Llamas: great on the farm, great in the showring

PnE Ranch Manager Jessie Rierson shows off one of the female llamas. Rierson and ranch owners Pat and Ernest Blank began showing llamas in Aug. 2000. -Staff photo by Briskin

February 7, 2002 -- Just outside Corsicana is a ranch that at first glance seems like just another cattle raising operation. But upon closer inspection the 28 llamas owned by Pat and Ernest Blank set the PnE Ranch apart.

According to Pat Blank her husband Ernest purchased a llama for her as a Christmas present a little over ten years. "Every year after that we added another llama," stated Blank. "We have over 200 head of cattle and we had the land and facilities to do other things so we just kept expanding the llama operation."

Blank said that she got interested in showing her llamas when she saw some at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. After less than a year of showing, Blank is the owner of numerous winning llamas. Grand champion honors have gone to their animals in such shows as the Central Texas State Fair, State Fair of Texas, State Fair of Lousiana, and have made the Grand Nationals in Columbia, Mo. which is considered the Super Bowl of llama competition. The Blanks recently brought home a grand champion and reserve grand champion from the Fort Worth Livestock Show and Rodeo.

"Showing llamas is fun," said Blank, "and definitely a real challenge."

About four years ago Blank brought Jessie Rierson on board to manage the ranch. "He didn't want to have anything to do with the llamas," she explained. "Now guess who is doing all the showing!"

After working with llamas for a while Rierson was sold. "They kind of get to you," he said. "You just get to where you can't stay away from them."

According to Blank showing llamas is just like showing cattle. The judges look at body type, the wool and the llama's confirmation, she explained.

The breeding of the llamas is all done at the ranch. "We keep all the studs here at the ranch," explained Blank. "When it is time to breed we let Mother Nature do the work."

After a llama is born it takes about six to nine months until its' ability to show becomes evident. "You never really know what you are going to get with a new baby," explained Blank. One of the mamas recently had a baby and according to Rierson she (the baby) is straight right now but they will not know if she is show quality until closer to weaning time.

Blank and Rierson have traveled as far as Missouri for competition and this spring they plan on competing in four shows. In addition to showing they also sell their llamas. "We sold four at the end of last year," said Blank. And according to Rierson the llamas are consigned and sold at select sales, not following a show.

They have sold the llamas to be used as guard animals for sheep and goat-herds, for pets and to be used as pack animals. According to Blank llamas do not require a lot of land and most interact with people very well.

To get ready for a show it can take as much as two whole days. "To get them the way I want them," said Rierson, "it takes a while." Their hair is very fine according to him and needs to be well brushed before the shows.

The llama's diet consists of grain, hay and regular grass. "Purina has a special food that we buy," explained Blank. "A lot of people just feed oats or mix their own grain."

Llamas are generally healthy animals according to Blank but they still need veterinary care from time to time. "We have one of the vets in Corsicana," she stated. "Dr. Ray Carroll knew nothing about llamas when we started this, but has learned along with us." She explained that the llamas have to be vaccinated and need regular check-ups just like any other ranch animal.

The summer is about the only time the llamas have any real health problems. "The llamas cool themselves through their belly," explained Rierson. In the summer they have to sheer them around the belly to help keep them cool.

For more information about the PnE Ranch and its llamas contact Jessie Rierson or Pat Blank at 903-673-2460.