s e v e n i s a j o u r n e y

In the wake of Jims untimely death, we have been thinking about what role he played on the farm. Jim was the fourth camelid we purchased. We started with 3 alpaca wethers in December of 2003- Oak, Pointer and Chris. In August of 2004 Chris died suddenly of liver failure. Not that long afterwards the two remaining ‘paca started ot get really twitchy. We think they were not getting enough sleep, as one must always be on watch.

Around that time we met with Marty McGee, an expect on Camelid behavior. She suggested we get a llama, as he would sort out all the bahavior issues among our alpacas. After some searching we found Jim. It took a search, as wee needed an animal with the right attitude. He arrived in October of 2004.
Jim did a wonderful Job. He sorted Oak and Pointer out, and in the years that followed was an effective “Unkie Jim” to the new cria.

Jim was not a pet. Nor was he meerly “stock.” He was staff, an employee. He had a job to do, and he did it (allbeit grudgingly at times!). That is one reason why his death affected us differently than that of any of the alpaca we have lost. It is also why we have started searching for a new llama. Our farm needs a llama as a herd-maager for the boys. I look forward to meeting and working with a new llama in the future. I have put the word out to people I know in the llama association, hopefully a well-recommended employee will soon come our way.