Humming Herald Summer 2014 by Ruby Herron

Humming Herald South Central Llama Association

Summer 2014 * Number 95

k c o t s e v i l e th t’s a h t show

p e e D

IN T HE

s n a x e T HEAR T OF

Beeville

Big Tex® invites you to the

state Fair of Texas®. IMPORTANT DATES

Pan Am Llama Shows - Oct. 4-5 Entry Deadlines: Pan Am Sept. 1

Visit bigtex.com

for our new schedule, shows, contests and more!

S TAT E FA I R O F T E X A S ®

016_284_2014Ad_HummingHerald.indd 1

SEPT. 26 – OCT. 19, 2014

5/20/2014 2:10:30 PM

Summer 2014 Contents General Interest Fiber as Business. ....................................................................................12 A quarterly publication of the South Central Llama Association.

www.scla.us/scla.html

SCLA OFFICERS (Term 09/2011- 09/2014)

President: Sean Price • 281-830-2368 • figranch@flash.net Vice President: Bill Simpson •(409) 625-0309 OR (972) 978-6229 • N5YA@N5YA.com Secretary: Adryce Mathisen, •682) 551-7799 (cell); (817) 866-4368 • adryce@att.net Treasurer: Bob Lyons • 210-497-3151 • boblyons1@satx.rr.com

REGIONAL DIRECTORS

Region One: (Area codes: 210-361-512-737-830-956) Susan Leslie (09/2011-09/2014) (830)401-0819 leslielanellamas@gmail.com Region Two: (Area cades: 214-405-430-469-479-501-580903-918-972) Bob Carroll (903) 229-8029(Term: 9/2013-9/2016) rcranch1@yahoo.com Region Three: (Area codes:254-325-432-682-817 806-940-915-505) Deborah Ignacio (09/2012- 09/2015) 817-454-8882 deborah.ignacio@yahoo.com Region Four: (Area codes: 281-318-346-409-504-713832-936-979-985) Trisha McKaskle 979-378-20759 (Term: 9/2013 - 9/2016) hitekllama@aol.com Director-At-Large: Jim Doyle (Term: 9/2011 - 9/2014) 940-482-3192: cell 940-391-1862 JDoyle@marikollamas.com

Fiber Mill 101...........................................................................................................15 Agriscience Report................................................................................................18 The Great Llama Race...........................................................................................22 Dakota.......................................................................................................................23 Cebra..........................................................................................................................26 Two Important Skills For Two Llama Owners...................................................26 . Your Lama Needs to Know How to Back Up................................................28 Mentoring.................................................................................................................33 Where, When And How do Draw the Line....................................................35 Ask the CSU Vet Team...........................................................................................41

Always Inside President’s Statement............................................................................................4 VP Views.................... .................................................................................................4 . Editor’s Note..............................................................................................................5 New Members........................................................................................................... 6 Dates Ahead.............................................................................................................. 6 SCLA Library............................................................................................................55 Display Advertisers................................................................................................57 SCLA Membership Form.....................................................................................68

Front cover Photo furnished by Teri Conroy of Wunsapana Farm , Altamont, New York

SCLA COMMITTEES

Activities.................................................... No chair at this time Membership..............................................................Karen Conyngham Nomination . ............................Marcie Saska-Agnew-chairperson Property.....................................................................Sean Price Fund Raising..................................................................... Open Youth................................................................ Christie Stewart Finance - Budget..............................Bob Lyons • Dan Johnson Librarian.............................................................Barbara Welch Conference................................................ No chair at this time National Lama Intervention & Rescue Coordination Council Scholarship........................................ .........Mary Nell Doyle - Chair .............................Susan Boblyanski, Adryce Mathisen, Brenda Gilmore SCLA Booth............................................... No chair at this time Web site......................................................... Sharon Bramblett By-Laws.............................................................Jim Doyle, Bev Johnson

SHOWS - Thanks For Volunteering Your Time!

Teresa Brruening..........................................State Fair of Texas-Dallas Jim Doyle............................Southwestern Livestock and Rodeo-Fort Worth Stephanie Clark.........................................West Texas Fair & Rodeo-Abilene Di Collins..........................................................San Angelo Livestock Show- San Angelo Trisha McKaskle...........................................Houston Livestock Show

EDITOR/DESIGN/LAYOUT

Ruby Herron 17102 Mueschke Rd., Cypress, TX 77433 713-249-8523 • HummingHerald@FigmentRanch.com

The views expressed herein are those of the authors. Before undertaking any new regime with your llamas, you should always consult with your veterinarian. Only they can tell you what is best for your situation. We invite submission for unpaid articles and photographs. Email to HummingHerald@FigmentRanch.com or mail to: Ruby Herron, c/o Humming Herald,17102 Mueschke Rd., Cypress,Tx., 77433

President’s Statement

VP Views

Bill Simpson, Vice President

Sean Price, President

Hi guys!

Greetings from Deep East Texas!

There are a few things going on in SCLA. This information is inside this Humming Herald, but here are the highlights. • Read about the Jim Graham Youth Scholarship on page 9. Deadline is July 12, 2014. • Read about the SCLA election information on page 10. We are asking for candidates.

I hope this finds everyone enjoying the spring. I know the Llamas and Alpacas enjoy the cool temputures a lot more than they enjoy the heat in the summer.

I also wanted to make sure to talk about your shearing. It’s time! Look on the SCLA website for a list of “shearers” or contact me for help, figranch@flash.net, or call 281-351-1820. I hope y’all have a wonderful summer and as always, feel free to contact me with any concerns.

I’ll talk to you all soon! Sean 281-830-2368 or figranch@flash.net

You know, I often wonder about our crew... it is raining and miserable weather from my view... but the llamas and the alpacas are out at the hay bales and lying out in the rain. Sure wouldn’t want them to get dry in the barn. What can you say? You have to love ‘em for all their crazy behavior! We enjoyed seeing everyone at the San Angelo Llama Show. We hope to see you all again at the other shows the SCLA offers. A complete list of the shows is on the SCLA website here: http://scla.us/ Y’all have a great year and best wishes from our place to yours!

Bill Simpson Vice President, SCLA Lost Acres Ranch Milam, Texas

Humming Herald Newsletter Summer 2014

Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Note Hello everyone. I hope you all had a nice winter and spring. Summer is upon us so I am sure you all have your llamas shorn or have scheduled for it! If you need help, please visit the SCLA website, www.scla.us, for a list of shearers. There is a lot of information inside this edition about fiber uses. If you wish to add some, or have some unique ideas for fiber, please send me the info and pictures!

Please enjoy this Humming Herald. AND please send me any story or pictures you would like to have in here! Blessings, Ruby 713-249-8523 or hummingherald@fimentranch.com

There is also some information inside this edition about the death of one of our beloved llama people, Murray Fowler.

Photo taken by Katrina Capasso Dakota Ridge Farm Ballston Spa, New York

New Members November 11, 2013 - February 13, 2014 Compiled by Karen Conyngham, Membership Secretary. Current member information is always available on the SCLA web site: http://www.scla.us SCLA Address: PO Box 163654, Austin, TX 78716

Dates Ahead June 7-8, 2014 Estes Park Wool Market Llama Show Estes Park, CO - Stanley Park Fairgrounds

Full Double Show including halter, performance, youth and alpaca performance. The Gold Show will be held on Saturday and the Silver Show will be held on Sunday. The Gold Show will also include the Fleece Show offering walking fiber, shorn fleece and a variety of specialty fiber classes.

Contact: Jill Knuckles - 1-970-487-0223 or talltailllamas@bigplanet.com

Further detailed information: www.estes.org/woolmarket

New SCLA Members February 14 - May 8, 2014 Compiled by Karen Conyngham, Membership Secretary. Current member information is always available on the SCLA web site: http://www.scla.us SCLA Address: PO Box 163654, Austin, TX 78716 New Youth Member:

------------------------------------

Tiffany Anderson 1052 Bluebonnet Adkins, TX 78101-2708 Adult Member Sponsor: Susan Leslie

July 12, 2014 2014 Black & Blue Pasture Show 5415 County Road 59 Florissant, CO80816 Judge: Barb Harris-Halter _ Blue Show Judge Allen Davis - Black Show Judges: Mary Wickman-Performance Show Contact: Bob Burton 2bit2ranch@gmail.com 719-355-9355 ______________________

Member Contact Updates: New address only: Bob & Tammy Carroll RC Ranch 3006 NW CR 1030 Corsicana, TX 75110-6040

July 19 - 20, 2014

Summer 2014 Education & Fundraiser Gathering 6

Humming Herald Newsletter Summer 2014

Hosted by North West Camelid Foundation & Oregon State University Veterinary College Three Educational Tracks

Fiber Production and Harvest Alpaca and Llama Health Farm Management, Packing, Training & 4-H

Educational Sessions: Saturday and Sunday at OSU Veterinary College 26th Annual NWCF Fundraising Banquet: Saturday Evening at CHM2 Hill Alumni Center on Campus

For more information, contact: info@ NWCamelidFoundation.org

http://www.nwcamelidfoundation.org/

Representatives of five fiber organizations will make presentations that focus on descriptions of their groups and services, what they expect from people (how to prepare fleeces, etc.) and what people can expect from them (money, product, etc.), typical turnaround time and how people can participate with them and make money using their services. After individual sessions, representatives will participate in a Q&A panel discussion so conference-goers have a chance to get their questions answered. The five groups include Alpaca Fiber Cooperative of North America, The Alpaca Blanket Project, New England Alpaca Fiber Pool, Pacific Northwest Llama Fiber Cooperative and Natural Fiber Producers. Two or three fiber mills will also make presentations on their services, expectations and the products they can provide llama and alpaca owners.

More conference details will follow as they become finalized. Meanwhile, if you have any questions regarding the conference please contact Barb Baker (bebaker@earthlink.net) or Sheila Fugina (bsfugina@frontier.com).

[For the full text of the Camelid Community Press Release, click here.]

