Llama Whisperer

My visit today to the Utah Valley Llama Festival at the Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, Utah, took a truly unexpected turn when the founder of the festival randomly asked if I would like to show a llama during the llama competitions.


Now, I probably should have said something like, "No, I really haven't ever done anything like that before" or "Thanks, but I couldn't", instead, I immediately stepped up and took a characteristic head first leap into semi-professional llama competitions by chirping a "sure!". And the next thing you know, I was assigned llama #36 also known as "Henna". Henna wasn't very excited about the prospect of showing in front of 1000+ humans. As a matter of fact, Henna was very much against the idea. I'm thinking her attitude was in part due to her little one, "Humbolt". Humbolt and Henna definitely do not suffer with attachment disorder and together the three of us competed in the Best of 3-year old Show, Llama Obstacle Course, and Cutest Baby Llama Show.


Seeing I am a true llama novice, I was pretty darn proud when we victoriously took home 1st place in Best of 3-year old Show, 4th in the obstacle course, and 1st place in the Cutest Baby Llama Competition. Considering I'd never touched a llama before in my life, I feel it wasn't to shabby of a showing! One can take great satisfaction in holding two blue championship and one yellow ribbon in their hands.

Llama's are very docile animals who communicate by making a humming sound. In the beginning, while Henna was begrudging my presence in her life, it quickly became apparent that to get very far in the competition I would need to meet her halfway on her own turf. So, I took up "llama humming". I'm honestly not sure exactly what I was saying to her, but she honestly stared at me for a moment and began humming her thoughts back. We were attaching... by humming. A fellow festival goer approached me as I stood waiting for the Best of Show competition after observing me humming softly to Henna and uttered the quote of the day, he simply said, "Have you ever considered a career llama whispering?"

Finally, I'm a girl with a goal. Doing so well only sparked my desire to train and compete in 2008 to try to sweep the ribbons. I found out tours are offered at the temple during the week and for two dollars, I can train a llama on the obstacle course. I can taste the 3 blue sweep now...