Immersing themselves in all things llama and alpaca, Leelanau County's 4-H group Gotta Lluva Llama, Alpaca and Cool Critter Club hosted a Hum-A-Long North with Llamas and Alpacas gathering that drew enthusiasts from around the state.
Held Saturday at the Snow Moon Ranch in Maple City, presenters covered everything from breeding, raising and caring for these South American ruminants to the shearing, spinning and use of their wool or fiber. Llama and alpaca games, crafts, goods and stories rounded out the day for attendees of all ages. Local shearer Dave Easter of Empire harvested bags of fiber from animals on hand that the animal's owners could either use or sell.
One thing was certain, with distinctive oversized eyes and lashes coupled with tall, mobile ears and a soft, fuzzy body, there is a lot to like about these creatures.
"You get one and you've got to get another and then pretty soon you have three or four or more," said Arlene Moses of Grawn, who owns 11 llamas. "They're very curious and very loving animals, they're also smart and protective."
Event organizers spread the word about northern Michigan's gathering via the Michigan Llama Association and other interest groups as well as through local flyers inviting the public.
Renee Hobbins, the leader of the local 4-H group, was pleased at the numerous displayers, presenters and participants who made the trek to Snow Moon Ranch. For her, multiple generations of extended family were involved both in the day as well as in raising llamas and alpacas.
"We all grew up in 4-H and it provides self-esteem, practice meeting and talking to people and responsibility," said Hobbins, who owns 12 llamas. "Teamwork is another big thing and learning how to use the fibers because there's more than one use."
Forget the National Cherry Festival, the Farris family of Belleville heard about the llama and alpaca gathering and planned a vacation around it.
"We have four llamas and wanted to learn more about them, so we're camping up here," said Diana Farris, who attended with her two daughters and husband. "We have minis, they're a little bit bigger than alpacas."
Teen llama enthusiasts also gave demonstrations on showing the animals, training them to run obstacle courses and using them for carting.
Jessica Zalucha of the Ann Arbor Llama Lovers 4-H Club discussed and demonstrated the basics of cart riding during multiple sessions Saturday. The articulate 18-year-old, who plans to be a veterinarian, has been raising llamas for five years and training them to drive for four.
Zalucha gave a detailed account of all the steps needed to accommodate a llama to the various aspects of driving, including being handled, the halter, and cart as well as socializing them to handle people, crowds, cars and dogs.
The first step is choosing a llama with a personality that will accept the task.
"You want a llama to be an individual, usually driving llamas are the boss of the herd and usually willing to be away from them for a while, not very herd oriented," she noted. "Because driving a llama is such a unique thing, you want a llama that is friendly, personable and approachable."
At the other end of the ranch, llama and alpaca fiber crafters demonstrated their art and offered finished goods such as hats, scarves and ornaments for sale.
"Llama fur is a hollow fiber so it is very warm," said Tina Etter of Howell, a member of the Wooly Women of Mid-Michigan who both owns llamas and makes finished goods from their fibers. "It is a little bit slippery, a little bit of a trick to spin so usually people learn on sheep's wool and then move up to llama."