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August 9-10, 2014 “Fiber as a Business “- Conference for Camelid Owners Shisler Center, Wooster, Ohio

Organized by Camelid Community, the conference will answer questions such as: What can I do with my fiber? How can I do it? Now that I’ve got something, how do I make money with it? After I make money, how do I keep the IRS happy? We want to provide fleece producers throughout the camelid industry the information they need in order to benefit from the services currently available in the industry.

----------------------------------September 8-9, 2014 West Texas Fair and Rodeo Llama Show Expo Center of Taylor County 1700 Hwy. 36 7

Abilene, TX 79602

Superintendent: Sam McClure

Arrival Date: September 8th Arrival Time: 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

For more information, see: http://www.taylorcountyexpocenter. com/events_detail.aspx?id=81

-----------------------------------

October 23-26, 2014

Greater Appalachian Llama & Alpaca Assoc. Annual Conference Marriott Sable Oaks Hotel Portland, Maine, USA

The Greater Appalachian Llama and Alpaca Association (GALA) will be holding its 27th annual conference in Portland, Maine, at the Marriott Sable Oaks Hotel. GALA holds one of the nation’s most esteemed annual get-togethers with a strong emphasis on education for camelid owners. This year’s headliners include Bernie Rollin, PhD philosophy professor and noted animal ethicist; Dr. David Pugh, legendary camelid veterinarian; Darrell Anderson, pedigreed Livestock Specialist and Llama Judge; John Mallon, trainer extraordinaire; Dr. Daniela Bedenice, Tufts veterinarian, professor and researcher; and Linda Cortright, publisher of Wild Fibers magazine. Always featured at GALA conferences is a magnificent Fiber Room with workshops and activities for all. Plan a Maine vacation to include this conference. Conference registration will begin in August.

Humming Herald Newsletter Summer 2014

In the meantime, you may view the headline speaker’s bios, a Conference description in flyer form, and book a hotel reservation on line at: http://www. galaonline.org/conference2014.html

09-19-20, 2014 2014 Central Regional Championship Oklahoma City, OK Judge: TBA Show Contact: Show Info: Other Judges: ALSA Office

09-19-21, 2014

2014 Oklahoma State Fair Llama Show 3001 General Persing Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73010 Judge: Lora Crawford Show Contact: Joy Swihart 405-387-9413 swihart@pldi.net

10 - 4-5, 2014

State Fair of Texas Entry Deadlines Sept. 1 www.bigtex.com

October 23-26, 2014

17th Annual ALSA Grand National Show of Champions The location will be in Park City, Kansas at the Kansas Pavilions Judges:

Mary Jo Miller - Halter/Performance KY Rick Neal - Halter/Performance OH Beth Myers - Halter/Performance OH Karen Kinyon - Fiber CO For More Information: www.alsashow.org llamas@alsashow.org

Jim Graham Youth Scholarship The current guidelines for the Jim Graham Youth Scholarship allow $500.00 per semester

(2 semesters running concurrently) for a total value of $1,000.00.

Jim Graham Youth Scholarship: Application Process 1. The applicant must be a high school senior (or just graduated in the current calendar year) 2. The applicant must be a current associate youth member of SCLA or their immediate family (parent) must be a current adult member of SCLA. 3. The written application submittal before July 12 of each calendar year must include: A: A written one-page essay describing their background with lamas, where they plan to attend college and their anticipated degree program. B: A self-photograph. C: A photocopy of their high school transcript. D: Two (2) letters of recommendation from teachers, community leaders or club sponsors. Letters of recommendation may be mailed separately but all parts of the application must be received by the deadline date. The mailing address for all required parts of the application is: SCLA Jim Graham Youth Scholarship Committee P.O. Box 163654 Austin, Texas 78716-3654 The winner of the scholarship will be announced in the fall issue of the Humming Herald.

Jim Graham Youth Scholarship: Winner 1. Provide the SCLA treasurer and the SCLA scholarship committee chairman your choice institution information. Website: http://www.scla.us will provide the contact data for the treasurer and scholarship committee under "SCLA Info". 2. All monies will be sent to the registrar (financial aid office) of the college chosen. 3. The awarded winner must provide a copy of their grades to the SCLA scholarship committee chairman and the SCLA treasurer at the end of the first semester. This action will verity a passing average is being maintained in order to qualify for the second semester award. 4. The recipient must be a current member of SCLA or their immediate family (parent) must be a current adult member of SCLA for the duration of the scholarship. Current membership will be verified.

SCLA dues are payable on or before January 31 st of each year.

SCLA 2014 Election This year SCLA needs to elect a director for Region One and the Director At-Large. The current director for Region One is Susan Leslie of LaVernia, TX and the current Director At-Large is Jim Doyle of Krum, TX. Both Susan and Jim are willing to serve another term on the SCLA Board. If any other SCLA member in Region One would be interested in running for the directorship, and if anyone from any SCLA region would like to run for the At-Large position, please contact either Sean Price or Karen Conyngham by July 1st and a formal ballot will be compiled. Otherwise, Susan and Jim will continue on the Board through 2017 by acclimation. Thank you, Karen Conyngham Membership Secretary

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Humming Herald Newsletter Summer 2014

Jay C. Brown 1119 South 4th Street Springfield, il 62703

To all SCLA members: Dr. Fowler passed away on May 18, 2014, after suffering a stroke on May 9th. He was a shining light in the camelid world for many years, being the author of the first comprehensive book on camelid health, “Medicine & Surgery of S. American Camelids” which went through 3 revisions, the last one being called simply “Medicine and Surgery of Camelids”. He was also co-author, along with Eric Hoffman, of “The Complete Alpaca Book”, considered the “bible” for alpaca owners. In addition he wrote countless peer-reviewed articles for many veterinary medicine journals and was also considered an expert in elephant, wildlife and zoological medicine. He will be deeply missed. Below are 2 memorial tributes to Dr. Fowler, and lastly information from his daughter Tricia about his burial in Calif. on May 31st. Please keep the Fowler family in your thoughts and prayers. Karen ------------------------------------------------------------------------From the ICI web site: In Memoriam for Dr. Murray Fowler The ICI is greatly saddened by the news of Dr. Murray Fowler’s passing on May 18, 2014. As one of the pioneers in camelid veterinary medicine, he enriched the lives of all camelids and their owners and will be sorely missed. His legacy, to the animals we all love and care for, is in the volumes of research he conducted on behalf of them. The following “Remembrance” was written by Dr. David Anderson, who founded the ICI and served as its first Director and was a friend and colleague of Dr. Fowler. I am saddened today at the news of the passing of Dr. Murray Fowler. I am grateful to have gotten to know Murray over the past 20 years and call him a friend. He was the most generous, open hearted, and warm personalities I have ever met. I remember fondly his professional demeanor, passionate love for all animals great and small, everlasting thirst for knowledge, incredible encyclopedic knowledge, and great humor. He is loved worldwide as an ambassador for the veterinary profession and as someone who brought people from every corner of the globe together in the common bond of animal health and wellbeing. I remember his smile. I remember his playful chiding of old friends and new. I remember his generosity of time and knowledge. I remember his 11

love of people. My life is so incredibly enriched for having known him, I cannot imagine a world without him in it. My sadness is tempered by knowing that he is not in pain and that he is present with his creator in a glory far beyond our imagination. My heart goes out to his family and all whose lives he touched on this day of mourning for one of the true fathers of veterinary medicine. A great person among great people. I ask you to take a moment to reflect on Murray and what he has meant to us all. David E Anderson, DVM, MS, DACVS College of Veterinary Medicine University of Tennessee _____________________________ From the Alpaca Owners Assoc. web site: We are very sad to report that Dr. Murray E. Fowler, Professor Emeritus at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine and widely recognized as the “father” of camelid medicine, passed away yesterday at the age of 85 following a brief illness. Dr. Fowler came to UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 1958 and his first 10 years were devoted primarily to horses. In 1967 he volunteered to develop and teach courses on the medicine of nontraditional animals and his position became the first faculty position in wild animal medicine at any veterinary school in the world. Once the Zoological Medicine program was in full swing at UC Davis, he began to see many camelids, since llamas, alpacas, and camels were popular zoo animals. As llamas and alpacas grew in popularity in the private sector, Dr. Fowler became the “go to” veterinarian for camelids. He was involved in the screening of alpacas for importation from South America, and in 1984 he conducted the first veterinary workshop in North America on llama and alpaca medicine. In his autobiography he said: “One of the great satisfactions of my career has been teaching. Regarding llamas and alpacas, I have had the privilege of sharing information with owners, breeders, managers, and fellow veterinarians at numerous local, regional and national meetings.” Dr. Fowler was active in research, publishing over 200 articles, and was the author of numerous books including Medicine and Surgery of South American Camelids, with the Third Edition published in 2010. He remained active in teaching up to the time of his recent illness, and he was widely known and appreciated for being an inspiring teacher with the wisdom of tremendous experience. He was kind and compassionate, with a twinkle in his eye and a wonderful sense of humor. His death is a tremendous loss for the camelid community, and although he will be missed by all, his legacy will live on and he will never be forgotten. We offer our sincerest condolences to his wife, Audrey, and his family. 12

Humming Herald Newsletter Summer 2014

--------------------------------------------------------Dear Friends, It has been a joy to read so many lovely letters of memories you have of our father. Thank you all so much for the love and concern extended to our family at this time. We are grateful for the influence each of you have had in his life. We have felt the comfort of the Lord. We so much appreciate a father who taught us to pursue excellence -- who taught us the value of every individual -- who provided us with a love of all God’s creations -- and who instilled in us an unshakable faith that life and families are eternal, and that we will be able to be with him again. Dad’s funeral will be held on Saturday, May 31 at 11:00 AM. Location: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 785 Elmwood Drive Davis, California 95616 Flowers can be sent to the church if delivered the day of the funeral. If anyone would like to send a card or flowers to my mom, her address is: Audrey Fowler 427 Cabrillo Avenue Davis, CA 95616 If anyone would prefer to send a donation, we feel an appropriate recipient would be the Sacramento Zoological Association. Their website is www.saczoo.org Click the “donate” button, and then “memorial & tribute gifts” then “tribute gifts”. Thank you again for your love and concern, and for sharing your stories and thoughts about Dad. Tricia Craft

Camelid Community

“Fiber as Business” Conference Offers Options to Camelid Owners

As both alpaca and llama

farms have begun to take more interest in the fiber side of raising their animals, many are confused about where to start. If you are wondering how to generate an income flow from all that gorgeous fiber walking around in your pasture, Camelid Community’s “Fiber as Business” conference August 9-10 can provide you with the tools you need to make some money with your fiber. Based on Camelid Community’s earlier survey, we know many llama and alpaca owners are eager to do just that.

