Midwest Show 2009
Tulsa, OK

Ruth clerks for her mom judging the Pup Class. There were about 60 gerbils in this show.

Judge Kylee of Lincoln, NE looks over the Black Self class. Gerbils are judged on color, conformation and temperament, using a written standard as the basis for scoring.

Ruth clerks for Judge Katie of Tulsa, OK.

Jo of Springfield, MO and Donna of Hollis, NH, inspect gerbil-made "snowflake art". There are many fun events like this at a gerbil show.

Jo displays her tank back-drop. We do get a few quiet moments on Friday night to do fun things together.

Gerbils love a tube-chewing contest. The gerbil that chews the most tube in 3 minutes is the winner.

HamTrack races: which gerbil can make it to the end of the track most quickly?

Judges Libby and Tana get ready for the big moment: picking Best in Show.

And the winner is...! Morty, a golden agouti male from Garden of Eden Kennel, Eden, Wisconsin, owned by Kelly Johnson.