125 rabbits.

Loutsch's two first white bunnies, a gift from his uncle, sparked a hobby in the rural Oyens native. He and his wife, who now live near Westfield, raised 15 children. Each of them had their hand in raising the rabbits.

Then, nearly 50 years ago, Loutsch started the first Plymouth County Fair rabbit show.

"There were only eight rabbits," Loutsch said, sitting in a lawn chair at Wednesday's show at the fair.

Looking around, he points out different varieties of rabbits.

Some are Champagne D'Argents, born with black fur but change to silver after a few months. Others are New Zealand rabbits. Loutsch has raised this breed himself since he started in the bunny business.

He's somewhat of a celebrity among rabbit owners in the county and beyond.

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"I've never missed a rabbit show since I started," he said.

He has frequented several shows in Iowa and South Dakota, plus a national show involving thousands of rabbits.

Now a grandfather, Loutsch watches several grandchildren show rabbits at the fair. But he still has a few of his own.

"About 100," he said, then laughed. "But you never know for sure. The number is always changing."

That's the nature of the beast -- or bunny.