Unity siblings find success in llama, alpaca show at Westmoreland Fair

A brother and sister from Unity showcased their llama-handling skills during Sunday’s llama and alpaca show at the Westmoreland Fair.

Rian Gettemy, 12, earned the title of best in show with Cherry, his auburn-colored llama. Rian and his sister, McKenna, 13, also placed in showmanship and trail categories during the Sunday morning contest.

This wasn’t the first time the siblings showed llamas at the fair, but it was the inaugural show for Cherry and McKenna’s llama, Midnight Magic. The siblings got the llamas in November.

Rian already is looking forward to next year’s show.

“I worked hard this year, but I’m going to try to work harder to do even better next year,” he said.

During the show, six handlers walked their llamas and alpacas around the ring and through an obstacle course that required the animals to complete small jumps, maneuver around chairs, walk over a tarp and walk under a ribbon curtain. The animals also were judged on their appearance and health.

Judge Christopher Rob, an ER veterinary technician from Latrobe, said the obstacle course was designed to introduce the animals to experiences that they wouldn’t typically encounter in an open field. The course then tests an animal’s ability to trust its owner to guide them through it.

“The idea is to show, ‘I can do this. You can do this. Just trust me,’ ” Rob said.

To prepare for the show, the Gettemys said they walked with their llamas and talked to them. McKenna said it’s important for a llama to recongize its owner’s voice.

“When they’re used to your voice, they’re used to you, so they’ll be more comfortable with you,” she said.

Rian and McKenna now head to the fair’s premier showmanship contest Friday to compete against the winners of other animal shows.

While llama/alpaca show entries were on the lower side this year, Rob said he was impressed that the participants were “more involved and structured” this year.

The Gettemys and Abbie Bayerle, 13, of Stahlstown competed through 4-H, a nonformal educational youth development program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The remaining three adult competitors participated as open entrants.

Abbie showed her alpaca, Marisol, who she got several years ago. She uses Marisol’s fiber to needle felt and crochet.

Sarah Hellmann, the show’s ring steward, said llamas and alpacas are multipurpose animals. These creatures are used to harvest fiber, guard sheep and act as therapy animals, she said.

“I know there’s mixed feelings here at the fair about them not being considered livestock, but they are,” said Hellmann of Latrobe. “They have so many purposes.”