My life with llamas actually began in 1990 when I visited my daughter in Eugene, Oregon, and my son-in-law took me on a beautiful drive up the McKenzie Highway to Sisters, Oregon. While there, we were told by a waitress that Sisters bragged the largest llama farm in North America. I had no idea what a llama farm was, but thought perhaps it might be a good place to get some photos of my grandson and son-in-law. I have tried over the last ten years to come to some logical conclusion as to why I immediately fell in love watching 300+ llamas graze at the Patterson Ranch. I still don't know how it happened, but fall in love I did.

I came home and informed my husband Jeff that I was getting llamas. He looked at me like I had lost my mind. He and his son were quite heavily involved with training roping and cutting horses at the time. Being a good husband, though, he indulged my fantasy. I inquired around and found a llama farm in our area, which I visited. Of course I fell in love with every single llama, looking only at the beautiful expressive faces. Jeff later visited with me, and, with his 40-year background in livestock, was not impressed after looking at the conformation of these llamas. His good sense prevailed, thank goodness, and for once I listened to him and I came home llama-less.

Several years later we both headed to Oregon to visit the kids. I called ahead and made a reservation to visit the Patterson Ranch. We ended up spending an entire afternoon there. Once Jeff saw the strong conformation and athletic ability of the llamas, that did it and he was hooked. We bought four llamas that day and the rest, as they say, is history.

That was in 1994 and we joined every association we could find and attended every single conference we could to learn everything we could about these fascinating animals. We have traveled extensively since that time in an attempt to buy the best blood lines possible to produce healthy, large, conformationally correct, show quality llamas with good minds. We're very proud of what we're producing and had four of our animals qualify for nationals this year.

My love affair with llamas continues to this day. My husband and I visit nursing homes, host farm tours, attend store openings, attend schools, host training clinics, anything we can to promote these wonderful animals. We want everyone to share the magic of llamas.