New 4-H club in Ogle County offers kids a chance to care for a llama without owning one – Shaw Local

OREGON – Ogle County’s newest 4-H club held its inaugural show with some big, fluffy guys at the Ogle County 4-H Fair last week.

The Legendary Llamas 4-H Club, founded in January, debuted at the fair on August 2 with club members Harmony Coy, 11, of Mt. Morris, and Elizabeth Kennedy, 15, of Davis Junction, along with Blue Moon Llamas llamas Milo and Barnstormer in tow.

“Milo is an incredible llama,” Harmony gushed as she stroked the two-year-old’s neck. “He works so well and he listens and he’s so smart.”

Elizabeth shared similar praise for the one-year-old barnstormer, but also commented on his unique personality.

“He has a certain attitude. He used to stay standing, but he’s fine now. I really enjoy walking with him,” she said.

The learning process for both handler and animal is what makes the Legendary Llamas Club unique. Both Milo and Barnstormer are owned by Blue Moon Llamas, 5458 N. Razorville Road, Byron, and are rented to 4-H members for about $20 a month.

The great thing about the 4-H model is that children can work with their “own” llama and learn something about the animal and its characteristics.

Elizabeth’s family has a farm with other animals, but no llamas.

“I’m the chicken girl,” Elizabeth said. “Being able to work with bigger animals is a really cool thing.”

Harmony and Elizabeth learn about the training, grooming and other care tasks associated with the camel-like animals, whose ancestors are believed to have lived on the Great Plains of North America about 40 million years ago and migrated to South America about 3 million years ago.

Teddy Snapp is the leader of the Legendary Llamas 4-H Club, which currently has three members: Elizabeth, Harmony and Norah Arnold, 9, of Oregon.

“Blue Moon Llamas offers llama rentals to 4-H members,” Snapp said. “We’re looking for more kids to join. Elizabeth and Harmony decided to show Milo and Barnstormer at the fair, while Norah made a poster about llamas winning a ribbon.”

The club began meeting in Byron in March.

Chris Brenz of Blue Moon Llamas has been raising llamas on her farm near Byron for 35 years. She decided to rent llamas to members of the new 4-H club so they could learn more about the unique animal.

“She (Chris) teaches the kids how to train, handle and care for llamas. We try to be financially available to anyone who is interested,” Snapp said.

Brenz, who also sells llama-related items through her website Useful Llama Items, said there are currently 40 llamas on her farm. She sees the creation of the new 4-H club as a way to increase knowledge about llamas while also teaching children the responsibility of caring for larger animals.

“We work with the children on training, care and everything to do with llamas,” Brenz said.

This training helped Elizabeth and Harmony convince Barnstormer and Milo to wear their police and construction worker costumes on the show.

“He wanted to stop, but I had to teach him to obey the stop sign,” Elizabeth said.

Anyone wanting more information about the Legendary Llamas 4-H Club can contact Snapp via email at [email protected] or by phone at 815-732-3281. To contact Blue Moon Llamas, call 815-234-4564.