Its tons of fun!! What would you like to know? We start giving extra dust baths a few weeks before the show then no dust baths starting 2 days before the show. This is so all of the dust has time to settle out and the chinchilla's true color will show. You want to groom a few weeks before the show, then I do a serious grooming the day before the show so that show morning I only have to fluff them up and it takes a lot less time. Do not cuddle or pet your chinchilla for a month before the show if you are really serious about the ribbons. I know, this is impossible if your chinchilla is a family member! But those of use with lots of chins that aren't used to being cuddled everyday can get away with it. Just give a few extra raisins or small chew blocks to make up for it.
Try to take one of every color because its much more fun to watch the show when you have an animal on the table! Don't be embarrassed if your chinchilla doesn't get a blue ribbon. We have all been there. I think my worst was a 3rd place ribbon once. Keep in mind that a lot depends on whether the chinchilla is in prime. A grand show champion on year could turn right around and do terrible at another show all because of being out of prime.
If you are unsure about how to tell if a chinchilla is in prime just shoot for 7 month old chinchillas. Almost all of my chins are in their first perfect prime at that age (or close enough anyway) Also, all other things being equal, size will really hurt a chinchilla so think about age when you choose who to take. For 2 years now I have made the mistake of taking young girls that were within 2-3 days of making it into the adult class. Because they were not yet fully grown they were noticable smaller than the more mature chinchillas on the table and lost out because of it. So now I try to be the oldest chinchillas possible in the youth class...then you have the size advantage.
Although this years I don't think the birthdays worked out and once again I will be showing the youngest chinchillas possible in the adult class.