About
CAL-ILA –History
Llamas have been finding their way to North America for many years.
William Randolph Hearst imported llamas for his private
collection at San Simeon. Zoo’s,
animal parks, exotic trainers and private owners all imported llamas
until the 1930’s when an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in South
America stop importations. Existing ranches, such as
the Catskill Game Farm owned by Roland Lindeman in upper state New York
and the ranches owned by competitors Jerry Berman & Harold Via in
Southern California provided the only breeding stock for several
decades.
There are the famous
postcards from the 1950’s with llamas riding in New York City Yellow
Cabs taking in the sights of the big apple.
A popular llama industry
myth assumes that William Randolph Hearst’s herd was the beginning of
North American llama breeding, but according to Kay Patterson (Sharpnack)
this is not true. Lindemann and Hearst developed their herds
independently for several decades, both starting in the early 1920’s.
Upon Hearst’s death in 1956, Lindemann purchased the llamas and other
hoofed stock at San Simeon in California.
(See Llama Life, No. 5, P. 13,
“Hearst Herd Smaller Influence Than Believed,” by Eric Hoffman.)
The North American llama as we know it today can probably be traced back to Richard and Kay Patterson. In 1958 as a teenager, Richard acquired several guanacos from a zoo in Virginia as an added attraction for the Arabian horse breeding program he had started at Walnut Valley Farms in Ohio in 1954. Most of the llamas in North America at this time resided in zoos and on game farms. They were classified as exotics and few found their way into private hands.
In 1972, Richard and Kay bought their first llamas from the Catskill
Game Farm, whose herd at that time numbered over 300 llamas.
The Pattersons soon had their breeding program in full swing and
by 1976 they had over 500 llamas! Along
with the breeding program, they also developed a marketing strategy that
jump started the industry.
By 1981 two national
associations were formed; the Llama Association of North America (LANA),
and the International Llama Association (ILA) about six months later.
The Registry had not yet been formed. Llama shows and ALSA did not
exist.
LANA and the ILA addressed issues
facing this new “industry.”
The Pattersons, Andy Tillman and his wife Dr. Cheryl Tillman DVM, were
instrumental in forming the ILA and getting llamas and alpacas
categorized as livestock.
This opened the market to many more potential buyers. The ILA also
funded research into reproduction, herd health and veterinary medicine
for the rapidly expanding North American camelid population.
As marketing efforts became more successful, local ILA chapters
were formed across the country.
The 1984 the Chilean
importation by Camelids of Delaware, was the first importation of llamas
from South America since the 1930’s. Actually there were two
importations in 1984 totaling several hundred llamas and alpacas.
1984 also saw the first auction of “llamas only” by Fred Hartman. The
llama “craze” was in full swing.
CAL-ILA formed in 1984
when a group of Northern California llama ranchers and breeders decided
to address the desperate need for education and research. The
University of California, Davis was contacted for help. The ILA
had been formed in 1981 and it was decided that this group of ranchers
and breeders would become the Northern California affiliate chapter.
The name CAL-ILA (California - International Llama Association) was
chosen. The original intent of this membership association was to
hold annual meetings at UC Davis where the veterinarians could share the
latest camelid information with the growing numbers of llama owners.
In return CAL-ILA would hold a raffle at the meeting and then
donate the proceeds, along with additional funds, back to UC Davis for
llama research. Dr. Murray
Fowler was located at UC Davis and in 1967 he assumed responsibility for
the university's zoological medicine program, the only one available for
the next decade. Llamas were
primarily zoo animals and Dr Fowler instructed classes related to their
care.
The ILR Registry was established in 1985, legally independent from all
llama organizations.
In 1986 the American Llama Show Association (ALSA – later renamed to the
Alpaca and Llama Show Association) was formed with Andy Tillman judging
the first halter class.
In 1987 Fred Hartman
organized a sale of Bolivian imports.
In 1993 the CAL-ILA Board of Directors realized that the association had
outgrown its original organizational structure. At the 1994 UC
Davis Membership meeting a new set of By-Laws was approved by the
membership and later that year the IRS approved CAL-ILA as a non-profit
501(c)(3) organization. In 2009 the membership again approved updates
to the By-Laws.
By 1997 the ILA was no longer functional.
A depressed market (some say “normalized”) and political
in-fighting led many of the affluent buyers and owners away from llamas.
CAL-ILA is a Community
The llama community is unique. The people are friendly, helpful and more
than willing to drop whatever they are doing to share some insights,
lend a helping hand and have a good time. While the competition
may be serious, Llama shows don’t have that cutthroat feeling. We
believe that the friendships made are more important and longer lasting
than a couple of show ribbons.
Not
Just California
While most of CAL-ILA’s activities are concentrated in Northern
California, we have members from throughout California, Nevada, Oregon,
Washington and Idaho.
CAL-ILA’s
Youth Program
We support the youth programs of the local community (4-H, FFA, Scouting
and others) by providing llama related program encouragement and
assistance. Through scholarships, youth oriented activities, Youth
Judging competitions, sponsorship of Youth programs and events, Youth
Project Guides, and the Youth Fund Raffle at the Grass Valley Show,
CAL-ILA helps insure that our youth have the opportunity for a rich and
rewarding llama experience. CAL-ILA encourages participation in
LANA’s (Llama Association of North America) Youth Across America Program
that supports competition for awards in Art, Essays, Record Books and
Community Service. We are committed to recognizing and honoring
the achievements of our youth and their importance to the llama
community.
Annual Meeting
Each winter we sponsor an annual meeting.
This had been traditionally held at the UC Davis campus. This is
an all day meeting with a focus on education about llamas and alpacas.
Featured speakers include veterinarians, researchers and llama “experts”
sharing the latest information. A short business meeting is
conducted including the election of Board Members. The fun begins
with the research funding Auction and the ever-popular Raffle.
Llama Research
Through the fund raising activities at the annual meeting, CAL-ILA
directly funds llama research programs at UC Davis and other
institutions. The research committee, comprised of veterinarians,
reviews applications and makes funding recommendations to the Board of
Directors. Research results are made available to CAL-ILA members
and the veterinarian community.
Educational Opportunities
Ranch tours, clinics and seminars are all part of the overall
educational opportunities provide through membership in CAL-ILA.
Offered throughout the year the clinics have covered diverse subject
such as showing, grooming and general llama maintenance.
CAL-ILA Membership Directory
Provides a listing of local llama veterinarians and llama advertising in
addition to member information.
CAL-ILA Breeders Directory
This breeder and service guide is sent to every CAL-ILA member, all
outside inquires and is available at all CAL-ILA sponsored events.
CAL-ILA’s
Board of Directors and Our Dedicated Volunteers
Members have their voices heard to continuously improve and update the
organization. By getting involved and chairing or joining
committees, members can help maintain the low cost of membership and our
focus on the important issues facing the llama community.
Voting
A privilege of membership is exercising your right to one vote.
Members can take an active role in the organization by being nominated
and elected to the Board of Directors and can get involved by attending
any Board of Director’s Meeting and by serving as the Chair or member of
any committee.