2006 Report to Trustees & Officers
by Hilary Ware, superintendent
Last year I requested, from whomever is in charge, some more warm weather and less rain in 2006. It worked, almost- or something did, as we once again were dust free and warm after Sunday, with a pleasant temperature in the pulling ring for the show on Tuesday morning.
 Although the week started out tentatively (I had only two entrants in the show up until two weeks before fair time) the llama show was graced again this year by the presence of five youth exhibitors, who outdid themselves in performance, showmanship and costume creativity. The only Llama 4-H Club in Maine, the York County Llama Brigade, has been taken over by Marcia Miller of Lebanon. Her club members, and our loyal sister pair from New Hampshire, were very well prepared. Our adult exhibitors were gracious competitors showing exquisite animals. All in all it was a total success for our 10 exhibitors and 16 animals.
The rest of the week was punctuated by daily demonstrations in our exhibit area outside the barn. It has helped to have two sets of grandstands for all to be able to see- thank you Roy and the maintenance crew! Becky Smith, a professional trainer from Waterford, and two alpaca owners helped put on absorbing sessions on how llamas and  alpacas think and learn, and the basics of “What do you do with them?” (Yes, they are sometimes eaten, in South America…) Our sound system was so good this year that I had to vary my presentations so as not to bore the fiber demonstrators, who could hear every word! We had easily 100-150 people stopping to listen whenever we were giving talks outside.
Ten different alpaca farms, with 25 animals overall, arrived to fill the barn during the second half of the week, and the owners were professional and engaged. The exhibits on fiber were excellent, including a photo essay of a home business fiber mill, processing from raw fiber to finished product.
We would like to request temperate weather again for next year, please – and if it rains, only enough to keep down the dust.
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