Ward earns Grand Champion Breeding Kamelid
The 4-H Llama Show held in the Junior Fair Arena was a much anticipated event for members of the Kamelid Kushers 4-H Club at the Coshocton County Fair.
For many local 4-H members, showing their projects at the county fair is one of the highlights of autumn. Madi MacDonald a fifth grader at Coshocton Elementary and a second year member of Kamelid Kushers 4-H club initially thought about raising a rabbit or a chicken, until her mom Diane Jackson saw llamas online. “She didn’t know what she wanted to do, and we thought a llama would be unique,” Jackson said.
“I knew nothing about llamas before. With llamas, their mind is their own” MacDonald said. “They could just take off running and drag you with them.”
MacDonald won Grand Champion Reserve Halter Non-Breeder in the 4-H Llama Show at the Coshocton County Fair. “We’re just learning as we go” her mom said.
Allie Mizer and Jax won Grand Champion Non-Breeder.
Llamas are cute, quirky and surprisingly low-maintenance animals. One of the ways llamas communicate is humming which could be heard as they circled the arena in their show categories.
Things to note in judging llamas are limbs that move freely and smoothly in a correctly aligned pattern. The back should be strong and have a reasonably straight topline. Llamas should have adequate width and depth of chest, fullness of heart girth, and arch to the ribs (spring of rib).
Judging the 4-H llama competition was Cindy Ruckman from Mount Vernon who has been a 4-H advisor for 24 years. “The first class of the day can be the most difficult. It’s a different ring than anybody has shown in and there are a whole bunch of things to figure out. All of these girls did a great job. They have a great rapport with their animals. You can tell they are very well cared for. My question was, what was your favorite thing about having a llama this year in particular and they all consistently said, ‘time spent with the animals.’ All of us are looking for something normal and relaxing. Time on a farm is a great place to be,” Ruckman said.
Class 1 Junior Showmanship winners were: First place, Annie Ward and Simon, daughter of Josh and Kelly Ward from Warsaw, second place, Jillian Given and Expresso, daughter of Jason and Janelle Given from Coshocton, third place Ava Donnell and Mocha’s Cup of Joe, daughter of Chuck and Tara Donnell of Warsaw and fourth place, Madi MacDonald with Perfect Storm, daughter of Jimmy MacDonald and Diane Jackson from Coshocton.
“Senior Showmanship is a great competition, with unusual circumstances. I asked them what if your llamas could talk what would they tell me they learned this year? They are telling me they had to learn to be around people because of unusual circumstances and they are standing better than when they first started. They have more experience. Congratulations on a job well done in Showmanship,” Ruckman said.
Class 2 Senior Showmanship winners were: First place Emma Ward and Mimosa, daughter of Josh and Kelly Ward from Warsaw, second place Aaron Ward and Ozzy, son of Josh and Kelly Ward from Warsaw, third place, Allie Mizer and Jax, daughter of Roy and Karen Mizer from Warsaw, fourth place, Raelynn McCurdy with Sir Oliver, daughter of Dan McCurdy and Jen MacDonald from Warsaw.
Class 3 the Supreme Showmanship Award went to Annie Ward and Supreme Showmanship Reserve to Emma Ward. “They have more experience and they need to come out and go through their paces. We need to see what they can do. It is their time to shine,” Ruckman said.
“Non breeders are 2 1/2 to 7 years, we’re looking at the overall package of the llama. In non-breeders it’s one of the most important aspects,” Ruckman said.
Class 2 Non-breeders 18 months and older Championship class winners were: First place and Grand Champion Madi MacDonald and Perfect Storm, daughter of Diane Jackson and Jimmy MacDonald, second place and Reserve Champion non breeder Allie Mizer and Jax, daughter of Roy and Karen Mizer, third place Aaron Ward and Ozzy, son of Josh and Kelly Ward, fourth place Annie Ward and Simon, daughter of Josh and Kelly Ward.
“This class of breeders 5 months to under 18 months wins the cute prize in baby llamas,” Ruckman said. First place went to Ava Donnell and Mocha’s Cup of Joe, daughter of Chuck and Tara Donnell and second place Raylynn McCurdy and Sir Oliver, daughter of Dan McCurdy and Jen MacDonald.
Class 4 Breeding Kamelid 18 months and older winners were: First place Emma Ward and Mimosa, daughter of Josh and Kelly Ward and second place Jillian Given with Expresso, daughter of Jason and Janelle Given.
Grand Champion Breeding Kamelid went to Emma Ward and Mimosa, daughter of Josh and Kelly Ward. Reserve Grand Champion went to Ava Donnell and Mocha’s Cup of Joe, daughter of Chuck and Tara Donnell.
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