LANA 2021 Summer Newsletter by Llama Association of North America

LANA NEWS Llama Association of North America Summer Edition 2021

Happy 40th Anniversary LANA Serving the lama community for forty years Above: Artwork by Jane Marek exclusively for the LANA News Newsletter

Contents

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

LANA’s 40th Anniversary

President’s Message

LANA Board of Directors

LANA Business Office

Editor’s Note

Calendar of Events

New Members

LANA’s Mission Statement

You and Your Trailer

LANA Annual Awards

LANA Annual Award Winners

Working with LAMA Fiber

LANA Fiber Clinic

Llama PR in Disguise

LANA’s 40th Anniversary

My Vision of LANA’s Future

LANA Logos Through the Years

In the Beginning

LANA Artwork

LANA Llamping 2021

Sponsors

Dear LANA members, Who doesn’t enjoy celebrating an anniversary? This year marks LANA’s 40th anniversary. For marriage, the 40th Anniversary is the “Ruby Anniversary,” as the ruby represents an internal flame of a strong marriage that is still burning after forty years. Although not a marriage, LANA’s internal flame is just as bright as it was in the Spring of 1981 when it was founded. Over this time, LANA has had members from nearly every state as well as Canada and Australia. This newsletter you are currently reading is one of the longest, continuous llama publications (starting in August 1981). LANA was created by llama owners and breeders to exchange information, expand the market, educate the public and to have fun with their llamas. Over the years, the mission has grown to include sponsoring camelid medical research, advocating for pro-camelid legislation and access to public lands; encouraging, mentoring camelid enthusiasts of all ages in their interactions with camelids; and supporting rescue for camelids in distress. Even during the challenges of the past year due to COVID, LANA has continued to offer hiking, showing, and fiber art activities for its members. I wanted to take this opportunity to personally thank Jana Kane and Maureen Macedo for their service on the LANA board. Maureen’s efforts were especially instrumental in the merging of CAL-ILA with LANA in September 2019. I also want to thank Stephanie Pedroni for stepping up to the serve on the LANA board. If you are interested in serving LANA as a board member, please do not hesitate to contact me (michelle.kutzler@oregonstate.edu). Stay safe, get vaccinated, wear a mask, God Bless! Michelle Kutzler, MBA, DVM, PhD, DACT

LANA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dr. Michelle Kutzler President michelle.kutzler@oregonstate.edu Kathy Nichols Vice President, Newsletter Editor KathySVA@aol.com Sue Rich Secretary susan.rich9631@gmail.com Joy Pedroni Treasurer, Office, Webmaster joy@blackcatllamas.com Lee Beringsmith Director lbering@outlook.com Stephanie Pedroni Director StephaniePedroni@gmail.com Dolly Peters Director ranchodollyllama@gmail.com Cathy Spalding Advisory Chair cathy@gentlespiritllamas.com

LANA BUSINESS OFFICE Joy Pedroni 1246 Meadowlark Drive Vacaville, CA. 95687 1-707-234-5510 lanaquestions@gmail.com Please contact the LANA Business Office for Member Services, Advertisements, Event Calendar updates, and any llama-, alpaca-, or LANA-related questions you may have. Visit LANA at: www.lanainfo.org

LANA News DISCLAIMER LANA News is published for educational purposes only. The information published heron is solely the opinion of the authors and does not necessarily represent the view of LANA, its Directors or Officers. LANA articles can not be reprinted without permission from LANA or the author. LANA’s acceptance of advertising does not imply endorsement of any products or services whatsoever. Articles, letters, editorials and other contributions are welcome and may be edited for brevity. Inclusion and placement is solely a the discretion of the Editor. Before undertaking any herd work with your animals, you are advised to always consult with your veterinarian.

