4-H Llama - Alpaca Project

Get started with 4-H'ers in your area

• Find a club near you or contact your local 4-H office for more info.

Get started on your own

• Purdue 4-H lama activity books (for sale)
• Caring for Llamas and Alpacas: A Health and Management Guide (book)
• Llama - Alpaca Showmanship Rules & Guidelines
• Llama - Alpaca Performance Classes Rules & Guidelines

• Llamas and Alpacas:  Keeping a Small Scale Camelid Herd, Sue Weaver
• Alpaca Keeping - Raising Alpacas - Step by Step Guide Book, Harry Fields
• Alpaca Owners Association, Inc (AOA)
• AOA Show Handbook
• Llama and Alpaca Resource Handbook (for sale)

• Llama - alpaca information sheet — posted Dec 14, 2021
• AnSci updates for 2022 — posted Dec 14, 2021
• 4-H animal ID requirements and processes 
• Animal science show requirements sheet for all species 
• Llama - alpaca fleece judging at state fair guidelines — updated December 2018
• Cloverbuds and animals
• Leasing a 4-H animal

Join the Minnesota State Fair 4-H show committee

This is a leadership opportunity for 4-H members in grade 9 and up. Represent your fellow 4-H'ers on the livestock show committee, serving with adult volunteers. 

What you'll do

• Attend two face to face meetings during the year as youth representative
• Participate in 2-4 calls during the year
• Staff a 4-H livestock information booth the first two days of the Minnesota State Fair

How to apply

Selected applicants will be notified in September and will be invited to a state fair meeting in October. This is a one-year experience, and you can apply for a second year.

Contact

Joe Rand, Extension educator and advisor, joerand@umn.edu

Local livestock committees

You may be able to join your county 4-H livestock committee. Contact your local 4-H office for more information. 

Project Resources

Llama - Alpaca Showmanship Rules and Guidelines

Llama - Alpaca Performance Classes Rules and Guidelines

Alpaca and Llama Show Association (ALSA) Judges Manual

2019 ALSA Handbook 22nd Edition

Additional Resources

Alpaca website (Vicugna Pacos)

Leader's Manual for Llama Activities (Washington State)

Llamas and Alpacas: Keeping a Small-Scale Camelid Herd - tips for buying and care (for sale)

Alpaca Keeping - guide to farming, care , diet, health and breeding (for sale)

To volunteer with 4-H in your area, contact your local 4-H office.

Record keeping

• 4-H llama - alpaca record
• 4-H youth record keeping — reflect on your project and share it.
• Animal science project interviews evaluation - junior level (PDF)
• Animal science project interviews evaluation - senior level (PDF)
• Llama - Alpaca Showmanship Score Sheet
• Llama - Alpaca Performance Score Sheet 
• Llama - Alpaca Fleece Judging Score Sheet

You can exhibit

Your llama

Your alpaca

Contact your local 4-H office for sign-up deadlines and more info about how to get started showing your:

• Llama - alpaca in costume class
• Llama - alpaca in obstacle course class
• Llama - alpaca in public relations class
• Llama - alpaca in showmanship class
• Llama - alpaca fiber
• Llama - alpaca poster

See requirements for breeds, birth dates and animal ID. These are required for all llama - alpaca shows (state and local).

Your knowledge

• Livestock interviews
• Science of Animals exhibits

Find out about livestock shows near you on your local 4-H website.