We want to provide fleece

Held at the Shisler Cen-

ter in Wooster, Ohio, the conference will answer questions such as: What can I do with my fiber? How can I do it? Now that I’ve got something, how do I make money

with it? After I make money, how do I keep the IRS happy? In short, you will learn the whole process from what to do after you shear your animals all the way to how to put your fiber profits in the bank and not give it all to the IRS.

Humming Herald Newsletter Summer 2014

producers throughout the camelid industry the information they need in order to benefit from the services currently available in the industry. We know one size doesn’t fit all and are confident the range of options presented during the weekend will help you find the possibilities that might work for you. We want you to be able to create your own fiber business plan no matter how large or small and no matter what type of alpacas or llamas you have.

Representatives of

five fiber organizations will make presentations that focus on descriptions of their groups and services, what they expect from people (how to prepare fleeces, etc.) and what people can expect from them (money, product, etc.), typical turnaround time and how people can participate with them and make money using their services. After individual sessions, representatives will participate in a Q&A panel discussion so conference-goers have a chance to get their questions answered. The five groups include Alpaca Fiber Cooperative of North America, The Alpaca Blanket Project, New England Alpaca Fiber Pool, Pacific Northwest Llama Fiber Cooperative and Natural Fiber Producers.

Two fiber mills will also

make presentations on their services, expectations and the products they can provide llama and alpaca owners. New Era Fiber Mill of Gallatin, Tennessee, and 84 Alpacas Fiber Mill of Eighty Four, Pennsylvania, will discuss what they expect from those using their services, what people can expect from them, typical turnaround time and how to interpret and use your mill’s bill to price your fiber products for consumers.

You can have the most

wonderful product in the world, but there’s no income flow if you can’t sell it. Tara Swiger— yarn maker, author and teacher—has learned what it takes to be successful and will share her marketing tips with conference participants. Author of the book Market Yourself—A marketing system for smart and creative business owners, Tara will present a session on using online marketing and social media to sell yourself and your products and

another session on making the most of local and regional events and opportunities.

Tara Swiger guides

crafty businesses in creating marketing plans, maps and to-do lists that they’ll actually stick with. She holds digital and in-person workshops for artists, makers and writers. Her first business sold her handmade yarn, often using fiber from local farms. She has also owned a handmade-yarn-only yarn shop, consulted on social marketing for tech start-ups and retailers and has been featured in international craft publications such as Crafty and Inside Crochet.

Once you’ve made some

money with your product, you’ll be glad you had some accounting and tax advice from nationally recognized speaker David Krebs, president of Krebs & Co. Seminars and chief visionary officer of the CPA Advisory Group. David consults and speaks to more than 7,000 small business owners and

accountants annually. Among his clients are a number of alpaca and llama farms and fiber related businesses. He will help you learn how to maximize your profits.

We will hear from another part of the larger U.S. fiber industry at our Saturday luncheon. Keynote speaker Margaret Van Camp, vice president of the board of the Bluefaced Leister Union, will focus on how that specialty sheep industry has been successful in growing its market. She will talk about small flock marketing of wool and fiber and how that fits into marketing Bluefaced Leister fiber as an industry.

More conference details,

including speaker bios and information on how to register for the conference, are available at www.camelidcommunity.us. This conference is for all of “us” in the camelid community—alpaca and llama owners alike—so that we can learn to generate an income flow from the incredible fiber our 15

animals produce. If you’d like to come to the conference early or stay later, you’ll find Wooster is located in the heart of Amish country in a lovely, laid back setting with fun shops and great restaurants that serve local produce, meats and Ohio wine. There are several wineries in the area, including one housed on an alpaca farm. Come and enjoy

all the area has to offer—it’s a beautiful time of year in northeastern Ohio.

Camelid Community

wants to thank those who responded to the earlier fiber conference survey and let you know that we did, indeed, hear you. Though we know many who responded live in other parts of the country, the conference

location was chosen in great part because so many alpaca and llama owners who responded live within reasonable driving distance of the conference center. Keeping costs as low as possible for attendees was also a consideration. Based on the response to this conference, we hope to hold a similar one in another part of the country.

Photo of birds pulling fiber out of her llama, Miss Z. Sharon Bramblett of Mesquite Bean Llamas Manor, Texas

Humming Herald Newsletter Summer 2014

Fiber Mill 101

By James Firor, Fire Mountain Fiber, Hotchkiss, Colorado

Have you ever wondered how fiber from your llama or alpaca is turned into usable finished products? The beginning stages of fiber processing are all similar, but the spinning stage, and the preparation for spinning, is differentiated into several different processes. For this lesson, I will start at the beginning and describe how fiber is processed at our mill. We process all kinds of fiber, from alpaca to yak, including buffalo, dog, and we once processed highland cow fiber. The following description focuses on how we process camelid fiber. After shearing your llama or alpaca, you send us a bag of fiber. We hope that you have spent a little time first skirting your fleece, removing tags from the rear end, large sticks, burrs, bits of baling twine, wire, and any other large foreign objects, but we go over it again before washing. We use washing machines with the agitators removed to prevent accidental felting. Washing at our mill is done with laundry detergent and lots of very hot solar-heated water, 180째 for greasy sheep wool, and 140째 for llama, alpaca, and goat fiber. The fiber is soaked for at least 30 minutes without agitating. Most fiber is washed and rinsed at least twice. After washing, the fiber is air dried and then run through the picker. This separates the locks and fluffs the fiber into "cloud." Depending on the fiber, the next step could be to proceed to the carder to make roving or batts, but with dual coat fibers such as alpaca or llama, a dehairing machine, also called a "fiber separator," is typically the next step. Dehairing removes the coarser guard hair. The added benefit of dehairing is that the process removes vegetable matter as well. In my opinion, very few alpaca fleeces need to be dehaired, but nearly all that I have seen could benefit from the vegetation removal. Even the rougher llama fleeces can be made wonderfully soft and clean by dehairing. The fiber coming out of the dehairing process is also called cloud. After picking and dehairing, if appropriate, the fiber is then carded. The carding machine is the heart of any fiber mill. Our carder consists of twenty rolls of various sizes, covered with tiny, very pointed teeth. The "main", or central roll, is 26 inches in diameter. It is surrounded by 19 smaller rolls, which serve to evenly 17

feed the fiber to the main roll and then separate and align the individual fibers. Depending on the desired product, the carded fiber exits the carder either through the 'roving deck' or onto the 'batt drum Batts are sheets of carded fiber of varying thickness. Roving is a continuous strip of carded fiber. (Our roving is typically a fairly thick strip, but we can also make a thinner "pencil roving" by feeding less fiber into the carder.) Whether roving or batts, once the fiber is carded, it can be a final product provided to handspinners, felters, and other fiber artists, or it can proceed down the production line to become needlefelt, in the case of batts, or yarn in the case of roving. Our needlefelting machine consists of a bank of several hundred slightly barbed needles. A table on the incoming side allows the batt to be laid out in preparation for feeding into the machine, and pairs of rubber rollers on either side of the array of needles feed the batt through. As the needles move up and down through the fiber, the barbs grab a few fibers and push them through the batt, "stitching" the batt into a more compact layer of fiber. With each pass through the machine, the batt becomes denser, stronger, and thinner. One or two passes makes what we call "prefelt;' a soft felt suitable for quilt batts and as material for felt artists. Overlaying two batts with the fibers running perpendicular to each other, and making several passes through the machine makes a strong "garment grade" felt that can be cut, sewn, to make clothing, bags, etc. If the fiber is roving destined for spinning yarn, an additional step, called pin drafting, is necessary before spinning. Other mills might use a different machine, called a drawframe, to achieve a similar result. The pin drafter employs about 60 very sharp metal combs that move on a track to comb the fiber in the roving, aligning the fibers to produce a strand called sliver. Sliver is similar to "combed top," but unlike top, sliver can contain fibers of different lengths. Three to five strands of roving are fed simultaneously into the pin drafter, producing a single sliver about 25% of the thickness of the fed rovings. Most fibers are passed through the pin drafter once more to produce a spinnable sliver. After drafting, the fiber is ready to spin. Our spinning frame has eight spinning heads on one side and eight plying heads on the other. The spinning side, which makes single-ply yarn, consists of a series of horizontal metal rolls, and eight vertically-oriented spindles that turn clockwise. Thickness and degree of twist in the yarn is controlled by varying the speed of the rolls. Other adjustments are used to compensate for the incredible variation in fibers. As the single-ply yarn is spun, it is collected on wooden bobbins. The single-ply may be the final product, but if a

Humming Herald Newsletter Summer 2014

plied yarn is desired, the bobbins are moved to the plying side of the spinning frame. The plying side serves to combine strands of single-ply to make yarn with two, three, four, or more plies. That's pretty much it. All that's left is to wind the finished yarn onto skeins of the desired length, twist the skeins into tidy bundles, and ship them back to you, the fiber producer. So now you know much more than you ever wanted to about how a fiber mill works. For those intrepid individuals who managed to read this all the way to the end, the final exam is cancelled, and you get an A in Fiber Mill 101. Reprinted with permission of the author, from The Journal, newsletter of the Rocky Mtn. Llama & Alpaca Assoc., Spring 2014. Further reprinting requires author approval.