THANK YOU for CONTRIBUTING Thank you to the following for their contribution to this newsletter: Virginia Christensen, Gary Kauffman, Amy Logan, Jane Marek, Joy Pedroni, Stephanie Pedroni, Sue Rich, and Karen Rose,

Editors Note: With more people getting vaccinated, a little bit of normalcy is returning to our daily lives and our camelid community. LANA was able to hold three events - the Kids & Camelids Show, the Marvelous May Show, and the LANA Llamping trip. Following the recommended safety protocols, the shows were held at Macedo’s Mini Acre in Turlock, CA. LANA is excited to offer a Fiber Clinic August 21st (following safety protocols). See page 14 for more information and LANA’s website. Congratulations to Phil and Linda Nuetcherlein, and Lisa Labendeira. They are the 2020 LANA Annual Award Winners. Check out the criteria on page 8 and the award winners on page 10. It’s still hot out there. Pay close attention to your animals for heat stress. Take care of yourself too.

Kathy 3

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

*LANA FELTING CLINIC August 21, 2021 Stonehenge Llama Ranch Vacaville, CA contact: lanaquestions@gmail.com

Nick Stone Somerset, California

ALSA Western Regionals October 9-10, 2021 Lancaster County Fairgrounds, CA contact: dandt22@aol.com

Katelinn Marshall & David Watson, Jr. Vacaville, California

LANA sponsored events are in bold type * asterisk denotes discount for LANA members

LANA events in BOLD type * denotes LANA member discount If you have an event you would like added to the Calendar of Events, please contact: lanaquestions@gmail.com or KathySVA@aol.com

Mission Statement: Established in 1981, the Llama Association of North America (LANA), serves the camelid community be sponsoring medical research specific to llamas and alpacas; providing current and accurate information about camelid health and care; advocating for pro-camelid legislation and access to public lands; encouraging, educating and mentoring camelid enthusiasts of all ages in their interactions with camelids; supporting rescue for camelids in distress; and hosting a variety of activities including youth programs, hiking trips, shows, parades, fiber clinics, educational events and more. 4

YOU AND YOUR TRAILER For many, the show season is in full-swing and our llamas are moving to and from, here and there, with hardly a care in the world. For others, the beckoning wild blue yonder is calling us and our llamas, and after a long, hard winter, many are getting ready for that first of many road trips with animals quite literally in tow. With that in mind, it’s time to think SAFETY, and so, below, please find the following article written in 1997 by Gerrit Rietveld, Animal Care Inspector/OMAF, and posted on the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs website. Just change the word “horse” to fit the creatures of your choice (mine is “llama”). - Gary Kaufman Most horse people are very conscientious when it comes to the training, care and maintenance of their horses; but are they as meticulous when it comes to ensuring that their horses array at the show safely? Transporting horses can be a very traumatic and potentially dangerous experience for both the horse and owner if some practical steps for care and consideration are ignored. Follow these steps to make sure your show day is a success from the start to finish. Animal Welfare Asking a horse to enter an unfamiliar, cave-like structure instinctively tells him that danger must surely lurk ahead, and he should not enter. Spending a few hours a week prior to transport can overcome this fear and result in a horse and handler that are much more relaxed during the trip. A calm horse will perform better than one which has had a distressing trip on the way to a show. Tip: Often “spooky” horses will feel more confident traveling with a partner. Suspending a hay net (within reach, but not too close for entanglement) for the traveling horse will provide him with a nourishing distraction for a longer trip.

The interior of the trailer should be free of any projections or holes which may cause an injury to the horses, as they are often moved about involuntary during transportation. Participations, breast and tail bars should be padded for the comfort of the animal of the horses. Reluctant horses may load easier in a trailer which has a lightly colored interior, rather than one which is dark. Battery-operated interior lights are a good idea and can be obtained at minimal cost. In may also be advisable to check the insurance policy (if you have one) or your horses to determine if they are covered while in transit. Suitability of the Trailer Trailers come in many shapes and sizes. Select a trailer to suit the type of horse it was designed to carry. Larger or heavier horses must be transported in a trailer which affords them adequate head room and stall length and width. Tip: Carry all buckets, forks, shoes, etc. in a compartment separate from the horses. Points to Consider Undercarriage: Check closely each year prior to use for cracks in frame, axle brackets, excessive rusting of components, etc. ALWAYS check, clean and repack wheel bearings twice a season. Replace the seals and any other worn parts. Tip: Carry along a replacement bearing and tools to install it. Floorboards: Over time, whether a trailer is used regularly or sitting idle, floor boards deteriorate to 6

