print article Print     e-mail article E-mail
Published July 10, 2012, 07:01 AM

Courtenay girl ready to show her llama at fair

In anticipation of her first time at the Stutsman County Fair, 7-year-old Evyn Dick of Courtenay is excited to show off her 1-year-old pet llama.

By: Brian Willhide, The Jamestown Sun

  • Image
    • image
    John M. Steiner / The Sun Seven-year-old Evyn Dick stands next to her pet llama, Pajamas, Monday at the family farm near Courtenay, N.D. Evyn also raises rabbits and horses. She will be entering the 4-H exhibit at the Stutsman County Fair in Jamestown this week for the first time and will be showing the llama.

COURTENAY, N.D. — In anticipation of her first time at the Stutsman County Fair, 7-year-old Evyn Dick of Courtenay is excited to show off her 1-year-old pet llama.

The fair begins Wednesday at the Stutsman County Fairgrounds in Jamestown and will feature a number of animals from goats and sheep to poultry and rabbits.

Given to her as a gift from her grandparents, Evyn has been responsible for taking care of the young llama since she got him in May.

Her grandparents, Ralph and Sandy Dick of Wimbledon, N.D., used to show llamas and have been raising them for the past 30 years.

“His name is Pajamas, but I call him PJ for short,” Evyn said.

Why the name Pajamas?

“Well the first time I saw him it kind of looked like he had pajamas on,” Evyn said, as she pointed to the color pattern on the llama’s wool.

Evyn spends about an hour each day at the family’s animal farm in Courtenay taking care of PJ — feeding and grooming him — according to Tiffiney Dick, Evyn’s mother.

“She really seems to enjoy him,” Tiffiney said.

Evyn is no stranger to having animals around her, though, as she is active taking care of her pet horse, Maximus, as well as 17 rabbits and nine bunnies.

Evyn said one of PJ’s favorite things to do is interact with other animals on the farm.

“He likes to play with the younger horses,” she said.

As for what she feeds him, Evyn said it’s a combination of things such as oats and alfalfa hay.

Evyn will put PJ up for judging at the fair, which will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday. There will be three llama entries in the judging.

“It’s a small group this year but I think it’s going to be great for people to see,” said Deb Hatlewick, 4-H coordinator for Stutsman County.

While Tiffiney said she hopes the llama will win first place, Evyn took a different perspective on the competition.

“It’s not about winning or losing,” Evyn said. “It’s about having fun.”

For more information on the exhibits and judging at the Stutsman County Fair, visit www.stutsmancountyfair.com.

Sun reporter Brian Willhide can be reached at 701-952-8454 or by email at bwillhide@jamestownsun.com

Tags: , , 

More from around the web