Llamas a star attraction

MOSCOW — The Latah County Fair welcomed a new addition to its collection of furry friends this weekend.

While cows, goats, pigs and other animals were nearby getting fed, washed and prepped for the judges, a group of llamas were drawing a crowd at another pen.

The families of Tara Garrett and Kim Fien were educating the public about various llama facts while letting children pet the animals.

“If you don’t work with them, they’re not going to work with you,” Fien said about the importance of training llamas.

The llamas were led through an obstacle course so the public could see the animals duck through hoops, climb onto a platform and jump over a hurdle.

This is the first time Garrett and Fien brought their llamas to the fair.

Fien is a 4-H leader in Moscow and Garrett raises llamas in Viola. Both said their llamas are available for any young student who wants to learn how to work with the animals, feed them, clean them and show them at the fair. The animals are available at TLC Llamas and Palouse Pack Llamas.

Fien told the group that llamas can carry 60-80 pounds on their saddles, are useful in protecting flocks and can provide wool. They are herd animals that are better off being raised around other llamas, Garrett said.

Children at the fair were allowed to feel the wool while they asked questions about the animals.

Garrett’s children Kinley, 11, and James, 10, expertly guided their llamas around the obstacle course. The animals had names like Harmony, Dory, Frodo and Myrtle.

Kinley said the hardest part about raising llamas is earning their trust and adjusting to their different personalities.

The best part, she said, is learning about them and figuring out how to work through problems while raising them.

“I think it’s a really good experience,” she said.

Kuipers can be reached at akuipers@dnews.com.