The extent that they can pose a very real threat to the safety of the horses on board. Floorboards should be replaced if they show signs of deterioration. Hardwoods, such as oak, are a good choice for replacement. Tip: If a screwdriver or a pocketknife can easily be pushed into the boards more than a quarter of an inch, consider replacing the boards. It is also suggested, as an added measure of insurance, to tack-weld a sheet of expanded metal fabric to the frame of the trailer before installing the floorboards. Rubber matting installed over the boards will help to extend the life of the boards and provide better footing for the horses. Tip: Always provide bedding to absorb moisture. Clean the trailer upon arrival at your destination. Doors and ramps: Regularly lubricate all hinges and latches to prolong their life. Check these prior to departure to ensure they are functioning properly. Brakes: Some trailers are fitted with their own braking system, others are not. It is not advisable to disconnect trailer brakes, as it is better to have the trailer braking the truck than to have the truck providing all the stopping power for the trailer, potentially causing a “jack-knife” in the event of an emergency stop. Ensure that the brake controller is properly adjusted and maintained. It should not “lock up,” and it should release freely. Tip: Adjust to suit change in the seasons; I.e. summer/winter. Tires: Tires should be well matched, properly inflated, and be in good condition. As trailers are often parked for long periods of time, the tires may show good tread, but the sidewalls should be checked regularly for cracking. Tip: Ensure that the spare is in good condition and full of air. Also ensure that all the tools are available to change the tire. A “roll-up block” is a handy alternative to a jack system for two-axle units. Simply roll the good tire (next to its flat mate) up on the block, suspending the flat tire in the air. Hitch: Does it lock securely? Are the safety chains heavy enough, well-fastened and in good condition to hold the trailer in an emergency?

Nothing less than a two-inch ball should be used. CHECK YOUR RECEIVER for missing or loose mounting bolts, cracked welds, or cracks or sagging receiver assemblies. Lights: Check all lights prior to departure. Other drivers require amply warning of a trailer stopping or turning. It is crucial that running lights are functioning properly, as often a portion of the journey may be made at night. Emergency Kit: An emergency kit should include: - Two flashlights with extra batteries (may be used as tail light if trailer lights fail) - Lead ropes for each horse - A 100-foot length or rope - Flares - Red warning triangle - Jack for trailer or “roll-up block” - Electrical tape - Duct tape - WD-40 - Stockman’s knife - Blocks to stabilize a stationary trailer - Two well-stocked first-aid kits (humans/horses) - Extra blankets - Food - Change for a pay phone (cell phone charger or battery pack) Tow vehicle: The vehicle chosen to pull the trailer must be appropriate. A well-mated truck and trailer combination will have the trailer riding level to reduce strain on horses’ legs during transit. A good towing vehicle for a two-, four-, or six-horse trailer should be equipped with: - Heavy-duty suspension - Good quality brakes in good repair - Transmission cooler - Heavy-duty radiator - Good quality tires - Dual gas tanks (or supplementary tank in the back) - Cell phone with emergency numbers list - Current registration and license and insurance

And finally … Become familiar with backing and driving the trailer when it is empty. Be aware that a trailer containing two 1100-lb. Horses does not handle like an empty trailer. Tip: Place a glass of water on the dashboard of the truck and try not to spill a drop while you are driving. This will encourage smooth starts, stops, and corners which your horse will appreciate. Plan your route before leaving to select the way with the least amount of traffic, starts/stops and sharp corners. Perform a “circle-check” each time the trailer leaves the farm to ensure that lights, brakes, hitch, safety chains, etc. are in good working order and the doors are securely closed.

Reprinted from a 2010 LANA newsletter. Many of us are getting back on the road and attending shows, hikes, and events. Please make sure your trailer is safe for you and your loved ones.