Agriscience Report Llama Fiber Strength and Softness By Pamela Mogler

Introduction The purpose of this experiment is to see how external factors affect, the llama's fiber strength and softness. The strength is important because it shows how durable the fiber is and how well it can hold up. The softness is important because that determines if the finished product is worn next to your skin or as an outer layer. The quality or softness, often called "hand," will determine how much you can sell the fiber for. At shows, the llama's confirmation or bone structure is the most important thing to be judged, but it is equally important to keep the fiber healthy and clean, too. Llamas are mainly all wool, and fiber has its own category to be judged on. Showing off the fiber and having it judged are the best ways to see what it is worth. Llama fiber is a great seller in the hand-spinning community. So wool "hand" or "handle" is a top priority. Every year, the fiber is shorn off for three reasons. First is to help keep them cool throughout the hot summer. Llamas originally came from the high Andes Mountains, a much different climate than in the California Central Valley. Second is to show off the animal's best attributes and hide their faults. Third is to have a sustainable fiber product available to sell. Llama fiber can be used for many things like hats, socks, sweaters, rugs, blankets, etc. With proper care, the fiber will be strong enough to hold weight, keep its shape and still be soft enough for next-to-skin-wearable products. 20

Humming Herald Newsletter Summer 2014

How do external factors used in grooming and shearing affect the quality of llama fiber? I hypothesize the chemicals can make the fiber weak, brittle and not as soft as before. Getting a llama ready for a show involves a lot of grooming, takes a long time and uses many different products. Shampoo like Dove, and a conditioner like Main and Tail, are widely used. If your llama is white. you might want to use a whitening shampoo and stain remover. When shearing, it is important to use blade wash and a cooling spray frequently to prevent burning the llama's skin. Llama fiber is judged on a possibility of 100 points. Just like the overall impression or its strength, cleanliness is a big part of fiber judging. Llama fleece offers protection from the heat and helps keep you warm when cold. Llama fiber is good for +/- 50 degree temperature changes. Blankets, rugs, coats and socks are only a few of the various ways llama fiber is used toÂŹday. The way all of those coats and items are made is by spinning the fleece. Llama fiber is a sustainable product and has low impact on the planet. Fiber reÂŹgrows and can be harvested annually. Llama fiber is naturally biodegradable, and no petroleum products or chemicals are used in its processing. The economic influence of llamas is being revived as the global market for fiber textiles and clothing expands. The industrial impact on the environment is minimal. The quality of fiber is that llama fleece has two coats. One is the downy undercoat, and the second one is the guard hair or top coat. Llama wool is considered a protein fiber and is sustainable enough to hold up weight. Llama fiber doesn't have a bad smell as do other wool types. Llama fiber is hollow, so it is light and warm. There is no lanolin in llama fiber-lanolin is the greasy, smelly subÂŹstance found in sheep's wool, which makes it easier to work with.

Your average shorn animal wool is valued between $1.00 - $6.00 per pound. A top¬quality llama fleece that can be worn against the skin and has been properly prepared sells for $4.50 per ounce, or $72.00 per pound. The purpose of this test is to study and see what chemicals affect the quality in a negative way, which also affects the price you can sell the fleece for. I hope to determine which products to use and avoid when preparing a show llama so that I don't negatively effect the fiber by making it weak and brittle, or not as soft.

Materials: • • • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • •

Llama fiber Small rubber bands Snack-size Ziploc® bags Laundry stain remover Show Sheen® Fly spray Whitening shampoo Peroxide Paper towels for spills and drying the samples after rinsing Camera for pictures Sharpie marker for labeling samples Running water to rinse the samples Blow dryer Microscope w/camera Some sort of stand to hold your clamps Weights in various increments A fishing swivel for hanging the weights from the sample Cork to help hold the strands of fiber so they don't slip Clamps to hold the ends of your sample; i.e., binder clips, clothes pins, wood clamps

Methods: First step is to set up the samples and expose them to the chemicals. Take llama fiber and separate it into thirteen lock samples. Place a rubber

band around the cut end of each sample to hold together. Take pictures as you go through the steps for documentation and comparison later. After that, put each sample into its own Ziploc bag, label each bag with the sharpie. Mark one bag as your control and set aside for comparison later. Then for each chemical being tested, Show Sheen, fly spray, stain remover, whitening shampoo and peroxide, label one bag for a 12-hour exposure and another for 24-hour exposure. Pour enough of the chemical being tested into the bag with the sample to completely saturate the fiber. Remove as much air as possible and seal the bags. Once all the samples are ready, place the samples on a tray or other designated place to wait. After three hours, check samples and observe if there are any noticeable changes. After 12 hours, make observations of the samples in each bag. Run each sample under warm water, rinsing out as much chemical as possible. Repeat the rinsing procedure for the 24¬hour samples, too. After rinsing, place each sample to dry on a paper towel that has been labeled. A blow dryer or other heat source can be used to speed up the drying process. Once the samples are dry, record your observations and compare each sample against the control. If you are able, and for better comparison data, look at each sample under a microscope and take pictures. Second step is to check for any changes to the quality or fineness of hand. For each chemical tested and each exposure time, take the sample and roll between your fingers next to your ear. Listening for a crackling or brittle sound. Next, rub the fiber sample gently across your cheek, or across your top lip where there are a lot of nerve endings, to feel how soft or prickly the sample is to your skin. Then firmly grasp both ends of the sample and tug firmly several times to check for breakage. Record all observations for later data analysis. 21

The final step is to test the strength of each fiber sample. Build a stand out of wood, and secure wood clamps to each side at 5" apart. Place a cork lining on the clamps to hold the sample securely. Pull at least five strands of fiber from the sample bundle to be tested individually. For each chemical tested, each length of exposure, and the control, the following steps will be repeated five times each. Secure one end of the fiber strand with the clamp, thread the loose end through the eye or loop on the swivel; then secure the loose end with the other clamp. Keep the snap end of the fishing swivel open to create a hook for hanging the weights off of. Start with a %2 ounce weight, slowly adding increasing amounts of weight one at a time to see if the fiber strand will hold or break. Record all data for later comparison.

Conclusion I hypothesized that the chemicals would make the fiber weak, brittle, not as soft as before. After testing and comparison, I have concluded that my hypothesis is almost true. There were some test where the samples, like whitening shampoo and Show Sheen, showed that the strands were still soft and fluffy; but soon as they were under the microscope, the strands showed up as dry and cracking. Some results show a huge difference, but most of the time they were the same consistency as before. I thought the peroxide was going to make the fiber weak, but turned out it tested stronger than before. There were some strength results that were mind-blowing when it came to putting on the weights. Most of the results answered the question or hypothesis of my Agriscience project: yes the products affected the fiber. From this experiment, I also learned that blade wash doesn't rinse off with just water. This explains why every year after shearing, some of the llamas 22

Humming Herald Newsletter Summer 2014

have what is commonly referred to as a "chemical burn" that affects the re¬growth of the fiber. I learned that shampoo is needed to remove all the chemical residue so that we don't have the bad skin reaction. I also discovered that the whitening shampoo caused the llamas fleece to look purple. Whitening shampoo can't be just sitting in the llamas fiber, especially if light in color. It is important to follow the directions and rinse it off completely after five minutes. This experiment has shown me results that I can use myself, but also share with my family and our llama community friends. I couldn't find any previous research done with llama fiber and how chemicals effected it. I think this is a good start to helping me understand how the everyday products we use can determine the quality of the shorn fiber potentially for sale. I would like to do this experiment again and add additional external factors like sun¬light, cold, heat, other chemicals and grooming products. I hope to use what I have learned so far to make informed choices in preparing my llamas for shows, and doing that in such a way that I still have the highest quality fleece avail¬able to show and offer for sale as well. Works Cited "About Llama Fiber." http:// www.altiplanoinsulation.com/about. 1999. Web. 10/ December/2013. "llamas Fibras Andinas." http:// www.fibrasandinas.com/aboutllamas.html. Web. 10/December/2013. "Llama Fiber." http://www.llama.org/llama_fiber.htm. 1977. Web. 1-/December/2013 "Eco Fiber." Organicexchange.org. Web. 10/ December/2013. "Llama Fiber." http://lostcreekllamas.com/fiber.htm. Web. 10/December/2013. Alpaca and Llama Association, Inc. "ALSA Handbook." Texas, 2012. 98-105. Print. Birutta, Gale. "Storey's Guide to Raising Lla¬mas." The Guide Book for Llamas: United States, 1997.244-260. Print. Reprinted from LANA News, Issue #114; Winter 2013-2014.

October 23-26, 2014

Greater Appalachian Llama & Alpaca Assoc. Annual Conference Marriott Sable Oaks Hotel Portland, Maine, USA

Top Reasons to come to the Conference in October

10. Maine vacation. 9. Long timers celebrated. Short timers inspired. 8. Mallon will tell you why lamas do it like they do. 7. Poetry slam, needle felting and flapjack races. 6. Linda Cortright’s Wild Fibers stories. 5. Dr. Pugh’s advice on how to avoid disease altogether. 4. Lobster. 3. Dr. Bernie Rollin talks ethical treatment 2. Orgling 1. 75,672 moose.

