We all love llamas! We
love their grace, their regal elegance, their intelligent natures,
and their ability to work safely with our youth. The
Hamilton County Llamas, Inc. (HCL)
provides llamas to youth for participation in our county 4-H
project. The youth involved learn about llama health care,
train their llamas to show at the county fair, and oversee the
care of their animals.
Located in central Indiana, the Hamilton County Llamas, Inc. has
been formed for the sole purpose
Located in central Indiana, the Hamilton County Llamas,
Inc. has been formed for the sole purpose
of making llamas available to the youth of Hamilton County to
lease for, including but not limited to, participation in and
completing a 4-H Llama Project. Members of the Hamilton
County Llamas, Inc. will share in the maintenance and
care for all the llamas under the responsibility of the HCL.
Membership is yearly from October 1st to Sept 30th. There is
a one time registration fee of $25.00. All HCL members will
have the responsibility to take their turn with llama chores
monthly during the
membership year.
When
enrolled in the 4-H Llama Project, youth leasing a llama will
learn about llama health care and attend workshops to train their
llama to show at the annual Hamilton County Fair. All
members who lease a llama or attend workshops on the property
where the llamas are housed must be a member of the Hamilton
County Llamas, Inc. Annual membership fees will apply towards the
farm lease, insurance, feed, animal health care, and
miscellaneous variable expenses as well as HCL workshop fees and
special events.
The Hamilton County Llamas, Inc. will be managed by an elected
Board of Directors and operates under their own By-Laws. All
members will have one vote per family. Chairpersons and committees
will work to help oversee the responsibilities of the herd
management, management of the farm property, and events in the
community.
The Hamilton County Llamas, Inc.also offers various options to
board llamas for those youth who own their own llamas and are
currently enrolled in the Hamilton County 4-H project or for those
who have been previously connected with the Hamilton County 4-H
project and are willing to share their animals with members of the HCL. In addition the Hamilton County Llamas,
Inc. offers
options for those HCL members who own their own llamas and house
them at their own location, are currently enrolled in the Hamilton
County 4-H project, and wish to attend workshops and activities of
the HCL.
How It All Came About ...........
Prior to
2015, the llamas in this herd were owned by Jim and Marilyn Nenni
of Shagbark Ridge Llamas. The Hamilton County 4-H llama
project was started in 1991 at Shagbark Ridge by the Nenni's with
Marilyn being the club leader and Jim being the project
superintendent. For 24 years the club met at their farm and
youth worked with their llamas. When the decision was made
to sell their farm in 2014, in order to see the 4-H llama project continue,
the Nenni's donated all the animals in the herd, along with all
the equipment, to the group of families currently involved with
the 4-H llama project. Under the advisement of a Steering
Committee consisting of some of the parents, the Hamilton County
Llamas, Inc. was formed. Llama youth joined the HCL
with a membership fee and became share owners and
caretakers of the llama herd. A new 40 acre farm was located
to house the animals and fencing and shelters were constructed.
Annual fees, community events, and some fundraising projects support the annual
budget of maintaining the llama herd on the new farm and the 4-H
llama project continues on.
As of the current time, the HCL is a great success
averaging around 75 youth members annually. In our
organization we all work together and benefit from many life
learning skills as well as animal management. We are the
only farm operating as a youth co-op in the country and also we
are the largest 4-H Llama Project in the country!
Hamilton County Llamas, Inc. is a non-profit group a 501 (c) (3).
New members are always welcomed
to join the HCL, lease a llama, and be a part of this unique
opportunity for youth to be involved with a livestock herd.
Please contact us for more information. To join the Hamilton County
Llamas, Inc. ........................
Registration Form
Info & Fees
Contact 4-H Llama Project Leaders:
Marilyn Nenni
or
Lisa Sims |