LANA ANNUAL AWARDS Award Criteria Considerations: Made contributions relevant to the award level through active participation, advocacy, or leadership in a manner consistent with the highest standards of the organization. These standards may be met in a variety of ways, including activity which involves creativity, innovation, intellectual or moral courage, team building or leadership. Actions have had a positive impact on the quality of life of llamas, the • community or llama owners. Actions and achievements of the nominee are recognized and respected by • peers or the community at large. The nominee has fostered cooperation and mutual support among peers, • organization or lama community at large. Actions contributed to public understanding or support for llamas • Organizational Unconditional Service: Individual, small group or committee • work contributing to or enhancing LANA programs, mission or goals. Publications: Has written, published, or produced articles in the newsletter, • publications or on the web significantly contributing to LANA’s Mission goals. Interdisciplinary Activity: Has been active with related groups resulting in a • partnering to achieve goals or sharing knowledge with other groups. Public Relations: Has been active in promoting and disseminating information • development or utilization of llamas within the philosophy of LANA. Has been a LANA ambassador, promoting LANA and service programs. Humanitarian Service: Has been active in community or public service • advancing benefits to camelids or the community. Exemplification of Mission. • ◦ To vigorously promote and advance the quality of life of camelids through education, advocacy, and support of llamas and alpacas and their owners.” ◦ To serve, represent, address the needs and welfare of llamas and llama owners and provide leadership to enhance the quality of our community. ◦ To develop, support and challenge innovation and excellence in Youth and llama related programs. ◦ To promote the educating of the public as to the caring of and raising of llamas and other camelids. ◦ To support and promote camelid research. ◦ To engage and promote cooperative efforts with other organizations and groups to achieve these objectives.

AWARD QUALIFICATIONS Adult Follow Me • • • •

Supportive of LANA in word and deed. Volunteers time, energy and resources. Sets a service and leadership example for others to follow. May be awarded for single achievement or several impacting actions.

Youth Follow Me • • • •

Involved in llama events and youth llama programs. Leader and mentor to other youth. Community service. Awarded for hard work, challenging their peers to emulate example.

HummDinger • Recognizes long term commitment to LANA. • Actions embody the mission and philosophy of LANA. • Celebrates exceptional commitment, service and support of LANA and the lama community. • Actions positively impact the lama community.

Lifetime Achievement • • • •

Recognizes and celebrates lengthy bank of service and commitment. Positively impacting the entire lama community. Recognizes and celebrates lengthy serve and commitment to LANA. Not necessarily awarded every year.

PAST WINNERS 2019 2019 2019 2019

Lifetime Achievement Award Hummdinger Award Youth Follow Me Award Adult Follow Me Award

Dr. Julie Dechant not awarded not awarded not awarded

2018 2018 2018 2018

Lifetime Achievement Award Hummdinger Award Youth Follow Me Award Adult Follow Me Award

Rob Pollard not awarded not awarded Maureen Macedo

For a complete list of award recipients, please go to the LANA website. Not all awards are awarded every year. 9

2020 Adult Follow Me Award Phil & Linda Nuechterlein Llama Association of North American is pleased to present the 2020 Adult Follow Me Award to Phil and Linda Nuechterlein from Alaska. Phil and Linda have been packing with their llamas in Alaska for more than 30 years. They are both active opponents of bans proposed by the National Park Services, Bureau of Land Management, and other state and federal agencies to prohibit llamas from packing on public lands in the US. LANA is grateful for their amazing support and dedication to the llama industry.

2020 HummDinger Award Lisa Labendeira Congratulations to Lisa Labendeira - LANA’s 2020 HummDinger Award winner. Lisa has been of great help at shows, not just for LANA, but other organizations as well. Whether serving as a scorekeeper, secretary, and/or liaison (with the Fairs), her assistance has helped the shows run more smoothly. Lisa has “come to the rescue” of people and llamas in need. She shares her knowledge and advice about breeding, pregnancies, birthing, and training. Lisa has offered hands-on care for friends’ cria and dams with health issues. She has helped with re-homing llamas in need of a new home. Thank you for everything you do for the llama community. 11

WORKING WITH LAMA (llama & alpaca) FIBER: Skirting the Fleece by Karen Rose, Rosebud Fiber Studio