In the meantime, you may view the headline speaker’s bios, a Conference description in flyer form, and book a hotel reservation on line at: http://www.galaonline.org/conference2014.html

THE GREAT LLAMA RACE – April 2014 All great things begin with an idea, a simple thought passed around between inspired minds that blossoms into a plan and then into an event. This is how “The Great Llama Race” began, just a simple, funny idea between a few people interested in raising money for worthy causes. Casa de Sara is a non-profit group, headquartered in Knoxville, who sponsors an elementary school in Bolivia. They were interested in a unique fundraising event that would center around the llama – the national animal of Bolivia- that could also benefit the local community and their school in Bolivia. Casa de Sara teamed up with Southeast Llama Rescue (SELR) to coordinate the event, and share the funds raised with each of their missions along with local elementary and high schools in the area. That’s when the call to volunteer came in. Deb Logan – of Southeast Llama Rescue – diligently invited and coordinated the llama community to help. It was an impressive turnout as well, with 26 llamas representing a vast array of Southeast states including: Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama and Georgia. Farms that work with their llamas for showing, packing, 4-H, trekking, fiber and just plain ol’ pasture ornaments were present. Really ALL types and varieties of llamas were there to participate and EDUCATE the public. There was even an alpaca at the event, which was GREAT to help illustrate the difference between llamas and alpacas. (Because you KNOW that question came up frequently!!) Various local schools had the opportunity to select their race llama from a list the SELR posted on-line. The school would then solicit a sponsor to pay the $1000.00 entry fee, and obtain a “celebrity handler.” These handlers ranged from teachers and principals to local news anchors and radio personalities. The race was divided up into five heats, and the winner of each heat would then move on to compete in the grand finale. The overall winning school earned $3000.00, second place won $2000.00

Humming Herald Newsletter Summer 2014

Dakota (July 1990-April 2014) I can no longer see you with my eyes, touch you with my hands, But I will feel you in my heart forever. ~ Anonymous

(Dakota and his famous birthday and party hat)

How do I start to write up a memorial to one that made all my dreams come true, the start of our humble farm…the start of it all? Our farm was even named after him…… Many of you know Dakota’s story already, a wedding gift of love from my husband to me 24 years ago. He came to us untamed, spirited and wild. He went on to be a gentle soul, giving kisses to people he met along the way. He surprised children by attending their birthday parties wearing his famous hat, visited nursing homes and schools too. He made many, many public appearances, including parades and there was one parade in particular I remember, where one of his fans yelled out “DAKOTA ROCKS!!” Dakota was the first llama at Saratoga County Fair and we were there to teach the public what llamas were all about. He was great at Public Relations and would draw a big crowd around, especially when he would try to steal drinks from an innocent bystander, put his head in a pretty ladies purse, or even steal cigarettes off the ground before we could even notice (and eat them). Yes, he had a nicotine habit and he was so quick in picking them up, you’d barely notice until he was eating it….yes I mean it, he was eating them. If I walked away from Dakota at any of these public events, he would pace, hum and look for me until I came back. You cannot ever tell me these magical creatures don’t have feelings or souls, because I know they do. Dakota was my “protector” and always there for me. If he heard me scolding another llama he would run over and try to “rescue” me. (The only thing bad about this is that he would get mad at some llamas if I was 25

trying to catch them!) And I think many of you already know Dakota used to come in the house quite often. He’d lay down in front of the tv (surprised Gary the very first time) and walk around checking things out. He wouldn’t stay in the house long, but we knew he loved it. I used to walk and jog with Dakota into the Village. Back in the early 1990’s there weren’t too many llamas around, so you can imagine how many “what is that” or “is that a goat” and the other funny questions I was asked. Gosh, that was fun…. Dakota was on television many times, he loved the camera and always had to give it a big smooch. He had his picture taken with the young girl from our area that starred in “Annie” in NYC, and so many other events I cannot even begin to list. But, as Dakota got older we had to retire him from all of this. He did come out of retirement for a big party in Saratoga Springs one year and also walked in the “June Petteys Llama Walk for a Cure” (in my Mom’s memory), those were his last. Today was a terribly sad day as we let a huge part of our family pass over the rainbow bridge…..I held onto his beautiful head tightly through it all. We are privileged to have known Dakota for all of these years…and know we will see him again someday. He is in our hearts forever…..

Katrina Capasso Dakota Ridge Farm www.dakotaridgefarm.com Follow us! http://twitter.com/DakotaRidgeFarm http://www.facebook.com/DakotaRidgeFarm 26

Humming Herald Newsletter Summer 2014

Marcie Saska Agnew Bob Burton 817-999-1875 P.O. Box 211 Sunset, Texas 76270 5415 CO Rd 59 Florissant, Colorado 80816

Chuk & Vicki Guzman Southern G Llamas 740 Bear Creek Rd

Triple V Ranch Rick & Sharon VanHooser 600 Red Top Road Poolville, Texas 76487

LaGrange, Texas 78945

817-596-9644

979.242.3858

E-mail: Sharonav@peoplepc.com t Quarter Horses t Llamas t Miniature Donkeys t t Miniature Horses t Dwarf/Pigmy Goats

Figment Ranch Llamas

Since 1988 Specializing in performance animals. We breed pets, show, guard and just-for-fun llamas. Members of SCLA-ALSA-ILR

17102 Mueschke Rd Cypress, Tx 77433 281-351-1820 Home

www.FigmentRanch.com figranch@flash.net Ruby Herron Robin Turell Sean Price

713-249-8523 713-249-3893 281-830-2368

Diamond D Llamas Rick & Darlene Matthiesen 259 PR 3512 Hondo, TX 78861 Home: 830.741.7023 email: diamonddllamas@gmail.com www.diamonddllamas.com

Cebra Named Endowed Professor of Camelid Medicine OSU Vet Gazette March 10, 2014

From left: Glen Pfefferkorn, Morris Wendorf, and Chris Cebra.

Dr. Chris Cebra, Professor of Large Animal Internal Medicine and Head of the Department of Clinical Sciences, has been chosen for the Glen Pfefferkorn and Morris Wendorf Endowed Professorship of Camelid Medicine. It is the first endowed professorship in the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine, and the only endowed professorship of camelid medicine in the country. “An endowed position is one of the highest academic recognitions that the University can bestow on a faculty member and is also an enduring tribute to the donor who establishes it,” says Interim Dean Sue Tornquist. “The College is very fortunate to have enjoyed two decades of generous support for camelid programs from Glen Pfefferkorn and Morris Wendorf.” Pfefferkorn and Wendorf founded Glenmor Forest Llamas in 1982, and in those years their 100+ llamas were one of the largest herds in Oregon. “OSU students had access to these animals for learning and many of the llamas participated in research projects,” says Tornquist. Pfefferkorn and Wendorf also established an endowed scholarship to benefit veterinary medical students interested in camelid medicine. Dr. Cebra has been working with camelids for over 20 years, has written or co-authored over 70 scientific articles concerning camelids, has been involved with over 40 camelid research projects, has presented at conferences worldwide (including in 9 countries on 4 continents) and hosts the International Camelid Health Conference at Oregon State University every other year. In his new position, Dr. Cebra will focus on teaching, research, outreach and clinical care of camelids.

The half million dollar endowment was funded 1:1 by the college and the donors. An

$62,500 Summer was provided Humming additional Herald Newsletter 2014 through the OSU Provost Faculty Match Program.

“Congratulations to Dr. Cebra and our most sincere thanks to Glen and Morris for this generous contribution to camelid medicine and to the CVM at Oregon State University,” says Tornquist.

Two Important Skills for Two Llama Owners

By Viv Fulton

Will your llamas stand quietly tied? Do you have just two llamas and feel they can't be separated? These are two important skills your llamas should know and YOU can teach them even if you are a new llama owner. Teaching a llama to tie and stand quietly should be taught as part of the animal's lesson on leading. However, sometimes very little attention is given to this part of the lesson due to rear or anxiety on the part of the owner. If you are like a lot of folks, you've wrestled the halter on the llama and snapped a lead rope on the ring and then spend the next half hour or so either stubbornly pulling on the lead trying to get the animal to move or being jerked like a fish on a line as you try to stand in one spot with the llama fighting to get away. So now just the thought of trying to tie the llama to something solid seems like a sure way for it to kill itself by nothing less than breaking its neck. Noooo - it doesn't have to be that way. Or maybe your llamas will stand tied but you can't move either one of them out of sight of the other or they both go bonkers! If your two llamas are so bonded to each other, should something happen to force them apart like a need for special nursing care, the other will be unnecessarily traumatized which is not only unhealthy but can become a major safety issue for that llama and anyone around it. Training at being separated is even more important when there are only two llamas in the "herd". Let's start with the tying. Whether you use a restraint chute

or not, or can trim your llamas' feet or give shots by just standing next to them, there will come a time when treatment for an injury will need to rely on more than your voice control. And how likely will there be a pen available to contain your llama should it need to remain in one place compared to the availability of things to tie to? If you are going to use your llama eventually for packing, your animal will also need to learn to stand alone quietly tied anywhere and for any length of time. One of the best overall exercises you can do even now on a daily basis can occur at feeding time. Catch each animal, put a halter on, tie it to a wall ring, let it eat its grain, then un-halter & release it when all are done. That way each animal gets its fair share and learns to accept the haltering and tying. You can even make it a routine to brush and pick up feet before you release it.

Our basic method to teach a llama to be tied follows. Attach a sturdy tie ring to the wall between llama head & chest high away from hay racks & waterers or anything that the llama can get hung up on. Tie a rubber inner tube (doubled for 29

an adult) to the ring. (This is basically John Mallon's method.) Tie a lead rope with a quick release knot so that there is only 1-2 feet between snap and knot. Leave this hanging from the wall when not in use. Make sure that your llama will be about 10 feet from its nearest neighbor. Catch with a catch rope (Marty McGee-ÂŹBennett method), halter, lead to where the llama will be fed, & tie it. Ideally use individual feeders that are mounted about chest-high to the llama. Animals that already easily tie can have their feeders on the ground but lengthen the lead rope so they can reach the feeder (but not long enough to reach their neighbors). For an animal that has a real hard time with haltering, you may have to use a collar instead of the halter until the animal is comfortable at being caught - then gradually add the halter after a week or two just tying with the collar. Get the animal comfortable with being caught, being haltered, and tied up before you add grooming, foot work, and separation to the mix. Keep in mind that leaving the llamas tied for even an hour while you do other chores is not a bad thing. Just make sure you keep an eye on them especially in the beginning. Tying for a length of time teaches patience as well. If the lead ropes are the appropriate length, the llama will be able to lie down. Many times I have finished doing all the chores and found all six llamas in the group I was working with, finished with their grain, lying down, and chewing their cud. I retrieve the grain feeders and then release them in the order they were tied up. (I routinely leave the halters attached to the lead ropes tied to the wall & use a catch rope to catch the animal & hold it while I halter it.) They quickly learn the routine. If you plan on grooming, working with feet, or even beginning to introduce the pack to them, make sure you don't do this at chore time before they are fed. 30

