Learning new skills, having fun with Norfolk 4-H

Willow Hyatt of Simcoe shows the llama Margie, from Sonny’s Llama Farm, during the Norfolk 4-H Showmanship at the Tri-County Fair in Tillsonburg, which included goats and llamas.

Chris Abbott

Editor

Willow Hyatt’s llama showmanship was on a championship level at the Tillsonburg Tri-County Fair on August 15.

“This is my third summer,” said Hyatt, from Simcoe, who won the intermediate llama division of the Norfolk 4-H Showmanship at the fair, then won the overall best-at-show junior-intermediate llama showmanship title.

“I like being able to have fun with my friends and to learn new skills, and to have fun with it.”

Sonny’s Llama Farm, near Delhi, provides the llamas for Norfolk 4-H.

One of the biggest challenges for those showing llamas and goats is ‘sounds from outside the showing arena.’

“It can stress out the llamas, which makes it harder for us to hold them and actually get them to do their skills,” said Hyatt.

Norfolk 4-H traditionally shows at 12 p.m. on Saturday near the Tri-County Fair livestock building. 

This year, nearby entrants from the demolition derby were revving motors and raising dust as they prepared for their 4 p.m. show. Some llamas seemed to take it in stride, some seemed a bit flustered.

Showmanship involved lining them up, moving forward, turning around, backing up, and their pace. Some years, going in reverse is something llamas are not inclined to do – no matter how much persuasion is applied by 4-H members.

“That is a really easy skill for me, but it depends on the llama itself, not really the trainer,” said Hyatt, who was showing Margie, one of the tallest llamas. “Some aren’t actually able to back up, just because of the way a llama works. Mine, I have no problem. Some are really good at it, some aren’t. Babies don’t know how to do it, so they are harder as well.

“We get to choose the llamas we use – there are easier llamas and there are harder ones. The (4-H) that are more experienced, they get harder ones. The younger (4-H) get easier llamas. The oldest and most experienced, they get the babies so they can help train them.”

Norfolk 4-H competes at four fairs – Tillsonburg Tri-County, Ancaster, Caledonia and the Norfolk County Fair in Simcoe.

“The competitions are fun because you get to see how everyone does in the experience of a show ring, but personally, I prefer being at the farm itself and training and learning and just having fun with it. I like animals and it’s a new experience for me.”

The Norfolk County Fair will include costume and obstacle course competitions in addition to showmanship.

“Your goal is to have the biggest, most flairy costume you can. 

It’s not only a show of the llama, it’s a show of how you are able to handle the llama while you’re doing it.

“Last year my llama was a green fairy and I was matching with it. This year, my llama will be a mermaid and I will be a pirate.”