After shearing and before processing or storing your fiber, it must be skirted and picked. What does skirting mean? Skirting is a term from the preparation of sheep wool. It means taking off the dirty edges. With lama fiber, there are not many dirty (or poopy) edges to remove, but there can be undesirable parts of the fleece. Most of the undesirable areas are environmental, rather than innate to the fiber. The most obvious parts of the fleece to remove are the matted areas. This can be done by just pulling out the mats and felted rivers and throwing them away. Vegetation such as burrs and stickers also must be removed. You can pull out stickers y hand, especially if the surrounding area of fiber is worth keeping. Gloves, help, and a product called Cowboy Magic also helps the sticker slide out. There are other products, but I’ve not used them yet. What about guard hair? Most guard hair is visible and apparent. It sticks out and has a different texture — sort of wiry. It can be easily removed by laying the fleece on a flat surface, cut side down, laying one hand on the fleece to keep it in place while pulling out the guard hairs with the other hand. You can get handfuls of guard hair at a time. If you take the time to do this, the resulting fiber will be MUCH nicer. Guard hair can poke out of the yarn and cause itching. Not every fleece has apparent guard hair. It is easier to pick out the guard hairs while the fleece is still as intact as possible, even before pulling out the mats. Some fleeces hold together better than others. Picking the fleece clean of debris will insure that the fleece will process nicely. If there are stickers left in, they will damage the carding equipment, and most mills will not want to bother and will send it back at your expense. There are some mills that use chemicals to dissolve the vegetation, but this damages and weakens the fiber. Picking opens up the fibers, and you may even be able to pull apart some mats. Vegetation, dust, and even some stickers will also fall away during picking. 12

The most efficient way to pick is to hold sections of the fleece in one hand and pull apart a handful at a time. Keep a towel on your lap to catch the debris. Once the fleece is sufficiently picked, it is ready for washing or sending to the mill. Most mills will wash the fleece, but make sure to contact them before sending off your fiber. Now that I’ve explained the sometimes tedious ways you must prepare your fleece, I’ll tell you the easiest way: keep your pastures free of stickers. I know that sounds obvious, but grooming your pastures means less grooming of your animals.

Working with your fiber is one of the best ways to enjoy your animals.

To prepare your animals for shearing, take the extra time to groom them. Blowing out the dust and vegetation, brushing out the mats and stickers will save you a lot of time later. When shearing, the blanket area has the most consistent fiber, so keep this separate from any other areas such as neck and legs. The prime, or blanket, area is what is sent to the mill. To avoid second cuts, bag up the prime fiber before going back to smooth out the short area. Regular (yearly) shearing, while keeping your animals comfortable, also provides the best fiver. Fiber that is left on the animal for a long time will have more opportunity to mat, break off, dry out, or just grow too long. Longer isn’t necessarily better. Fiver that is more than 6 inches does not go through the processing machines.

(article from a LANA Expo presentation)

LANA Fiber Clinic

August 21, 2021

Instructor Margaret Drew

held at Stonehenge Llama Ranch

7621 Clement Road, Vacaville, CA

Learn how to:

felt bowls, needle felt figurines, and card weave

materials supplied lunch included

LANA Adult member - $20 LANA member over 10 - $10

non-LANA Adult member - $30

non-LANA member over 10 - $15

LLAMA PR IN DISGUISE by Sue Rich

There are a million and one great charitable causes out there in the world. Whatever your passion, there is an organization championing your area of interest. World Wildlife Fund? The Red Cross? Salvation Army? Fallen Warriors? There are many kind-hearted fundraisers in search of new donors and new and exciting ways to entice them to open their wallets and give so that good and needed service can continue for each non-profit’s beneficiaries. Covid pushed the creative limits of fundraising efforts, no doubt. And the tried-andtrue auction, a stalwart of most fundraising efforts - both the silent and live auction found a way to continue virtually. Regardless of platform, auctions thrive when fundraisers can find new and unique items to offer. It is exciting for everyone to bid on something never seen before. So … how about this one: A Llama Experience! The Llama Experience debuted at the Education Foundation of Stanislaus County and was purposefully open-ended. The winner could help craft the experience. Maybe the highest bidder was hoping for an enhanced birthday party for some youngsters. Perhaps, a hike down the trail with a picnic lunch was more in line with the donor’s expectations. We promised a llama experience and some food. And the bidding began. Two bidders were neck and neck, and so the classic “Would you be willing to sell two?” question came from the Ed Foundation staff. Of course, we would, and $1,600 was raised for the extracurricular student programs supported by the Ed Foundation. Finally, the opportunity to bake those clever llama cupcakes featured on an Etsy site appeared on the horizon. While coconut serves to recreate the look of fiber for the llama faces, the shredded white meat is not typically the favorite of young children. So, adults consumed cupcakes, and children said “How cute!” and “No thanks.”

