MOUNT VERNON — Longtime llama showman David Ruckman held off a strong challenge by up-and-comer Lindsey Studebaker to take the high points trophy in Saturday’s 4-H Llama Show at the Knox County Fair. Alhough the experienced and talented Ruckman dominated the competition with first- or second-place wins in three of the four divisions, Studebaker’s strong day was capped by winning the Master Showmanship Competition over Ruckman.
“I wasn’t expecting to beat David,” Studebaker said when she won the showmanship division with her llama, Indo. Indo is housed at the McFarland Llama Farm west of Mount Vernon, Ruckman’s home base. Studebaker said she looked forward to working with llamas every week, noting in particular how friendly the animals are. She plans to return to next year’s fair to again compete with llamas.
Ruckman, who has competed for years at the national and local levels, took the Senior Showmanship division over Bernie Douglas of Fredericktown. Studebaker took the Junior Showmanship division over Fredericktown’s Cordelia Davis, and Tori Anders of Danville won First Year Showmanship over Abigail Brennan of Sunbury.
Paige Wilt of Mount Vernon won the Females Under 24 Months division of the Halter Competition, while Studebaker took the Males Under 24 Months category. Justin Wilt, also of Mount Vernon, took the Females Over 24 Months division, while Madison Adams of Fredericktown took the Males Over 24 Months prize. Studebaker was named Grand Halter Champion, and Adams was named Reserve Halter Champion.
“I was surprised,” said Adams, in only her second year of llama showing.
She said her favorite things about llamas were their personalities, colors and softness.
Ruckman won the Obstacle category with an exemplary performance demonstrating how to work with but subtly control the llama through a course of obstacles, including some quite peculiar to the animals: Passing a hoop over the llama’s head, allowing a stranger to pet them, and walking over an unfamiliar surface. Abigail Brennan took second place in Obstacle.
Ruckman also won the Walking Fleece division, held before the actual show, over Paige Wilt.
The High Point Champion and Reserve Champion were determined by totalling points from fleece, showmanship, halter and obstacle.
