HCL WALK-A-LLAMA

Hamilton County Llamas (HCL) partners youth with llamas from a long-established herd of approximately 50 animals. HCL members who participate in Hamilton County Indiana’s 4-H llama project train their llamas to show at the annual county fair, and HCL sponsors a year-round show group that competes in ALSA- and ILR-sanctioned shows with consistent high placings.

Youth members oversee the care of their assigned animals and assist with overall farming operations, providing abundant learning experiences through immersion into responsible livestock farming. HCL programming includes llama topics such as healthcare and nutrition, breeding and grooming, and farm site topics such as pasture management and structure maintenance.

HCL provides students a unique opportunity to build a strong work ethic while developing invaluable life skills such as public speaking, critical thinking and leadership development. HCL also instills a deep respect for the agricultural livestock subsector, an opportunity that otherwise would not be available to kids living in urban and suburban neighborhoods.

Further, HCL strives to be a good community and philanthropic partner through its participation in community education programs, area holiday parades, and visits to area schools and assisted-living facilities.