The first bidder hoped to provide an afternoon of fun for four children and their parents. Before the agreedupon start time, an obstacle course was set up in the front yard. So upon arrival, the guests could see a colorful tunnel, jumps, hula hoops, back up chutes and more. The children helped to gather the llamas with the assistance of alfalfa pellets. Haltering commenced, and the bravest of the youngsters came into the catching pen to choose their new camelid companion.

Safety lessons first: 🦙 This is how to hold the lead line. 🦙 Here is where to stand in relation to the animal. 🦙 Don’t separate your llama from his companions because they like to be together. 🦙 Try to keep your camelid companion’s nose out of somebody else’s animal’s personal parts. After playing at showmanship a bit, the obstacle course was next on the agenda. Children and adults took turns leaping over jumps, convincing llamas to back up in a straight line, coaxing camelids through the tunnel, and figuring out how to get all the moving parts from one side of a hula hoop to the other.

The woman who purchased the Llama Experience confided to me late in the day, that she had had the misfortune of experiencing a llama spit fest for her first exposure to llamas. Game to try again, her afternoon with these 4H conditioned llama boys far exceeded her expectations. She had thought that the “experience” would consist of watching llamas over the fence, and she was excited to see her family members, especially the children, interact with the llamas up close with lots of hands on opportunities.

The second experience is still in the calendaring phase. Stay tuned for that debrief, but the first venture out was a success. The Ed Foundation raised funds. Bidders saw a very unique auction item. Folks had very positive interactions with llamas, and children found out about 4H opportunities. The afternoon ended with a swim and a BBQ. With a special gift bag full of llama goodies, happy and tired children were loaded into cars, likely falling asleep as soon as the tires hit pavement. Do you have a favorite charity trying to raise money? Do you have veteran animals who have spent time with children? Hmmm. Maybe there is a possibility there for you to try some underground Camelid PR in the guise of a charitable donation to an organization doing good out in the world.

LANA 19

The Llama Association of North America was founded during the spring of 1981 by a group of llama owners and breeders. As stated in a 1990-1991 membership directory, LANA was created to exchange information, expand the market, educate the public, and to have fun with their llamas. LANA is one of the oldest llama associations in the United States and helped to establish other major organizations in the country. Some of LANA’s major achievements: May, 1981 - LANA formed LANA’s 1981 Membership - 130 members from 3 countries and 23 states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Canada, and Australia. August, 1981 - 1st issue of LANA News published. One of the longest, continuous llama publications. June, 1982 - 1st LANA Expo “The Great Llama Exposition” was held at the Solano County Fairgrounds, Vallejo, CA. This was the first of many Expos held in various parts of the western United States.

Spring, 1983 - LANA Tattoo Registry (LANA Listing Service) Registration certificates were issued. This llama registry was later combined with other registries and lists to provide the initial database for the ILR. July, 1984 - Promotion of youth and llamas Through 4-H at the LANA Expo ’84 in Grants Pass, OR, specific curriculum was developed and added for the youth. October, 1985 - 1st LANA Llama Show On the final day of Expo ’85 in Grants Pass, OR, the longest continuous llama show in North America was held in association with LANA Expo. Later it was a stand-alone event. April, 1988 - LANA Camelid Research Foundation funded Also known as the Camelid Research Trust Fund. This endowment fund was the result of a two-year effort to raise money to support research . Twenty thousand dollars was initially invested, hopes were to increase the principal through growth and additional donations to $100,000. Interest earned was earmarked to support camelid research. Management of the fund was transferred to the Morris Animal Foundation in November, 1999. At that time the funds value was $69,800. Despite market fluctuations through out the years, as of 2020, there was a balance of $167.000. LANA funded research on Valley Fever last year. Spring, 1993 - LAMA Medical Research Group established LMRG created a unified point of contact between the llama community and Morris Animal Foundation — a five-person group composed of one representative of LANA, the International Llama Association, Canadian Llama Association, Rocky Mountain Llama Association and the Ohio River Valley Llama Association. Present day representatives consist of eight members from the Alpaca Research Foundation, Greater Appalachian Llama & Alpaca Association (2), North West Camelid Foundation, Southern States Llama Association, ORVLA, LANA, and an unaffiliated individual. Winter, 1996 - LANA Lifeline program developed When established, the LANA program focused on lama welfare, established to recognize and rectify poor or deteriorating living conditions through education and, as a last resort, intervention. Today, LANA Lifeline assists with rescues and re-homings by coordinating with owners and other rescue groups and when necessary and all criteria has been met, with financial assistance. Fall, 1999 - NOK/LAA Card available Recognizing that human crises can generate significant chaos and create animal emergencies, LANA made available an information card (Next of Kin/Live Animal Alert) to safeguard animals in the event their human caretaker is incapacitated. 21

