The Commercial-News, Danville, IL

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June 19, 2008

Fair features fuzzy friends

Llama project popular in Warren County

BY DENNIS BARTLOW

WILLIAMSPORT, Ind. — Stephanie Toy likes animals and thought that training llamas sounded like fun.

The 13-year-old 4-H member from Attica is in her fourth year of showing llamas at the Warren County Fair.

She was one of 15 4-H members who strutted their fuzzy friends in front of a judge, their parents and friends Wednesday night.

Most of the llamas are owned by Doug Overman, the superintendent of the llama project. The 4-H members go to his farm three miles south of Green Hill every Saturday beginning in April. Overman has about 60 llamas.

“We make the kids train them,” he said. “They pick their animal and break him.”

The participants are faithful, Overman said.

“Some never miss a practice,” he said. The last three or four weeks they also worked with the animals on Wednesday nights and then the entire weekend before the fair.

“About 13 years ago a friend from Oklahoma called me and told me about the llamas,” he said. “I jumped in the truck and went out there, and that is how I got started.”

The llama project has grown in Warren County.

“We have almost double what we had last year,” he said.

Alyssa Snively, 15, of Attica didn’t get involved in the llama project until her second year in 4-H.

“I didn’t know what a llama was,” she said

Sarah Hennessey, 9, of Judyville showed a llama for the first time.

“My dad wanted me to do it,” she said.

Candice Manning, 12, of Pine Village showed llamas for the fourth time.

“I really like llamas,” She said.

The 4-H members could show the llamas in three categories: An obstacle course, showmanship and costume.

“The project is growing in popularity,” Overman said.

AT THE FAIR

The Warren County Fair continues through Saturday at the fairgrounds.

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