Will "the Lifestyle" Continue?

By Cathy Spalding ©
www.gentlespiritllamas.com
www.gentlespiritalpacas.com

To everything there is a season... fall, einter, spring and summer...birth, baby, child, young adult, parent, grandparent, elder, death...it all then cycles once again through the seasons of that baby now becoming a parent, then grandparent or elder and the cycle continues then once again and then again once more. Each particular season leaves an impression on the next. Often strengths and weaknesses of the previous season or generation are readily visible in the season or generation to follow. That notion carries strong implications for the long-term viabilities within our alpaca and llama communities. Those many wonderful alpaca and llama people of today will necessarily travel the seasons. Will we simply leave one by one or will we have each in our own way, left an impression, desire or motivation within another? Who will follow and who might lead in the next season?

The Importance Of Youth Participation

One of the strongest assets of any community lies in their young people. vigorous and fresh, full of wonder and enthusiasm. And, it would seem from the latest census, they are plentiful, too! We hope to guide them in this season that they may become the guides in the next. How often have we heard the phrase: "Our youth are our future?" Is it possible for that phrase to have important relevance for most any future in most any realm?

Strong youth participation seems an essential building block for the viable ongoing future in the realm of alpacas and llamas. The strength of youth participation would surely depend upon how well we encourage, include, support and mentor them. It must be more than helping with ranch chores or bringing them along with mom and dad to a show or sale. For long-term success, our inclusion, encouragement, support and mentoring must spark an interest, desire and curiosity deep within them through many varied opportunities for personal growth and direct participation. It must include a genuine feeling of acknowledgement and appreciation for their many talents and achievements. FFA and 4-H have long been great opportunities for youth. Unfortunately, both are seemingly somewhat distant per se from any direct involvement with the alpaca or llama communities at large. What creative avenues might we offer with a direct connection to the national community? If our youth are truly a significant part of our alpaca and llama future, perhaps offering more opportunities through our local and national organizations is a significant ingredient.

Tara Munson and her alpaca, both from Porthill, ID, heading for the LANA EXPO party in Quincy, CA.

How LANA Supports Youth

The Llama Association of North America (LANA) has set a leading edge example of how an alpaca or llama organization can support and encourage youth involvement by pioneering some extraordinary opportunities for youth. LANA is committed to supporting and promoting 4-H, FFA, Scout and other youth groups and individuals who are involved with llamas. And, it is not just about llamas. These program opportunities are about building character and life skills using llamas (and alpacas) as the common denominator. They have created several far-reaching programs to recognize youth of varying ages across the United States including:

LANA EXPO Youth Educational Program

A vigorous and challenging two-day program designed specifically for youth at two different age based learning levels. Youth registered in this program receive a comprehensive notebook with youth speaker handouts. Veterinarians and other topic experts present a variety of youth tailored lectures and hands on participation sessions.

Youth Clinics

Free standing clinics on a variety of topics from basic herd management and health care to many aspects of training and showing.

LANA Youth "Follow Me" Award

This award recognizes and celebrates a youth for setting an outstanding example for their peers in behavior, attitude, effort and service to others. This award winner is recognized among other Adult award recipients at the LANA EXPO Awards Banquet. The 2003 "Follow Me" award was presented to Kenny Peterson from California.

LANA Youth "Sportsmanship Medallion"

LANA provides these award medallions to organizations across the country for presentation at ALSA shows in recognition of deserving youth for sportsmanship, behavior and attitude. This award is a unique, eye-catching Olympic style bronze colored medal on a neck ribbon. The LANA Youth Medallion is awarded yearly at shows such as the HOBO Classic, Rogue River Gold, CAL-ILA Grass Valley, California State Fair, Western, Regionals and Grand Nationals.

LANA "Western Show Team Jacket" Program

Youth can earn a Western Show Team jacket - a black Carhart jacket that is especially monogrammed with their name, a llama head, Western Show Team and LANA. Youth meeting the following criteria qualify for a jacket:

• Must be a member of LANA.
• Must be a member of another co-sponsoring organization.
• Must be an ALSA member.
• Must participate and show in the ALSA youth show program, including youth judging.
• Must qualify and commit to attend the appropriate Regional or Grand Nationals.
• Meet any other criteria deemed appropriate by the co-sponsoring organization.