June, 2001 - LANA Youth Sportsmanship Award created LANA offered llama show management a bronze medallion to be awarded to a youth who exhibited exemplary sportsmanship and volunteerism during the event. June, 2008 - LANA’s last Expo The last Expo was in June, 2008 in Fallon, NV. The LANA BOD decided that it was no longer financially feasible to continue Expo due to change in the economy. January, 2009 - LANA Hobo Classic The group who had previously hosted the Hobo Show in Oregon were ready to pass the torch. LANA was offered the opportunity and now continues the tradition of the Hobo Show. The Hobo Village and props were transported to central California. The event has been held at the Stanislaus County Fairground yearly as one of the first shows of the year. Due to COVID-19, it was cancelled in 2021. December, 2010 - Camelid Rescue Coalition (CRC) In December, 2010, the MLAS (Montana Large Animal Sanctuary) collapsed and was no longer able to take care of approximately 1,000 animals. Most of these animals were llamas (approximately 590). Because of this massive undertaking to remove animals from this site, rescue groups formed an alliance, the CRC, to coordinate planning, organizing and transportation. The CRC is comprised of the Northeast Llama Rescue, Inc. (NELR), Southeast llama Rescue, Inc. (SELR), Southwest Llama Rescue, Inc. (SWLR), Llama Association of North America’s Lama Lifeline Committee (LANA Lifeline) and several other non profit animal rescues. Spring, 2011 - “California 33” LANA BOD Joy Pedroni and LANA member Nina Pedersen coordinated efforts with UC Davis Veterinary Teaching Hospital to receive thirty three llamas from the closure of MLAS for treatment and care until they were well enough to leave to their new homes. Spring, 2015 - LANA News Newsletter 100% online With the cost of postage rising, and in an effort to save the organization money, LANA’s newsletter is offered online. Spring, 2015 - Kids & Camelids Show LANA BOD Sue Rich superintends this yearly youth show with an emphasis on education, camaraderie and fun. September, 2019 - Cal-ILA merges with LANA After several months of conversation and consideration of both boards and their respective directors, it was determined that it would be wise and efficient to consolidate the efforts and resources of the organizations. Cal-ILA closed its official status as an organization.

MY VISION OF LANA’S FUTURE

LANA logos that have appeared through the years.

by Amy Logan, LANA President (excerpt from December, 1995 LANA newsletter)

LANA supports and encourages the existence of local regional groups, both formal and informal, as they serve a vital purpose for llama owners to exchange information, address local issues, educate the public, and market their animals through active participation in their individual communities. Through our new resource groups, LANA can provide support for both local organizations and individuals which will benefit the entire llama community. LANA has become involved in the support of medical research and has made significant contributions each year to support llama research programs, most recently through the Morris Animal Foundation through support of the choanal Artesia study. LANA will continue to grow and reflect the changing needs of our membership. We will continue to serve our members in the ways chosen by our membership. We believe in our members, our purpose, and in these wonderful animals; llamas, we are privileged to represent and care for each day. We look forward to an exciting and progressive future for our industry.

