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CANFIELD -- A llama-packing event Friday at the 180th Canfield Fair by the Llucky Llamas 4-H Club had youth members of the club compete in a special course with their animals.
"We have kids in our club that show both llamas and alpacas, and they train them throughout the summer," club adviser Charlene Arendas said. "This is one of the events that they do where they are taking their animals through a packing course."
Llamas and alpacas are used as pack animals, often carrying camping equipment, supplies or other animals that have been hunted. The course is meant to simulate what they may encounter when used in the wilderness, with contestants showing how well their animal can navigate the course while carrying a backpack of equipment.
Arendas said the use of llamas and alpacas is more common in rural areas of the western United States.
"Out West where they do a lot of hunting out in the backcountry like Oregon, Wyoming and Montana, there's a lot of llama pack outfitters in that area where you can actually get a guide, and they have a string of pack llamas, like three or four, go out with you and they carry all your gear, your camping equipment and if you're hunting, whatever your prize was," Arendas said. "This course is meant to mimic what things they might encounter out in the woods and the mountains."
The Llucky Llama 4-H Club, a youth organization, focuses on community service and educating the public about llamas and alpacas. Members focus on animal care, animal handling and showmanship at events such as the Canfield Fair.
"4-H has kind of evolved to involve a lot of other things where kids take different projects, they exhibit them at the fair, they get to compete, they get to hopefully learn a lot and also we do community service, things like that," Arendas said. "A lot of it begins with cattle, pigs and things like that. Exhibiting those animals at the fair, raising them, and selling them at auction."
The Llucky Llamas 4-H Club can be followed on its Facebook page.