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Farm Happenings A 'blog-style' recording of the fun events and adventures we go on with our llamas and llama friends. Stay posted as this section of our site is updated often! |
April 29th, 2013 - 99 Llamas to Shear on the Wall..
99 llamas to shear on the wall, 99 llamas to shear! Take one down, spin it around, 98 llamas to shear on the wall!
My head is spinning. Due to the excessive amount of rainfall and unusually cold weather we have been experiencing in the Midwest, I am behind on my shearing schedule. I average about 300 llamas annually and at the time of this writing only have approximately 70 done so far. My own herd always comes last when it comes to 'llama maintenance" and I have a feeling they will not be stripped down until at least the middle of June this year.
Shearing is an essential part of llama health. Removing each year's regrown fiber may be the single most important thing you could do for your fuzzy friends to keep them both happy and healthy during our hot and humid summers. Llama fiber is hollow, making it lighter in weight than sheep's wool but this unique characteristic also increases the insulation level causing it to be almost unbearable in July and August.
Having a favorite customer in the shearing business as I meet a lot of really great people, but I have one particular client who tops the charts. Dee Heinrich of Peeper Hollow Farms in Marion, IA has one of the country's top flocks of both Romney and CVM Romeldale sheep. Inhabiting the rolling green pastures, sharing the pristine farm and guarding her investments are 4 guard llamas. Year after year Dee schedules early, easily accommodates my busy life, has the llamas caught when I arrive and is always gate side to help if necessary. (Summer, the llama, is usually not interested in leaving her flock to get a pedicure.) We exchange polite conversation while I'm working and I'm usually set up, torn down and out of her drive way in less than an hour. For what it's worth, the hospitality and professionalism Dee Heinrich provides makes her a definite VIP in my book.
If your llamas are in need of shearing, please don't hesitate to give me a buzz. See my shearing price guidelines and contact information HERE.
My head is spinning. Due to the excessive amount of rainfall and unusually cold weather we have been experiencing in the Midwest, I am behind on my shearing schedule. I average about 300 llamas annually and at the time of this writing only have approximately 70 done so far. My own herd always comes last when it comes to 'llama maintenance" and I have a feeling they will not be stripped down until at least the middle of June this year.
Shearing is an essential part of llama health. Removing each year's regrown fiber may be the single most important thing you could do for your fuzzy friends to keep them both happy and healthy during our hot and humid summers. Llama fiber is hollow, making it lighter in weight than sheep's wool but this unique characteristic also increases the insulation level causing it to be almost unbearable in July and August.
Having a favorite customer in the shearing business as I meet a lot of really great people, but I have one particular client who tops the charts. Dee Heinrich of Peeper Hollow Farms in Marion, IA has one of the country's top flocks of both Romney and CVM Romeldale sheep. Inhabiting the rolling green pastures, sharing the pristine farm and guarding her investments are 4 guard llamas. Year after year Dee schedules early, easily accommodates my busy life, has the llamas caught when I arrive and is always gate side to help if necessary. (Summer, the llama, is usually not interested in leaving her flock to get a pedicure.) We exchange polite conversation while I'm working and I'm usually set up, torn down and out of her drive way in less than an hour. For what it's worth, the hospitality and professionalism Dee Heinrich provides makes her a definite VIP in my book.
If your llamas are in need of shearing, please don't hesitate to give me a buzz. See my shearing price guidelines and contact information HERE.
April 8th, 2013 - March Madness
The beginning of llama show season kicked off this year with an exciting new event put together by Darrel and Merlene Anderson of Solid Rock Llamas. The show was themed after the March Madness basketball tournament and didn't disappoint one bit. Everything from a basketball court drawn on the floor of the show ring to the judge's referee shirts was perfectly set into place. The facility set in Amish country IN was incredible. It was not only immaculately clean, completely enclosed and spacious, but was also equip with warm water to bathe our animals after their long, dusty journey.
After we had set course and been on the road for a number of hours I realized how close the show was located to my older sister and her family in Ohio. Spending quality time within our family is very limited due to our lengthy distance apart and busy schedules but luckily the Anderson's show provided the perfect opportunity to squeeze in a long overdue reunion.
The show was very well represented, the sale was a success and the best treat of all was the homemade Amish dinner we attended on Saturday evening. Our hats are off to both Darrell and Merlene who surely put in countless hours to provide us with incredible weekend.
After we had set course and been on the road for a number of hours I realized how close the show was located to my older sister and her family in Ohio. Spending quality time within our family is very limited due to our lengthy distance apart and busy schedules but luckily the Anderson's show provided the perfect opportunity to squeeze in a long overdue reunion.
The show was very well represented, the sale was a success and the best treat of all was the homemade Amish dinner we attended on Saturday evening. Our hats are off to both Darrell and Merlene who surely put in countless hours to provide us with incredible weekend.
February 4th, 2013 - Out west with the best!
