Back home in Iowa. It’s always nice to have a short trip for a big show. Being a bigger and more expensive show, the bouncy box (trailer) is usually pretty empty with just a select few of us going. The girl (Aspen) was limited to just one performance llama and after some tough deliberations she decided to take Quaker and leave Celee at home. However, there were some llamas in the bouncy box that we’ve never seen go before. Rumor had it, they probably weren’t coming home as they were being offer up for sale in the LFA auction.
Being the largest show of the year with the stiffest competition, expectations were kept in check as the show started on Friday. Dazz (Bedazzl) and the girl were up first in Senior Youth Showmanship. The girl didn’t know what to expect as this was her first year in Senior Youth and it was a big class of 12 exhibitors, many of whom were 3rd year seniors. However, with Dazz on her lead behaving like h always does, the girl took 2nd place! Off to a good start!
Beast (Heatwave’s Beastly Hope) was up next in Light Wool Yearling Male. He placed 1st in his class and then was awarded ILR-SD National Grand Champion Light Wool Male. Woo Hoo! Way to go Beast! Set the bar high why don’t you.
Meanwhile, Quaker was working in the performance ring with the girl. Over the two days it took to complete performance Quaker placed 2nd in Pack and Public Relations and placed 4th in Freestyle Obstacle. So, with her 2nd place finish in Showmanship the girl (Aspen) placed overall National Senior Youth Reserve Grand Champion! Things are looking good!
Back into the halter ring, things came back to earth. Dazz placed 3rd in Medium Wool Adult Male and Quaker placed 8th in Medium Wool Yearling Male. This was a national championship show after all. We can’t win them all!
Next up was the LFA auction. The girls: Hope, Sissy and Sheera were taken ot and paraded in front of the gathered humans who were there to bid on the many llamas for sale. The the sale began. People bid on Hope, but apparently not enough even though she was pregnant with Milestone’s baby. She came back home with us. Sissy was up next and got no bids. What are these humans looking at? She is a beautiful young female llama and they could have bought her for $500. Oh well, their loss. Sissy came home with us too. Last to go to bid was Sheera. Some lady from Georgia won the bid on Sheera and she went to her new home in Georgia. None of the rest of us was offered in the sale. Whew! We like our farm!
That wrapped things up for us except for the LFA Futurity on Sunday. Beast was the only one in the Show. Probably a good idea since he had the best showing on Friday. In the 15 – 24 month Traditional Male class he placed 4th. Not a first, but we’ll take it.
All in all, a good weekend for the group; 1 Grand Champion and 1 Reserve Grand Champion. At the National Championship ILR-SD show, we couldn’t ask for more. The short ride home was a nice end to the weekend, or so we thought. Upon arriving home, with the human’s friends from Kentucky joining us for the night, the bald human found a new baby in the pasture! A big healthy girl from Sweetie (SPL Sweet Godiva) who we had been told just two weeks before was open. Happy Father’s Day indeed!
Next Up: Iowa Double Weekend!
The Weary Llama 