Youth Across America Competition Packet

Begun in 1986, the LANA Youth Across America program encourages competition among youth in recognition for their outstanding contribution and participation in the llama community in the following areas: Record Book projects, Art, Essays and Community Service. This award recognizes and supports the importance of youth in the llama community by honoring their many talents and achievements. This is a serious award and the competition is stiff. The record book material must include records covering their llama experience (llama project, training, shows, community service, story writing and more.) for a period of 12 months and include letters of recommendation. In addition, one youth from each age category is chosen as a medallist from the entries in the other areas of competition. All winners receive an award, prizes, are recognized in the LANA newsletter and honored at the LANA EXPO banquet.

Marriah Munson, a 2003 LANA Youth Medallist winner with her llama, Peppermint Candy.

In addition, the overall record book winner -- Youth Across America winner -- receives an all expense paid trip for themselves and a chaperone to attend the LANA annual EXPO. The responsibilities of this winner include opening the youth program, finalizing the details and providing assistance to youth program speakers, giving at least one presentation to the youth program, speaking at the awards banquet and serving as a llama youth ambassador for the coming year. Most currently, the 2003 "Youth Across America" award was presented to Cathy Bradford from Ohio. The 2004 "Youth Across America " award winner was Paully Flaman from Washington.

CSI Quincy

LANA initiated a very creative and innovation youth program at the LANA Expo in 2003 dubbed CSI QUINCY. Borrowing from the popularity of the television series of the same name, the very title of this program caught the attention and curiosity of the youth and engaged them from the very beginning. This year, the CSI in CSI QUINCY represented: C for confidence, cooperation and competition; S for skill, smarts and 'stick-to-it-ness' and, I for ingenuity, interdependence and improvement. The concept was to present the youth with a physical and mental challenge course complete with activities designed to increase esteem for self and others, craft team building and problem solving skills and enhance individual knowledge about llamas and the llama community at large. Competing teams were comprised equally of youth from the varying age groups. Each team was required to problem solve using their knowledge, experience and individual strengths in order to put forward the best team effort possible. The CSI course consisted of stations requiring physical effort, cooperation, knowledge and teamwork in both head to head and timed competition.

Together, one of the CSI Youth Teams works to problem-solve a challenge on the CSI obstacle course.

The 'Oracle of Knowledge' questions within one station of the CSI competition were designed to stimulate a perspective of the llama community outside of the usual youth frame of reference and to challenge youth knowledge in all facets of the llama arena including care, ALSA, LANA, ILR and greater llama community history.

Sample questions from this year's competition included:

I have a 4-year-old intact llama that was born with a crooked leg. Our vet operated on it and now the leg is straight. I am thinking about entering him in the HOBO Classic. Which statement is NOT correct?

A.  He would do well dressed as Hobo Hank in the costume class so I can enter him there.

B.  He likes to hike, so I can enter him in the Pack Class.

C.  He is quite the gentleman so I can use him in my Showmanship Class.

D.  His two brothers are here and they look just like him so I can enter him as one of the needed three for the Get of Sire Class

E.  Susie, my 12-year-old sister, loves him so she can show him in the Youth PR Class.

The answer is D. His leg has been surgically repaired therefore he is not eligible for a halter class which is required before a Get class.

A Call For Alpaca And Llama Youth Programs

The development, implementation and successful continuation of any youth program within the alpaca and llama communities requires more than an "after thought" approach. It requires true dedication, commitment and a "village" effort - a "village" of those of us in this current season willing to demonstrate imagination, effort, and commitment to support and encourage our youth of the next season. The "village approach" can easily manifest through our respective organizations by our willingness to lead by example and share ideas for quality youth programs. Through quality youth alpaca and llama programs, our youth will encounter meaningful experiences that develop life long skills and self-esteem that will serve them well throughout their personal life journey. If our youth truly represent our future, it is not only important but also indeed wise that we seriously include them in our planning for the strong and viable future in the alpaca and llama communities. It is a true investment that will pay dividends season after season.

For additional information on any of the LANA youth programs, to join and participate, please contact the LANA Administrative Office at 541-830-5262. LANA is committed to supporting youth and is happy to work with any alpaca or llama organization in partnership, networking or setting up a youth program.

LANA, Llama Association of North America

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