Llamas are a very unique, and uncommon animal people own. Llamas are known for their variety of personalities, gentle nature, and intelligence. Cindy and Geoff Kuhnz have the joys of raising llamas on their farm, and have been for over 25 years. I have interviewed Cindy because she is obviously the boss of the operation, and she speaks about her reasoning for owning llamas, the joys, challenges, and any advice for people looking into getting these wonderful creatures.
How did you acquire llamas?
Cindy: Let’s see, so when our son Anthony was three, we were watching Sesame Street, and they had a little girl and a llama in a taxicab in New York City. She sang the song “Me and My Llama”, and she was going to the dentist because llamas have protruding teeth on the bottom. They have no teeth on the top. I said, “what kind of animal is this?”, and that was the start of looking for llamas. Then I saw a sign, by that time, it was like a couple years later, and we had Molly (their daughter), and there was a sign about a Llama Rama. So we went to it, and we met all these llama people, we got to walk a llama, and it was very interesting. Except where we lived only had a backyard, so you couldn’t get a llama. A llama had to be with another llama, or another goat or something. They’re herding animals, so that’s when we started to look for land to build a house and a barn. Many years later, that’s what happened, and by then, we found lots of llama people, and we kept our horses in Pickett, Wisconsin. Next door, these people were building a log cabin, and they were going to get llamas. So we became friends, and then we started getting llamas. The first one was from this park. This man was headed to this park for the summer, and so we asked how much he wanted for her, and that started the llama farm.
Why did you choose llamas instead of another livestock animal such as cows, pigs, goats, or sheep?
Cindy: We didn’t want anything on land that you could eat.
Have llamas taught you any lessons or changed the way you approach animal care?
Cindy: I’’ve always been an animal lover, and I’ve taken really wonderful care of all the llamas I’ve had. But they can sometimes surprise you, just like all animals, and you have to learn the curveballs they throw at you. The llamas, I feel, are very regal at times, and also very loving and calming.
What do you enjoy most about llamas?
Cindy: What do we most enjoy, honey?
Geoff: Socialization.
Cindy: Yes, socialization because they’re so social.
Geoff: Yeah, they’re big pets.
Cindy: Okay. He’s a one word man for questions. I could write chapters. But yeah, I think the llamas are much more gentler than other animals.
What advice would you give to someone considering llamas for the first time?
Cindy: Just like in the beginning, there are herding animals. So you can’t just buy one, you need to buy two, and they love sheep, goats, or another animal also with them. That’s one of the big main things, they can’t be by themselves. And I mean, there’s so much to learn. I would tell them so many things, you know, I’ve told you so many things. But that was the first thing I thought of that I would tell them is that they have to have two.
How do you come up with all the names for the llamas?
Cindy: It just happens. When you see them, when they’re babies and they’re born. You see their face and their reactions, and it just comes to you. Just like, well, not with the children, children’s names came from the Bible. But, no, it all depends on their personality. I’ve had lots and lots of llamas. So there’s a lot of people who have themes named after flowers, football teams or baseball teams. I just look at them and come up with a name.
Cindy and Geoff currently have 11 llamas and a stud, Blue. For those who do not know a stud is a male llama that is selectively bred for breeding purposes. They have 8 girl llamas by the names of Vikki, Licorice, Beauty, Gypsy, Paprika, Sharona, Norma Jean, and Natalie. Then they have three boys that are named Freedom, Jasper, and Vegas.
Have you ever been spit on? Do llamas spit a lot?
Cindy: Yes, I have been spit on many times. It has mainly been in the cross-path of two llamas spitting at each other. Other times it is when we are doing shots, clipping nails, or when they are getting sheared. However, there is one llama, Sharona, who I would say is one of the moodier llamas that likes to act like she’ll spit on you when you get too close.
In conclusion, Cindy highlights her reasoning for owning llamas and the joys they bring her. It is clear that to have llamas you have to be passionate about them. Even though llamas aren’t practical animals to keep because they don’t provide meat or wool like other animals, that does not mean they can’t give you much enjoyment with their unique personalities and their company.