If there was ever a time to escape the death trap that can be Iowa winters, it was this weekend. Awful blizzard conditions with sheets of ice covering the ground and lucky me had a trip planned to California to play at the Hobo Llama Classic in Turlock, California! Unfortunately getting to the airport was no easy task. Long story short: I slipped into the ditch on icy roads, missed the flight by minutes, was redirected with a chatty girl who felt the need to share her life story but FINALLY made it safe and sound into California!
I spent the weekend with Lisa Labendeira and her family of 4R Llama Ranch. Driving has been an adventure I've been itching to tackle and Lisa, being the pusher that she is, signed me up to compete with one her driving llamas, Kaza, a full brother to the famous Jorjio. In a class of 5, after only one afternoon of practicing, we took a double 3rd place in Open Pleasure driving! The rest of the weekend followed suit. Lisa's daughter walked away with a few performance championships, the llamas we were showing all placed in the very top of their classes and we ended up with winning Best of Show (Gold) with CK's Smokey, a 3/4 brother to my own stud Delago!
(Photo above and below left are by Lisa Labendiera)
I spent the weekend with Lisa Labendeira and her family of 4R Llama Ranch. Driving has been an adventure I've been itching to tackle and Lisa, being the pusher that she is, signed me up to compete with one her driving llamas, Kaza, a full brother to the famous Jorjio. In a class of 5, after only one afternoon of practicing, we took a double 3rd place in Open Pleasure driving! The rest of the weekend followed suit. Lisa's daughter walked away with a few performance championships, the llamas we were showing all placed in the very top of their classes and we ended up with winning Best of Show (Gold) with CK's Smokey, a 3/4 brother to my own stud Delago!
(Photo above and below left are by Lisa Labendiera)
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January 17th, 2013 - A trippa with Tippa!
On a very cold and windy Saturday morning Gram Becky and I loaded up the new van (Sparkle) with hot coffee, maps and a very special little llama named Tippa and started our trip to Austin, MN. Llamas are very smart animals and even though it was Tippa's first time off the farm, she handled ridding in the back like a champ. After a very wobbly half and hour of our special passenger deciding whether it would be most appropriate to stand, sprawl or go through the front windshield - Tippa found the bowl of treats at her feat and sat down for a snack.
We landed in Austin, MN just before dinner and had the best time introducing the Schechinger family to their new addition! Tippa met her pasture-mates, we met the farm chickens and everyone settled in very quickly. Becky and I were then treated to the most amazing home cooked meal. The hospitality shown to us was incredible, the set up for Tippa was fantastic and the friendship we've developed with the Schechinger family is bar none. Life is good.
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November 26, 2012 - AdVANtages of a new van.
Well, we did it. Gram Becky and I made the journey all the way to New Lisbon, WI to get a NEW llama van! (Well, fairly new anyway.) The 2003 Chevy Astro van is one of the BEST made llama-vehicles around. It drives nicely, has ample room in the back for simple PR / packing trips AND can even pull our small livestock trailer.
On our way we home we were fortunate enough to be able to stop off in Tomah, WI and visit John and Marcia Ollendick. Their Caspian and Cainan babies are incredible and we had a lot of fun walking through their pastures and visiting.
Come check out "Sparkle" (her new name) next time you see us wheeling into a show, heading to a fiber event or hiking with our friends!
On our way we home we were fortunate enough to be able to stop off in Tomah, WI and visit John and Marcia Ollendick. Their Caspian and Cainan babies are incredible and we had a lot of fun walking through their pastures and visiting.
Come check out "Sparkle" (her new name) next time you see us wheeling into a show, heading to a fiber event or hiking with our friends!
September 17, 2012 - The LFA Show and Sale
An event of a lifetime! If you have never had the chance to attend this prestigious llama show and sale - you are missing out. Good friends, good food, good show and GREAT llamas! The Kirkwood Equestrian Center in Cedar Rapids, IA is a beautiful facility and we're very fortunate to have llamas a mere 45 minutes away. We took a very competitive group of animals and had a very good show, especially considering the depth of competition. (Check out more at www.thelfa.org)
The laid back atmosphere of this event allowed a lot of time to make new friends as well catch up with old ones We delivered Tapa Ramadan to his new owners at this show and couldn't be more excited for the farm that will be using him as their herdsire.
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June 25, 2012 - Bridal Shower
Welcome to the family Rachel Reiter! My lucky brother found an incredible girl to be his bride. We're not quite sure why she said yes, but we couldn't be happier that she'll soon be an official member of the family. During her bridal shower we decided to spice up the games and get her better acquainted with the most important members of our family :)
Rachel loved the surprise and Tahliah (the llama) enjoyed meeting all the party guests. Most of the people at the party felt that this large animal was very out of place wearing game pieces and decorations inside the condo but Tahliah couldn't have felt more at home.
Rachel loved the surprise and Tahliah (the llama) enjoyed meeting all the party guests. Most of the people at the party felt that this large animal was very out of place wearing game pieces and decorations inside the condo but Tahliah couldn't have felt more at home.