North Carolina State Fair Llama Show 2009

It seems that no matter how hard you plan and organize there is always a scramble to get everything loaded. Overnight bags, cooler, show clothes, (did we put the chairs in?) hay bags, feed, water buckets and the llamas. But at last it’s time to get on the road. Not bad, only a half hour behind schedule.

Finally. a few moments to relax and think about the upcoming show and all the llama friends we are going to see there. What did you say? Directions? Nooo. I didn’t print the directions, I thought you did. Let me see if they are in the atlas from our last trip. Oh! Wonderful, they are here (sigh of great relief!)

Four hours later we have arrived at the Fairgrounds

Well, it’s now 11:30 PM and dark. Because the fair is in progress we cannot unload at our stalls. So we just took the bare essentials and our llamas up that LONG HILL. Silly us, half way up the hill it dawned on us that we could have let the llamas pack it up for us! By 12:30 all the llamas were settled in and we headed off to the hotel. Boy, sure glad that we got a hotel close to the fairgrounds. We are only minutes away from blissful sleep.

Are you kidding? It’s time to get up already? Oh, that’s right we have to be at the exhibitors meeting at 8:30 AM. Just enough time to grab a quick cup of tea and bagels and off we go.

Our llamas were happy to see us and even happier when we replenished their hay bags. A short blast of air to blow out the travel debris with a bit of brushing and everybody was ready for the ring.

There was a reasonable audience viewing the show over the weekend to cheer favorites on. Entries for the Mini classes came from Missouri, Illinois, North Carolina, Georgia and Virginia.

Competition was tough among the minis and we were glad to see so many high quality entries at the show.

Guidelines for ILR Sanctioned Miniature Llama Classes

ILR Show Division - Miniature Llama Guidelines

The purpose of the Miniature Class is to afford the Miniature Llama the opportunity to be shown and judged with like kind. All Miniature Llamas entered into these classes have been bred to meet the AMLA standards or are llamas that the owner(s) feel will mature to miniature size.

Requisites for Llamas to show in Miniature Classes:

The Llama must be registered with the ILR.

1. The Llama must measure the following measurements at the withers to compete:
   
   
   1. Juvenile Class – 35 inches & under
   2. Yearling Class – 36 inches & under
   3. 2 Year Old Class – 37 inches & under
   4. Mature Class – 38 inches & under
      
      
2. The Llama must be presented to the Show Superintendent at the designated time, which is to be well in advance of the start of the Miniature Llama Classes. This would provide the Llama an opportunity to be moved to a regular class if they measure over the height requirements. It is preferred that the measurement is taken on a solid even surface when available. A member of the Board of Directors of AMLA or an AMLA member will assist the Show Superintendent in verifying measurements
   

Halter Classes:

AMLA recognizes that the ILR Show Division is setting the standard for the future of the Llama show world. The following description of fiber and age divisions is given as examples based on the 2007 show industry’s standards. AMLA requests that the ILR Show Division adjust the division description to mirror those of the standard size Llama’s within the ILR’S Show Division.

A. Fiber Divisions

1. Fiber classes are to parallel those of the standard Llama: light, medium, heavy and suri.
2. Show Superintendents may chose which classes are offered based on necessity.
3. Fiber classes may be combined if entries in individual classes are insufficient to provide competition.

Breeder - Sex and Age Divisions

1. Male classes are for intact males.
2. Female classes are for fertile, breeding females.
3. Under no circumstances will male and female classes be combined.

Age Divisions:

1. Juvenile: 5 to12 months
2. Yearling: 12 to 24 months
3. Two Year Old: 24 to 36 months
4. Mature: 36 months and older
5. At the Show Superintendent’s discretion, age divisions may be combined if there are fewer than two (2) Llamas in any age division; that is, if there are only two juvenile females they may be combined with yearlings.
   
   

Non-Breeders Divisions:

1. There are no sex divisions for non-breeders.
2. Males must be gelded or have had a vasectomy.
3. Females must be spayed or are non-reproductive.
4. A veterinarian certificate of breeding status is required.

Age Divisions:

1. 18 to 36 months
2. 36 months and older

Performance Classes:

1. There are no separate Performance Classes under the Miniature Llama Classes. Miniature Llamas will compete in the regular Performance Classes.
2. Miniature llamas up to 36 months must wear packs in the Trail/Pack Classes. May use day packs, no weight, panniers filled out. Mini llamas over 36 months must also wear packs. May use saddles and day lunch panniers or day packs, no weight, panniers filled out.
3. Jump height for mini llamas will be the same requirement as that of the standard llama.
   

Judging Standards:

1. Miniature Llamas are to be judged utilizing the same criteria as that of standard llamas: correctness in conformation, movement and balance.
2. When deciding a tie between two equally proportionate Llamas, credit should be given to the smaller llama for the age. To aid the judge, it is recommended that llamas enter the show ring in reverse order, oldest first.

Previous Show Results