Several 4-H participants and their llamas from across Orleans County recently spent an afternoon filming for the "R Kids" cable television program. Film crews and Kids Reporter Kate Welshofer arrived at ABC Farms in West Barre where Amanda and Christopher Flansburg and their llamas, "Micky," "Bud" and "Gringo," demonstrated how to groom the animals, train them, and load them for travel to the Fair. The kids explained why they chose to raise llamas and how they are used for agricultural purposes.

Then, children (and their Dad), animals and film crew packed up and headed to the Orleans County Fairgrounds where 4-H Llama Club Leader Michele Batt and members of the club were waiting to demonstrate llama showmanship. The kids presented a "mock show" for the program's benefit that included a demonstration of the llama obstacle course. For the obstacle course component of llama showmanship, exhibitors are judged on their ability to execute a series of challenges that may include loud noises, moving objects, going up hills or down dips and through opening doors.

Llamas are one of the many 4-H projects from which young people can choose. Ownership of a llama is not a requirement for participation. Some children, like Joshua and Adam Fisher of Waterproof, show llamas under a class for "non-ownership." Llama club leader Michele Batt lends them an animal for their use. "Kids learn responsibility and patience and gain a sense of their use. "Kids learn responsibility and patience and gain a sense of accomplishment by working with these animals," she says.

The "R Kids" show personnel said they wanted to include a story about the llamas because they felt that the animals made an unusual topic. The program is scheduled to air every Saturday in July at 10 a.m. on Time Warner Cable Channel 9.