In April 2007, we learned about the Jane Sheppard Event
through an advertisement in the Llama Link Magazine. Jane Sheppard was a respected
llama owner/breeder who passed away in 2006. Her heirs were not
interested in keeping llamas, more then sixty of them, Her friends came
together to put on an Event that would find great homes for these
llamas.
The llamas were brought to the Beacham Ranch in Salida
Colorado. For months they were worked with, conformationals and
behaviorally evaluated, clipped & MORE. The group then set up a
website to showcase the llamas. Llamas were divided into $250/ $500/
$750 and Auction categories. The $250 pen, the largest quantity of
llamas, was being offered as non breeders. A description of each llama
was given. They were very honest about each llamas' good points and also
of their short comings. The Event also offered a free seminar on Estate
Planning. The paid seminars were by Cathy Spaulding on Llama Behavior
and Virginia Christensen on Showing Llamas.
In April, Dave & I discussed the options between
going to this Event or showing at the Grass Valley Llama Show. The Event
won out. After all, we were going to spend money on either event and
Dave would have to take a vacation either way. We would go with the van
or Llama Limo and MAYBE pick up one or two llamas. We spoke with Larry
Luporini of Triple 'L' Llamas. We all agreed that this was a great
opportunity to add quality genetics to our herds. We would carpool
together in his mansion on wheels (okay, to us it is a mansion. It has
all of the bells & whistles on it. We are use to the basics in the
Llama Limo).
On May 24, 2007 Larry, Dante, Dave & I headed out
towards Colorado. The trip took 2 days, 21 hours of driving. Most of
this was a boring drive. No offense to the people from Nevada and Utah,
but I prefer hills and trees. I do like your antelope & prairie dogs
though. We slept at a Flying J Truck Stop in Provo Utah. I don't think
any of the adults had a really sound sleep as we were anticipating the
days to follow ( kind of like kids waiting on Christmas). We reached our
camp site in Salida around 2 PM on Friday. Larry quickly set up and
detached the truck from the trailer & we were off to preview the
llamas. The Beecham Ranch was directly across the highway from our
campground.
The Beacham Ranch was awesome!!!! In your mind, think of
what the perfect llama ranch should look like. That was their ranch. The
log style house overlooked the barns and pastures. Aspen and pine
surrounded the property. Behind it all was the backdrop on the snow
covered Rockies. Wow. We found Sharon and John Beacham to be soft
spoken, warm and outgoing people. What a wonderful place for this event.
To add to the awe, the next few days I would get to meet people I have
only read about or seen at shows.
We were the only people to come from California. In
fact, we were the only people to come from west of the Rockies. This
seemed to surprise many people. Most of the event we were referred to as
' the people from California'. No first names, just that. The bulk of
the people came from Colorado or Wyoming. One came from Texas. We spent
Friday afternoon observing llamas. There was more then just
conformation. We watched behaviors & had to decide if a particular
llama would fit into each ranches breeding program ( my eyes are getting
older so color was a slight consideration in determining quick
recognition in my own herd. I know, that's bad). We also discussed the
few llamas that both of us wanted. Then it was back to the campground to
have a barbequed dinner. Yep, not much sleep that night either.
Saturday we were up & all there bright & early.
It was time to look at llamas & make final decisions. Then it was
off to the line, at 7:30 AM, to be the first to sign our names in pen
sales. Larry decided on Overman's Estafadea. We got Chinita's Princess
& Overland Trails' Mariah Carey. There, we had our llamas. All had
great breeding and were pregnant to three different outstanding
herdsires, Yes, very outstanding indeed.
Larry, Dante & Dave spent the day with our new
llamas & went into Salida in the afternoon. I signed up for the
seminars held during the day. I know the Event management probably
wished that more folks would have signed up for the seminar. My first
class with Cathy Spaulding only had 6 people in it. My second class with
Virginia Christensen only had three people ( the others from the morning
class pooped out). The size of the classes allowed much individual
training/help. It may have been a loss to the people that did not sign
up for the classes, but it was certainly to my gain. Saturday also
included the seminar on Estate Planning. There is a topic that more
llama ranches should consider. What will happen to our llamas, our
companions, when we are no longer here? In the evening, you guessed it,
we had another barbeque at the campground. This one was put on by the
campground management. As we relaxed with our plates of food, we spoke
with others staying at the campground.
We slept in on Sunday & did not arrive to the Event
until after 8 AM. As on Saturday, an impressive continental breakfast
awaited us Sunday morning. The atmosphere was more relaxed as many of
the llamas were already purchased and classes were over. Sale of the
auction llamas would not start until 1 PM. In the 'office' we found bags
of fiber from our llamas, ribbons, banners and plaques from the previous
winnings of our llamas & halters with our llamas names on it. Again,
we spent time with our llamas and looked at the auction llamas we wish
we could have. There would be phone bidders during the auction & we
knew that it would take us out of the running.
The auction started. The handlers were dressed in their
best. The llamas looked terrific. The bidding started. No bids under
$1000. Okay, that took us out of the bidding. Several llamas were passed
on until bidders started getting warmed up. Then came the full Argentine
females. Phone bidders volleyed back and forth with the people sitting
at the tables. Our number was put up several times for a miniature
Argentine female. Bidding sure went over $1000. We gave up & another
Argentine stayed east of the Rockies. More llamas came & were sold.
Then came the only full Argentine Herdsire. Up went our number. Then the
phone bidder. Back and forth. A hesitation. Larry said something to
Dave. Our number was back up. The phone bidder hesitated. SOLD. Corvo
was ours!! No amount of Tums would settle my stomach for hours. I felt
myself shaking. With research, I have since come to the conclusion that
folks east of the Rockies want to keep the full Argentines on their side
of the Continental Divide. Also, let it be known, the bidding number was
NOT in my hand.
Our sincere thanks to Julie Heggie and Gayle Woodsum for
their efforts in this project and putting up with my endless questions.
Okay, if you did the math, there should have been 4
llamas in the trailer on the way home that Monday. Add one to it. PHF
Cadfael's Catera was added to the group. Another pregnant female. All of
them loaded in without a problem. Corvo up front, the girls in back.
Then came the marathon drive back. 21 hours. Larry felt comfortable
driving his truck. He drove all the way to Colorado & drove most of
the way back. We hit holiday 'going home' traffic from Provo to Salt
Lake. We only stopped for gas & a buffet at Wendover. Larry FINALLY
got tired & Dave took over somewhere in Nevada. Dave got tired and
Larry took it back. Larry got too tired & guess what? The female got
to drive the last 2 hours of the trip. I got to drive the truck &
5th wheel back on the windiest leg of the trip. No one died or got hurt
in the process. We made it to our house at 6AM Tuesday. Upon opening the
trailer door, we found great volumes of poop & urine. Green was
everywhere & amongst it - something that resembled llamas.
But as I write this... all are settled in, chewing their
cud, laying in the grass & watching life go by.