The Lady Behind The Llamas
My name is Hannah and I am currently my only employee! I was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska. In 2018 we moved to Healy, Alaska, which is just outside of Denali National Park. After living in Healy for about two years we moved to Wasilla, Alaska where we currently reside. I spend most of my time with my son, Charlie, who is 4 years old. Aside from running the llama business, my first (and most important job) is being a stay at home mom. Luckily, my son loves the llamas, and sometimes I can even get him to help with their chores. I am blessed to have a supportive husband, and extended family and friends to help with my son, and the llamas, when I need it. I would not have a business and be able to share the llamas without their support.
Llamas? Why?-The Learning Curve
Before owning the llamas I had little to no livestock experience. I had owned several types of poultry, fowl, and dogs. I was always interested in owning livestock, but I needed a type of livestock that wasn't just for the purpose of food or fiber. I wanted an animal that could help extend my time in the backcountry and go places that motorized vehicles are prohibited or unable to access.
Horses were the first thing that popped into my mind, but they tend to be expensive upfront, eat a lot, need vet care often (which was difficult in remote Healy), and most importantly they intimidated me in every way. My next thought was mules or even donkeys, but for similar reasons I didn't feel they were right for our family. After doing some research I learned that llamas are exceptional backcountry partners.
After deciding I wanted llamas, I had to figure out the challenge of finding any for sale in Alaska. The stars aligned just enough for me to make a new, lifelong friend, who sold me the rest of her herd. I went from no livestock, to a herd of 5 adults and 3 cria (baby llamas) overnight. I had done as much research as I could to learn how to care for these animals, and watched hundreds of videos. Books and videos are no substitute for hands on experience, and I was about to figure that out the hard way.
Two weeks after getting the llamas home, and getting used to their care, feeding, and personalities, I was faced with one of the biggest surprises possible as a new livestock owner.... a surprise cria. I looked out of the kitchen window one morning to see a white thing, covered in dirt, flopping around in the pasture. I quickly scanned the area to see if it was one of the other crias possibly injured. I counted 3 fluffy crias, surrounding the dirty, white cria. I ran outside in confusion to try to figure out who just had a baby and if they were ok, which I found out was Hynji. That was the day we were lucky enough to have Stormy join our lives. I had no idea what to do with this new baby that was wet and filthy, with a storm rolling in. Getting a vet to Healy was not an option, so I called my friend that I got the llamas from and asked what I needed to do to make sure this cria survives. She gave the best advice that she could and I did exactly what I was told. Stormy is now 3 years old, and just gave birth to her very own first cria named Sunny. This event really confirmed my love for these animals and that I had made the right choice to have them join our lives.
Over the last 3 years we have had our hurdles with illness, both the llamas and myself, and even death from things that could not be prevented as well as things that could have been. You never stop learning when it comes to animals and losing them is one of the hardest events to endure. The learning curve isn't quite as steep anymore, but it will never end.
What Makes Llamas So Great?
Although adults cannot ride llamas, they are incredibly versatile. Llamas are sure-footed in the forest and mountains, they are quiet, great browsers (making the need to pack feed minimal), drink very little water (they are a camelid), and they have a padded foot instead of a hoof which makes their environmental impact even less than a hiking boot. Aside from being excellent options for pack animals, their fiber is useful to make mittens, hats, felted items, clothing, blankets, and rugs. Their manure, also known as "llama beans", is one of the most sought after manures for the garden because of its balanced N-P-K, the ability to use it directly in the garden without fear of "burning" the plants, its minimal odor, and its texture makes it a great amendment to the soil. Not only are llamas useful physically, they are also useful for things like therapy because of their calm, quiet demeanors and less-than intimidating size.
Why Start A Business?
My initial goal for the llamas was far from the intention of starting a business with them. After moving to Wasilla I began to notice how people we met would ask endless questions about the llamas, and how happy people were after interacting with them. I started using the llama beans in my garden but I still had more than I needed, with nowhere to put it. I used more llama beans in the garden than I did dirt, and tried to compost it down, but there was still too much! I started to sell bags of llama beans to help cover feed costs, with great success. Along with selling the llama beans, people wanted to ask questions about the llamas and pet/feed them. I didn't mind, but I started to see a small business opportunity. Then I started offering farm visits, so people could meet the llamas, learn about them, pet them, and feed them for an hour. I was so surprised at how popular that became and how happy people were by the time they left. That is when I started getting inquiries about hikes, photography, and event rentals. The business grew, and I have enjoyed every minute of sharing the llamas with the community.