February, 2016
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Chela Gray Life<me Achievement Award Winner Nearly thirty years ago, Chela cam face to face with llamas at the Washington State Fair. Her first llamas arrived in 1988 and have been a constant in her life ever since. She bred llamas for a short 8me but discovered that aspect was not for her. Chela has packed with her llamas, worked with their fiber, worked with 4-‐H youth, worked with hundreds of owners and has been long involved in rescue. Beginning every spring, she is constantly booked with appointments for folks needing help with toenails. shots and shearing along with providing educa8on on fencing, farm layout and general husbandry. Each year she supports and par8cipates with her llamas at the Kitsap Country Fair. Chela has hosted educa8on programs at her farm and taught training and management clinics. She has assisted and taught at behavior and training clinics and assisted people with difficult animals. She works with owners on their farms. Over the years, Chela has wri[en ar8cles for various llama periodicals and has been featured in several newspapers. Chela went to Australia — twice — to help teach owners how to manage and work with their llamas. She served on the board of Llama Owners of Washing to State (LOWS), later becoming president. Chela has served on the LANA BOD. The ini8al idea of S8llpointe Sanctuary was conceived in the 90’s and was incorporated as a non-‐profit in Washington State in 2000. S8llpointe Sanctuary not only takes in llamas and alpacas in need but plays a significant role in educa8on. S8llpointe works with the Girls Scouts, 4-‐H, area schools and local communi8es teaching about llamas specifically as well as the general care and needs of all animals. S8llpointe works with other rescue organiza8ons in any way possible. Community Resource organiza8ons send volunteers to S8llpointe to work on projects that help people learn ways of re-‐ entering the workforce and to complete comment service obliga8ons. S8llpointe Sanctuary provides speakers for special occasions at schools, assisted living residences and correc8on facili8es always accompanied by a llama or llamas. Chela Grey has long been intricately involved in the llama community. 3