Humming Herald Newsletter Summer 2014

They won't understand and will tend to become upset if you break the routine of catch/halter/tie/ then feed. Add the other stuff after they're fed. One thing I should mention. You may need to occasionally change the order or position in the barn of which llama is caught first or tied where. I noticed that one rescue llama that had a hard time at being caught became totally unglued when I changed where I caught him. You should be able to do without the catch pen after a couple weeks and be able to catch them at their feeding station. Remember if you're training for hiking and/or packing conditions - you need to be able to tie to any tree or shrub in any meadow. Now it's easy to add the separation card. Or maybe your llamas already know how to stand tied but just aren't good about doing things separately. Let's assume that your two llamas have been quietly standing tied in sight of each other and probably within the same pen. Now start moving them further apart than 10 feet - to the opposite sides of the pen for starters and preferably fac-

ing away from each other. Sure they can turn their heads, but it's the next harder "step" for them. Remember, we chunk down all things we want to teach to their simplest level and build as those steps are learned. Gradually move them further apart - maybe one out now in the aisle - alternate who goes there and who stays in the pen. Add distance and interference with the line of sight maybe partially blocked by a stack of hay bales or where they have move to look out a doorway at their friend. Finally, have them separated completely by sight. Start with short blocks of time maybe only 10 minutes at first. Increase the time at 10 minute intervals until you can separate them

but as a short term but acceptable replacement for that other llama. You would nee that acceptance in both a hiking companion and pack llama. Progress to where the llama left in the barn is released within its pen while the other is still tied out of sight. Do not release the penned llama until it shows no anxiety at being left alone - you don't need it "breaking out" in search of its buddy. Again, add time gradually and alternate who is left in the pen and who is tied outside or being walked. During this time it is not a good idea to "tease" the inside llama so keep away from open doorways and windows. Once the llamas have learned to handle separation, make it a point to tie and separate them whenever you are handling either of them for routine procedures. It is also very important to periodically tie and/ or separate them so they don't forget these important lessons. Having them slip back to being too dependent on each other can only make separation worse as they age. It is also very important to periodically tie and/or separate them so they don't forget these important lessons.

for an hour or more. You can work with each llama during this time too so you're not "wasting" time. Even taking one of the llamas for a short walk outside is training and teaching that animal to now think of you as its companion, not as a herdmate

Viv & Bob Fulton own Rhodie Hill Farm in Sherburne, NY. Past president of PLTA (the national Pack Llama Trial Association), Viv teaches a variety of workshops on and off the farm (www.rhodiehillfarm.com). Reprinted from the GALA Newsletter, vol. 29, #2; May 2014

Showing in a Halter or Performance Class: Your Lama Needs to Know How to Back Up By Linda Hayes â&#x20AC;˘ ALSA, ILR & AOBA Judge

is equally distributed on all four legs; that is he is balanced. A relaxed lama will stand this way naturally if his legs are correctly proportioned and angled. In my last article I stressed how important it is to have your lama trust you and be relaxed in the ring. If he is pulling away from you, he will not show off his correct structure. If he does stand relaxed and balanced, leg deviations will not be as obvious. That being said, how do you get them to stand balanced? Again, it all starts with training at home. There are four steps to training. As the lama learns your commands, you will not need to use them all. He will react to more subtle voice or body movements. 1. Say the command - in this case "back". Always use the same word and the same tone of voice. 2. Move into the lama's personal space. The end goal is to have your animal respond to your body movements or at least the movement coupled with a quiet voice command.

Teaching your lama to back is a must if you expect to do your best in the show ring. Performance classes require extensive backing, but even in a halter class knowing how to back up can help you win. Performance exhibitors are always asked to back and often the backing obstacle is complicated and challenging. By following the techniques deÂŹscribed below, performance lamas will be able to earn all ten points given for the backing obstacles. In the halter class, knowing how to back just a few steps allows the exhibitor to properly "square up" the lama to show off their best conformation. "Squaring up" your lama means that his weight 32

Humming Herald Newsletter Summer 2014

3. Use the lead to pull back on the halter. Do this gently. No jerking allowed. One of the main ways to punish a lama is to jerk on their heads. So use a soft hand. 4. Physically make the lama go where you want. In this case your first goal is just one step back. I have seen people try to force the lama to back by stretching the lead rope across the lama's neck and pushing on them. This is awkward and not very subtle. If you must put hands on, tickle them on the chest. When the chest moves back, the neck and head are sure to follow. Your first goal is to get just one step taken backward.

Once this is accomplished, give them a reward. Usually just a loose lead will do, but a bit of grain can also work. Sometimes they need to be rewarded just for switching their weight back without any foot movement at all. Training is a matter of taking small steps to accomplish your end goal. If you give a verbal reward like "good boy", use the same tone of voice and same words each time. Follow it with a physical reward such as the loose lead. In time, just the words will be all you need to use. Now here is something that is very important. Don't do all four things at once. Start by standing in front of the lama and saying "back". Then pause for a moment. Follow that by moving into their space and again pause. Next, put pressure on the lead and give the lama time to respond, i.e. pause. When that doesn't get a response, use the

I'm sure the first time you do this the lama is thinking "This guy is nuts!" That's why you pause after each command. You want the lama to have time to digest what is happening. Once he has taken a step back, give a reward. You are also teaching him that if he obeys your first command (voice) you won't touch him, get in his space or pull on his face (halter). It won't be before this soaks in. You can do a lot of damage to the training process if you forget and do them all at once or in the wrong order. Remember: voice, move, lead, and then touch. After a while, you will find that the lama no longer needs to be touched and will back with just pressure on the lead. Once you get this far, work on increasing the number of steps taken. In the end, you want him to respond to slight movements of your body or quiet voice commands. In the performance classes, a lama that backs without pressure on the lead is sure to be a winner. In the halter class it makes life a lot easier. It's important to keep your training sessions short. Ten minutes twice a day is better than twenty all at once. It gives the lama time to think about what has happened. You have heard the term "Let's sleep on it"? I think lamas invented it because it seems to work well for them. You can spend all day trying to teach something that they simply refuse to do and then come back the next day and they do it like they knew how all their lives.

(Sean Price at the Texas Classic)

tickle or push to the chest. Repeat this over and over, always including the pause between commands.

Okay, your lama now knows how to back. It's time to use this same training in the halter ring. With a relaxed responsive lama at the end of the lead, you would go through the following steps to make sure he is standing correctly. 33

1. Be in a position where you can ask the lama to take a step straight forward. Sometimes you have to get out of line and move up into position again to make this possible. It's alÂŹlowed, just don't do it over and over. 2. Ask the lama to stop. A correct lama usually stops with the hind feet where you want them.

your animal is. That's not a bad feather to put in your cap.

(Anna Reese at 2014 Grand National)

3. If his back feet are not positioned correctly, move him forward or backward until the rear feet are side by side with weight equally balanced. Remember always get the hind feet placed before moving the front. 4. If the front feet are not in place, use your back up training to get the lama to move each front foot ever so slightly until it is where you want it. With practice you will see the lama actually hold the foot in the air until your body language tells him to put it down. I know this sounds nearly impossible to those of you who never show in obstacle classes, but as a performance judge, I can tell you, these animals are amazing and with trust and training you can get them to do almost anything. Just watch the kids in the performance classes at the next show you attend. Many have totally trained lamas. Once all four feet are correctly placed, the lama will be balanced for visual and hands on inspection. Your time and effort will have paid off. Even if you don't win the blue ribbon, you can bet that your peers and the judge will have noticed what a great showman you are and how well trained 34

Humming Herald Newsletter Summer 2014

Reprinted with permission of the author, from The Journal, newsletter of the Rocky Mtn. Llama & Alpaca Assoc., Spring 2014. Further reprinting requires author approval. Linda sends a fond Hello to all her Texas friends!

Mentoring By Teri Conroy

These days, if someone makes a decision to buy a horse, they've already been riding at a stable, taking lessons, and maybe even leasing a horse at the stable. They have been mentored, and continue to be mentored in all things equine. They learn how to behave around horses, how to speak with their body, how, to groom, feed, learn about illness, injury, and farrier needs. All of these things are necessary to enjoy the companionship and riding of their new horse. With llamas, it's not always as easy. I was a fairly experienced horseperson, dog person (obedience, agility, and therapy), and also had pet goats when I acquired my first llamas in 2005. At the back of our thirty acres, we have a fenced in pasture and small barn. I knew it was too far from the house to keep horses, and not safe enough for sheep because of coyotes, but after some research, it seemed llamas would be perfect. My understanding was that they were a low maintenance animal, and their size would keep coyotes away. I read through a couple of books, located a vet who said she worked with alpacas and llamas and would take me on as a client. At the time, I had

no desire to show or do anything with llamas, and I did what I thought was a good thing, and contacted a llama rescue not too far from me. I must have seemed okay enough because two days later a trailer from the rescue pulled up and dropped off three llamas, two females and a gelding. Keep in mind, I had never handled a llama, so I watched as the people delivering struggled with them and we finally got them to the back pasture and barn. I was taught how to give Ivermectin injections ... and the trailer and delivery team was... whoosh, gone. There I was ... three llamas on three acres that walked, or ran, away if I walked toward them. They would come near the barn if I put grain out, but if I tried to pet one or get near, they darted away. I spent a lot of hours out in that pasture experiencing complete defeat. I was sure once I gained their trust they would run to me for love. (Are you laughing yet?) Despite all the experience I had with other animals, I didn't realize that I needed to learn to speak llama. One of the females unexpectedly delivered a cria not long after her arrival. I remembered reading birthing was easy for llamas, and to leave them be (not that I could get near), and since it looked like the cria was nursing, I kept my distance. A few days later, I realized the cria was not well. She was hanging her head, and appeared to be very weak. I called the vet I had lined up, and she told me that she only gave rabies shots, she didn't know what to do with a 'weak' cria. And no, she had no idea where to refer me. (I can't even begin to express how upset I was about that.) The rescue that the llamas came from was no help, they told me the cria would probably die 35

so I shouldn't get attached. Desperate, I found a llama group on the internet (how fortunate that was considering how far the internet has come since then), and shared my dilemma and frustration, ready to grasp at any chance of hope. A woman saw my note and reached out to me ... she had a llama farm in Ballston Spa, NY. She was only 45 minutes away.

