Saying Goodbye is Never Easy…

Lofty Pine Fusion
April 22 1996-August 10 2013

Fusion….he came as a package deal over 11 years ago and was the best kid trainer ever! Oh sure, the kids thought they were the ones doing the training, but it was really him! He knew the drill and would only pretend to be learning as each new 4H’er had him as their project. He’d follow you to the ends of the earth and back if asked!

It was 6:17 pm, I was in Cincinnati when I got the call that Fusion was down and when made to get up, his left front leg hung limp. Maybe it was just sprained, maybe he slipped on the barn floor, I thought….praying it wasn’t anything worse.

Lloyd called the vet who came out and confirmed his suspicions… it was broken at the Radius, just below his shoulder. HOW on earth could this have happened??!! We’ll never know, he was 17, and as any geriatric, he could have had brittle bones.

I made it home just after Dr. Kari had given him ‘the shot’ and was able to hold his head on my lap for quite some time before he finally breathed his last. I stroked his head and told him what a good boy he’d been all these years, how I was SO GOING TO MISS HIM… it was dark, the rest of the llamas were scattered around the field, kushed for the night… an owl called from a nearby tree….. Go ahead…go… it’s okay, I told him….. several more breaths and he was gone.

I wish we’d had time to gather all the kids that had taken him through the years so they could say good bye too. He finished his 4H career at the Ohio State Fair and the Champaign County Fair just days before, and as always, did an excellent job.

I know I have tons of pictures, but chose a few from over the years…..

Carmen and Fusion were the same age! Here, for the Children’s Parade at Pony Wagon Days, I used Kool-Aid to dye his fiber.

Greeting residents at Southbrook and McAuley Center

I always loved this shot of Levi and Fusion….the gentle touch on the lead, yup, that was Fusion.

Paper lead? No problem!

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His last Ohio State Fair and
Champaign County Fair

Even led by royalty! The fair queen took him through the obstacle course, for the first time handling a llama….almost flawlessly. Way to go, Fusion….you made her look so good!!

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Reunited with his pals that have gone on… each one is special, some just a little more than others.

You will be missed………….

Los Llameros de St Paris 4H Show 2011

After almost a week at fair,
the kids and llamas were more than ready
to be done and go home!
All the kids did a fantastic job showing in Showmanship and Obstacle.
Thanks to all my mom helpers and to our judge, Becky Raber!

At the end of our show we had some audience participation with "Musical Llamas"... just like musical chairs only you have to lead your llama around the circle and when the music stops you have to get your llama to put one foot on the carpet! Easy, right?! HAHA! Then we had an "Egg and Spoon" race... only the "egg" was a ping-pong ball!

After our show is the King of the Ring contest. Most all the 1st place showmen from the entire fair week compete to see just who is "King of the Ring", they have to show all the animals represented! So far, llamas haven't been able to get a toe into the competition, but this year we did get to participate! They asked us to bring the llamas over so the 10 contestants could do the "egg and spoon" race while their points were being tabulated! What fun! The show arena was jam-packed! Two heats of 5 each and those kids had NO clue about llamas! LOL!

I've put together a slide show for you, sit back and enjoy!

Thanks for stopping!

Dawn

More From the Fair…

Well, today is our show! Done…over… we can go home!! Woohooo! It’s been a good time, some gorgeous weather and lots more smiles and laughter!

Here’s what I discovered when I got there yesterday morning. It was VERY scary!! Carmen had spent the night in one of the stalls, she appeared to be hiding from something when I got there about 10:30…

I called to her… shouted, actually! She was very startled, eyes big as saucers…

OH NO!!! What could it be???!!!!!

Within minutes… the alien devoured her and took her place on the cot!!!
(actually, it was more like 30 minutes later! Carm was SOUND asleep when I got to the fairgrounds. I woke her up.. her eyes were really big as saucers! good girl though, she’d been up at 7, cleaned all the pens and had gone back to sleep!)

So, what do you do for excitement when it’s day 5 of the fair? Carmen had this idea….

And then….. there’s Ryan! LOL

Wednesday is “kid” day and the Pizza Eating Contest. Actually the boys just wanted a free meal!

John chowing down

And Ryan

And of course the fun of feeding the llamas!

Well, off to fair! Showtime this afternoon!!

Thanks for stopping!

Dawn

Fair Week…Champaign County!

Tomorrow is our 4H show, we’ve had a good week even with the warm days and of course several thunderstorms! Yesterday was a beautiful day and today promises to be even better!

I figured I’d better start sharing some pics! Always fun, never gets old seeing the faces of kids (old and young alike!) as they feed the llamas and pet them!

Carmen, our first Llama Ambassador
with the Jr. Fairboard President, Skyler

This young man, Ashton, fell in love with the llamas and spent a good hour with us one day!

This little girl was so funny, she kept saying over AND over… “EAT IT!!” (Grandpa isn’t mad, just caught him with that look! lol)

These girls waiting for Sulley to stick his head back out.

This little guy was so cute!

This one of Shadow cracked me up…
“GIVE IT TO ME ALREADY! “
I had to crop it for a close-up….lol

Scout was soooo funny!
“Ahhhh, just keep scratching, honey”.

Can you see the smoke? To the left of us is always a vendor that has their grills/smokers going… every so often the smoke hangs over us! And to the right is our “corn husk” supplier! They go through dozens of ears of corn a day. Lucky llamas!

Think Levi might have his hands full? The horse next to Tobi’s stall has wood shavings…oh fun! Thanks Cody!!

So, I’m about to pack up for yet another day. Come see us, feed and pet a llama!!!

thanks for stopping!

Dawn