IN THE BEGINNING (From LANA News March, 1998)

For many of our members, LANA’s beginning is unknown. So, for those of you who are newcomers, or even some of you “old-timers” who need some refreshing, a short history on the happening that is LANA. A backyard gathering of a few llama owners at a private home in Northern California brought out a handful of enthusiastic people looking to share a common goal: information to share to ensure the well-being of their llamas. The date was May 30, 1981. At that meeting, acting officers were selected, goals were written, committees were formed, a name chosen, and the Llama Association of North America was off and running in high gear. The original idea of LANA remains the same: an association run democratically has always been of the utmost importance. Every member should have equal voting rights, and any member in good standing (is) entitled to run for the Board of Directors if he or she chooses to do so. LANA does not “screen out” individuals who have a desire to serve; the selection of our Board is by popular vote of the entire membership. The first LANA President was Bill LaValley, and under his direction the first Great LANA Expo was held in Vallejo, California, during the summer of 1982. Dick and I attended that Expo; we were new llama owners that year and needed all of the help and information we could get. Several things stand out in our minds, things we still remember clearly. A horse trainer from Alaska showing the “proper training” of a young llama (our llama trainers today have certainly come a long way in their thinking, but some of the basics that horse trainer showed us are still valuable tools today); a llama driving a cart around the Vallejo Fairgrounds; and a veterinarian teaching us basic care while also being honestly interested in our experiences with the llamas we had in our care…his name was Murray Fowler. We’ve come a long way since those thirty or so people met in the backyard to share a common goal, but our mission remains the same: the well-being of our llama friends. We started a wonderful Youth Project in the summer of 1986, which is still an integral part of Expo today; and now, when high llama prices have come down to reality, and those people who only wanted them for the profit they could make have lost interest, we have another new goal in Lama Lifeline: helping as many llamas we can who have been “discarded.” We would like to applaud those few who were instrumental in forming this organization and helping a lot of us grow in an infant industry so many years ago. We appreciate their effort and foresight. May your spring crias be healthy and strong. Virginia Christensen, Editor

Ever wonder where these adorable drawings came from? These were drawn by Jane Marek for LANA and are copyrighted. The design on the front page and those you see here have been enjoyed in many LANA newsletters through out the years.

LANA Llamping 2021 by Stephanie Pedroni

After a two year hiatus, another fabulous LANA “llamping” trip is finally in the books! What’s “llamping” you ask?! Well it’s a bit like “glamping”, or glamorous camping, but with llamas. Aaaand llama beans…aaand barn chores…and less than posh sleeping arrangements…OK, so perhaps it isn’t glamorous at all. But it is a fabulously fun and relaxing way to spend a weekend with your favorite camelids & camelid lovers. We had a small, and energetic crowd at the Sly Park Equestrian Campground this year anchored by Sue & Fred Rich, and the entire Pedroni Clan. Joining us were two new LANA households and first time “llampers” Nick Stone and Katie Marshall with boyfriend David Watson. Nick and his three beautiful classic llamas have some packing experience, and were a fantastic addition to our crew. Katie and David, have joined our LANA crew at the Vacaville Fiesta Days Parade in years past, and brought a fresh, young energy to the campground.

On Saturday morning, our group of 10 humans, 7 camelids, and 5 canines packed up our lunches into the llama’s panniers and set out for a fun hike. We forged some new paths through the recently cleared areas of the forest, hoofed it up the switch backs to the top of the dam.

The group quickly made its way across the road and then on to the lake front where we rested for lunch, …

… some rock skipping and some dipping of toes into the refreshing water.

New LANA members Nick Stone (above) and David Watson and Katie Marshall (below)

Back at camp that afternoon we all gathered for the first LANA Llamping Games; an idea conceptualized and realized by Joy Pedroni. Led by the enthusiasm of our younger contingency, we all had a fantastic time playing a host of silly games. We waddled with oranges between our knees, shook ping pong balls out of tissue boxes strapped to our behinds, strategically scooched Oreos down our faces into our mouths and so much more. We all laughed until our sides hurt & everyone got a turn to pick from the fabulous table of fun llama prizes that Joy supplied.

A communal dinner followed by s’mores and stories shared around the campfire topped off the wonderful weekend. And as with all LANA events, we drove home looking forward to the next year’s iteration. Hope to see you all then!

LANA 2021 Summer Newsletter

Articles from LANA 2021 Summer Newsletter