I have school field trips here, scout and 4-H groups, senior citizens groups, and in the spring/summer/fall, weekly groups of adults with developmental disabilities. I also have Adult Llama Walks open to the public. We have thirty acres with very gentle trails. I have introduced many people to llamas with these walks, and now a few of those people now have llamas of their own!

Katrina Capasso, of Dakota Ridge Farm in Ballston Spa, NY, changed everything for me and my llamas. She referred me to her vet and that saved the cria's life. Katrina welcomed me to her farm, and invited my daughter (ten years old at the time) to join her llama 4H club. It was there that I learned the language of llamas. I had a mentor!

Many people have called and emailed me over the years and said they wanted to get 'a rescue llama'. They asked if I knew where they could get one. While I believe acquiring llamas from a rescue can be a good thing, I do everything I can to spare people from what I went through. I invite those people here to LEARN LLAMA first. I tell these people that I don't sell llamas, but encourage them to spend time here before making any decisions. I try to teach them what I was taught .... that llamas are wonderful and fun to work with, if you understand them. I also discuss the 'exceptions', and usually suggest their first llamas be trained and from a reputable breeder.

(Katrina Capasso, of Dakota Ridge Farm in Ballston Spa, NY )

Beginning with a mentor and trained llamas, makes it so much easier to take in rescues later. Knowledge and experience make all the difference.

A mentor has many roles including education, support, and encouragement. Katrina introduced me to the fun of llama shows and to GALA. Almost nine years later and I have had the opportunity to pay it forward more than a few times. Llamas have become the theme of my family's farm. We have 17 llamas and 1 alpaca. Some are rescues, a few are show animals, and a few are boarders. All are loved! 36

Humming Herald Newsletter Summer 2014

While two of my first three llamas were returned to the rescue for behavior issues that I could not possibly deal with, especially being so new to llamas, the one that stayed from that group turned out to be the sweetest gal. Kachina Belle actually had (and still has at 19 yrs.) a wonderful disposition and manners, and thanks to my mentor, Katrina, it didn't take long for me to learn this.

Teri & John Conroy own Wunsapana Farm in Altamount NH http://www.wunsaponaform.com Reprinted from the GALA Newsletter, vol. 29, #2; May 2014

Where, When And How do Draw the Line

By Marty McGee Bennett Perhaps the hardest thing about teaching people about lama training is explaining to new lama owners where, when and how to draw the line about inappropriate behavior. When do you insist on cooperation, when do you take a break, when do you back off altogether? When is appropriate to use food, and when are you creating a cookie monster that won't do anything without a bowl of grain in front of him? I am sometimes dismayed to see new lama owners allow their lama buddies to run roughshod over them in the name of kindness. These new folks have the best of intentions; however, it is no kindness to let a lama push the bounds of appropriate behavior. Lamas raised without boundaries run afoul of the rules and become troublemakers; their lives are made miserable by their own behavior, and in extreme cases, they must be put down. All social creatures must learn how to be social, and since lamas live with humans, they must learn the rules and responsibilities about being with humans. If given a choice, lamas would rather be in the field just like most of us two-leggeds would rather play all day. Humans have jobs, and lamas do, too. Being gentle, kind and reasonable does not mean that you set no boundaries, or that you let the lama lead the lesson. An additional complicating factor in the lama world is the high percentage of new lama owners that elect to deal with an intact male. Raising and training whole male livestock of any type is much trickier than females or geldings of the same species. Whole males are subject to the complications of testosterone, not that they cannot learn to be polite and respectful. However females and geldings are generally easier, particularly for novices. Experienced animal teachers do not let animals behave inappropriately. A good animal teacher is able to create an atmosphere of cooperation because they are clear in their expectations and they set boundaries. What follows is a list of my boundaries (both those I set for the lama student and those I place on myself). â&#x20AC;˘ I expect a lama to pay attention to me... so I don't make lessons last too long. I don't ask for constant state of attention when there are hard to ignore distractions. I don't ask babies or adolescents to pay attention when I don't have a clear lesson or agenda. I don't ask my lama to

pay any closer attention to what is going on than I am. If you are not paying attention to what you are doing, don't expect your lama to be hanging on your every word. • I expect that a lama will be respectful of my space and will not push me around physically... so I am likewise respectful of my lama's space, and I don't push him around. I refuse to get into a physical contest of wills. I do not put them in a position where they are threatened and have no choice but to defend themselves physically. I am very clear about my space, and I don't confuse my lama students by blurring the lines and bending the rules when it suits me to be a buddy instead of the teacher. • I expect a lama to be cooperative... so l don't ask for him to do things that are unsafe or tasks that are beyond what is appropriate. I don't ask the lama to do things that I don't have time to chunk* down. If I feel that I have miscalculated in a request, I back off to something easier. *To chunk down: to divide a task into the smallest pieces necessary to achieve cooperation without fear also known as systematic desensitization. Walking the lama over plywood first, then adding sides and a top incrementally is a way of chunking down the process of learning to load into a trailer. Sides and a top can be plastic sheeting blankets. To a lama a trailer is merely something scary to walk on with sides and a top. It is much easier to teach a lama to load if they have learned how to walk on different surfaces between boundaries and under things with their handler. • I expect a lama to try new things and to trust me to set the agenda for the lesson... so I explain new tasks very clearly-chunk them down and I give them time to think - time to think without a constant barrage of signals and verbal commands. Time spent waiting in silence is much more productive than constant verbal encouragement that only distracts the lama from the task at hand. • I understand that I may sometimes have to ask a lama to do things that are unpleasant, frightening or both. I am reasonable and I do my best to "explain" things and particularly in [more challenging] situations, I plan ahead so I don't have to hurry. At a recent clinic, one of the participants was very concerned that she had a "berserk" male and was thinking seriously of putting the animal down. He had never attacked her, but she was worried that he might if she pressed her agenda, and she couldn't halter him or load him. When she described the situation I wasn't getting a clear picture of this animal as aggressive. As luck would have it, she lived close-by, and I had some time after the clinic to have a look at him. I was interested in watching the herding process, and asked the owner to herd this lama along with her other ones into a catch pen. Herding is a dead give-away when it comes to figuring out who is in charge, and it was very obvious that the lamas ran the roost. She couldn't get any of them to get into the catch pen. Part of the problem was facility organization. The other part of the problem was her reluctance to set an agenda. I gave her some wands (herding sticks) and insisted that she direct traffic like she meant it. She gave me a sideways look, but jumped in with both feet. With some moral support from the sidelines and some strategically placed panels, the lamas including the "bad" actor filed into the pen. Once in the pen this male once again began to assert himself by posturing. I suggested that she catch him with a rope attached to a wand. This method of catching is a terrific way of leveling the playing field with big lamas that have decided to use their size against a handler. Within a very few minutes, she had him haltered, and we were taking a nice walk. I also suggested she lead him from the side ring of the halter, which increases the handler's leverage and ability to steer. This further cemented her new role as leader. He was actually a lovely lama, perhaps too smart for his own good. He was the kind of animal that must have clear boundarieswithout them he had set his own! As we were strolling along the lane, I asked the owner what she did for a living and she cracked up and said, "I was afraid you

Humming Herald Newsletter Summer 2014

were going to ask me that... I am a cop!" My jaw dropped, and I began laughing too! She explained to me that she purchased the lamas as an antidote to the stresses of her job, and she didn't want to act like a cop with her lamas. She didn't want to tell them what to do. I guess the moral to the story is you can't get along in the world without setting some boundaries. I was recently helping train some young male lamas to load in a van. One very big male, Dingo, was reluctant to get near the van, and the more his handler pressed him, the more he resisted. She was confused about how much to press him and when to stop. There was a loading ramp, the van was large enough, easy to get into, and quite safe. I felt that we had to back off and begin with things he was willing to try. We began by asking this young male to walk under low-hanging branches, a tarp over a clothesline, and into a low, covered garage. With this as preliminary training, we moved back to the area of the van. It was obvious that this young male was beginning to figure out that he could use his size to prevail, and began planting his feet even before we got near the door. I moved the lead rope to the side ring of the halter which increased my ability to get him unstuck. Big lamas that widen their stance and plant their feet can balance off of a lead rope hooked under the chin because it is right in the center of the body. With the lead hooked to the side ring when he pulled back, he fell out of balance, and I could get him to move closer to the van. I did not intend to get Dingo in the van that day. I did want him to have a look inside and hang out around the entrance. We walked an experience lama past young Dingo into and through the van, and I asked him to stay near the entrance with his nose pointed at the van. I did not try to pull him into the van; however, I would set my hand and prevent him from backing up. He tried to avoid looking at the van, and I reoriented him toward the opening insisting only that he look inside. We ended the lesson this way. I find often that when animals have a chance to think about things overnight, that resistance will often evaporate. In this case he got in the next day with very little resistance. So what about kicking? I consider it reasonable for a lama to kick in defense of his legs or body and I can stay out of range. Until I feel safe, I make sure to keep out of range, to use some sort of extension of my arm to make initial contact, and to chunk the process of leg handling down into less frightening bits. Most lamas that thoughtfully aim to connect with humans have learned to do that because they have been tied or restrained and groomed or forcibly handled. Punishing them only reinforces their position. Alternatively, lamas who are kicking reflexively are not thinking about what they are doing and would not understand punishment anyway. The bottom line is that I can stay out of the way of a kick. Lamas hate a vacuum. If you don't have an agenda, they will rush to create their own. I was taking with a lama owner friend the other day, and she was telling me the standard thing about how horses sense fear, take advantage, and try to get away with things with new, inexperienced people. It suddenly occurred to me that a horse would feel very vulnerable dealing with a person who doesn't know how to drive. If I was in a car with an experienced tentative driver who really didn't seem to know how to drive, I would either want to get behind the wheel and drive myself or get out of the car. Almost anyone would feel the same way. My behavior in this case would have nothing to do with being dominant, being the boss, or trying to get away with anything-it is the lack of leadership and competence that feels scary. Dancing is a good analogy particularly for women reading this. Think about how it feels when your dancing partner won't lead. Woman are often accused of having some feminist agenda when they slip into leading the dance. It has a lot more to do with the discomfort that comes from a lack of dancing leadership. I believe it is the same for animals. If the humans don't lead, the animal feels the vacuum and jumps in. It has nothing to do with wanting to get away with anything, and everything to do with the fear that comes with uncertainty. Reprinted from Llama Life, Dec. 2012 and LANA News, Issue #114, Winter 2013-2014.

