4H Lamas are something to see during the Sheboygan County Fair

The 2010 4H Lama Show was held on Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Sheboygan County Fairgrounds.

We had a special visit from the Sheboygan County Fairest of the Fair, Brianna Wimmler. She was a great sport and participated in the obstacle course – and scored fantastically, not to mention she assisted in the judging contest as a handler as well.

The 4H youth participated in showmanship and performance classes. This year the exhibitors were given a chance to participate in the Premier Exhibitor Contest.

The exhibitors had to complete a 25-question quiz, a judging contest, and a skill-a-thon, along with their placements in their showmanship classes. There were two age divisions for this contest, with the Junior Division including kids from 8-13 years of age, and the Senior Division including anyone over the age of 14.

Showmanship is a class in which handlers are judged on how they show their animals to the best of their ability. They have to know the proper way to hold the lead, to keep their feet at a 45-degree angle to their animals, move according to the judge to accommodate the four quadrants, square up their animals, along with answering questions the judge poses, which could be from identifying body parts, to health-care questions, to basic information about lamas.

The Performance Classes are based on three different courses.

First is the obstacle course that consists of basic obstacles demonstrating anything from backing to jumps, change of pace, maneuverability, bridges, ramps, steps, etc.

Next is the Public Relations Course that includes things they will encounter in public – at a parade, at the fair, or even at a nursing home. Obstacles for this class include things like a person in a wheelchair or walker who wants to pet the llama. Other encounters include umbrellas, camera flashes, dogs (at parade routes they come out from the sidelines), hats and other costume-type items.

Lastly, is the Pack Class in which the lama will wear a pack and then maneuver obstacles. Obstacles could include securing something to the pack, backing around an object, tying a quick-release knot, walking through water and deadfall, completing weaving patterns, loading into a trailer, and walking over the jumps. Lamas have to walk over the jumps – not jump them – so that if there would be something sharp in the panniers they would not get poked or injured.

The scores from the three performance classes are combined and the exhibitor with the best combined score earns the Overall Performance Award.

A few misconceptions that should be clear up are: “Lama” is not misspelled. Spelled this way it incorporates both the llama and the alpaca. When spelled with a double “l,” it represents the llama only, just as the word alpaca represents only that animal.

Also, lamas do spit, but usually only at teach other; it is a territorial thing, warning the other to back off. Sometimes humans do get spit at, but it is usually because they are in the wrong place at the wrong time, or that they might be over-handling the lama during a grooming session.

Please look for us at the Sheboygan County Fair. You can find us on the outside of the Goat Barn, along the west side, next to the beef cows. We will also be putting on a demonstration with the lamas on Monday, Sept. 6, beginning at 10 a.m. in the Coliseum.

Hope to see you there!

We might be a small project, but the dedication of the project members and the support of the parents have made this a very successful and exciting project to be in. If you would like more information about the 4H Lama Project, please contact Karee Abbott at 893-0421 with your questions.