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Humming Herald Newsletter Summer 2014

SCLA Library

Barbara Welch, Librarian

(830) 885-2388 • dbldare@gvtc.com

Books A Guide to Raising Llamas – Gale Birutta (10132) A Well Trained Llama – By Paul & Betty Barkman (10167) Along Came a Llama -- Welsh farmer adds a llama to her farm (10041) ALSA Llama Judging Clinic (10098) Aunt Millie’s Guide to Llama Fiber - By Mike Brown (10166) Body Scoring Llamas & Alpacas, by Bob Beede, DVM (10128) Before and After Llamas -- humor (10086) Building Small Barns, Sheds and Shelters -- Monte Burche (10116) Camel's Zoo Book 2 -- children (10023) Caring for Llamas, A Health and Management Guide (10043) Caring for Llamas and Alpacas - 2nd. ed. (10043) Evaluating a Llama Pack for Comfort and Function (10122) Fifty Things to Do With a Llama by B. James (10147) Felt making Techniques & Projects by I. Evers (10149) Handbook for Llamas -- first aid (10017) Hands On Spinning -- Lee Raven (10107) Harley – by Star Livingston Illustrated by Molly Bang (10173) Heat Stress; Prevention & Management, by Myra Freeman -- (10130) I Care About My Animals – animal rights guide (10124) If I was a Llama -- children (10112) Llamas & Alpacas as a Metaphor for Life - by Marty McGee – (10148) Llama&AlpacaNeonatalCare,byB.Smith,DVM;K.Timm,DVM;P.Long,DVM.--(10131) Llama Babies -- Up, Dry & Nursing -- Anderson (10133) Llama Driving – By Ron Shinnick (10169) Llama Nutrition Clinic Notes -- LaRue Johnson, DVM (10138) Llama Packing for Youth, by the ILA Youth Committee -- (10129) Llama Training on Your Own – Helen Bodington (10168) Living with Llamas -- Rosana Hart (10020) Llamas Can Beat the Heat -- Texas cooling techniques (10035) Llama Medicine and Surgery -- Texas A&M (10022) Llama Medicine, Veterinary Clinics of North America -- (10082) Llama Training, Who's in Charge -- (10027) Llamas: Their Personality and Expressions -- (10114) Llama Tricks -- Step by Step Method -- by Linda Hayes -- 10142 Leaders Manual for 4-H Llama Activities (10156) Love a Llama -- children (10097) Making the Most of Your Llama – By Linda Beattie (10165)

Medicine & Surgery of South American Camelids -Fowler (10135) Medicine & Surgery of South American Camelids – 2nd ed., (10153) Packing with Llamas -- (10048) Raising Llamas in Alberta, Why Are They So Popular? -- (10123) Roberts Rules of Order (10152) Ruminations from the Back Forty - by John Mallon (10178) SCLA 1992 Conference -- ring binder (10104) SCLA 1993 Conference -- ring binder (10079) SCLA 1994 Conference -- ring binder (10100) SCLA 1995 Conference – ring binder (10080) SCLA 1996 Conference – ring binder (10130) SCLA 1998 Conference – ring binder (10150) SCLA 2000 Conference – ring binder, (10163) Scraping Heaven - by Cindy Ross, donated by Teresa King (10179) Secrets of the Andes (10040) So You Share Your Life with a Llama - by Susan Peterson (10177) Speechless Brothers (10106) Spinning Llama & Alpaca -- by Chris Switzer (10134) Spinning Llama & Alpaca 2nd Edition – By Chris Switzer (10171) The Camelid Companion (Handling and Training your Alpacas and Llamas) – by Marty McGee Bennett (10172) The Field Guide ... In Search of the Ideal Llama – conformation info (10113) The TTEAM Approach -- McGee (10117) The (Mis)adventures of the Llamas at Hunter Hill – Hubbard, Ryberg (10174) Today and Tomorrow Llama Investment Analysis --1990 (10047) Turning Wool into a Cottage Industry -- (10042) The Waldo Chronicles -- a training log -- (10129) Veterinary Llama Field Manual - By Norman Evans (10145) Youth Llama Project -- 4H guidebooks (10045) 4H Instructions -- SCLA (10118) Packing with Llamas 4th edition - Stanlynn Daugherty (10161) Notes from Dr. Norman Evans' llama conference on 4/1/2000 (10164) 3rd Annual Camelid Health Program - Ohio State University (10170)

Newsletters and Magazines SCLA Humming Herald Red Hot Llamas -- Smithsonian 8/94 (10101) Newsletters from other llama associations

Wonderful World of Llama Wool, The -- McGee (10121) Working In the Round Pen (3 tapes) John Mallon - 10124 Working with Difficult Llamas....by Ken Ploeser, (10162)

Video Tapes All About Llamas I -- Llama Basics (10007) All About Llamas II, Breeding, Birthing and Newborns -- (10008) Animals on the Farm -- Video aimed at children/4-H clubs - (10134) Basic T.T. E.A.M. with Llamas - by Marty McGee (10005) Camelid Handling Secrets Volume 1 Medical Management - (10025) Click & Reward -- Training Video -- (10141) Click and Reward – Vol. II –(10159) The Competitive Edge in the Showring -- ALSA guidelines (10073) Felt Making by Hand -- Basic Process -- Vickrey (10143) Fences, Barns and Feeders (10085) Five Star Llama Packing (10001) Grooming and Basic Training -- SCLA (10063) How to Use the Kwick and Slick Grooming Tool – (10160) ILA Marketing Video (10111) In Search of the Ideal Llama -- conformation (10095) Inside 4-H Llamas – By ILA (10155) Llama Reproduction -- Part I & II (10009/10) Llama Training with Bobra Goldsmith -- (10003) Mallon Method, The - Difficult to Halter (10180) Mallon Method, The -- The First 24 Hours (10125) Mallon Method, The -- Halter Training Basics (10140) Rolfing a Llama -- (10103) SCLA 1995 Ft Worth Sale -- (10108/09) SCLA 1994 Conference Awards -- (10102) SCLA 1998 Conference Videos (two) – (10151) SCLA Seminar -- (Jensen) heat stress, nail trimming (10011) Spinning Wool, Basics and Beyond -- by P Zawistoski (10139) Step by Step Shearing -- for alpacas and llamas (10126) Texas A & M Seminar -- (Fowler) infectious disease & heat stress (10013) Teaching Your Llama to Pack – Marty McGee with Stanley Daugherty –video – TWO COPIES: --(10158) Texas Country Reporter – featuring John & Linda Keltgen (10157) Training Llamas to Drive -- (10044) Treasures of the Andes -- PBS (10090) "Treating" your Llama Kindly -- handling techniques with Dr. LaRue Johnson and Marty Mcgee (10128) TTEAM Approach to Herd Management -- McGee (10070) Vermonters Just Like to Felt Hats – video (10154) What Do You Do with a Llama? -- photography, Ley (10119) Why llamas? -- (10014) 48

Humming Herald Newsletter Summer 2014

DVDs Llama Talk -- Cathy Spalding, Gentle Spirit Llama Training with Bobra Goldsmith Running of the Llamas: a documentary by Heidi Freier c. 2008 (10200) Spinning Luxury Fibers (3 DVD set) Judith MacKenzie Spinning Wool, Basics and Beyond -- by P Zawistoski Mallon Method, The -- Difficult to Halter Mallon Method, The -- The First 24 Hours Mallon Method, The -- Halter Training Basics Vermonters Just Like to Felt Hats -- The Herd of Northern Vermonters Wonderful World of Llama Wool, The -- McGee Working In the Round Pen (3 DVD set) John Mallon

Equipment Tooth-A-Matic rental $20 plus deposit SCLA members can check out items by emailing or calling Barbara Welch, Books may be kept for one month and video tapes for two weeks. Items are mailed at SCLA's expense. You pay the return postage. Please return to: Barbara Welch 12830 Rebecca Creek Rd. Spring Branch TX 78070 Email Barbara at dbldare@gvtc.com or phone: 830-885-2388. Updated June 2011

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Youth Name:_______________________________________________________________________ Ranch Name:_______________________________________________________________________ Address:___________________________________________________________________________ City:__________________________________ State:________________ Zip___________________ Phone : ( ______)_______________________

Email:_____________________________________

Date of Birth______________________________ Name & Address of Adult Sponsor: ____________________________________________________________________________________ _____Please DO NOT print my name in the Membership Directory (handed out to the public) Youth Associate Memberships are non-voting and expire December 31st of each year. Annual Membership Fee: $10.00 per youth, ages 5-19. $5.00 for first-time members who join after July 1. Please mail a copy of this membership form with your check (payable to SCLA) to: SCLA Membership P.O. Box 163654 Austin, TX 78716

Humming Herald Newsletter Summer 2014

Only if we can learn to work together will we realize our strength in numbers. Free your mind and think. Figment Ranch

â&#x20AC;&#x153;for all your llama needs...... call Carolynâ&#x20AC;?

cmyers@lyntegar.com www.Llamathings.com 52

Complete Herd Dispersal

Humming Herald Newsletter Summer 2014

806.676.6659 Lakeview, TX 79239