I had wanted llamas for quite some time before we actually "fell into them". We even had looked at a few that were for sale. I wanted one to pull a cart and to carry a pack. I had always thought that they were lovely creatures. I joined a spinning group in our small town and one thing lead to another (ie Angora Rabbits, a black Sheep and the Llamas).

A friend of mine had a friend that was looking for a home for her llamas. Soon a deal was made and my husband and I were loading (count them) ten llanas into our horse trailer. I am in Heaven. I think I grinned for two weeks after we brought them home... and still do now and again. Later we added four more... but that is indeed another "I fell into them story".

Sometimes when we are pulling in or out of our driveway I say to my husband "See those llamas? Mine." And I grin like a kid in a candy store.

I believe it was meant to be. I don't believe in making an animal purchase happen. When it all works out right and the animals are what you were looking for, that's when it was meant to be.

Our llamas seemed to fit into our Menagerie straight away. We started hiking with them, my husband's two young sons, our goats and a few of the dogs the second day we had them. We have not had a problem with anyone not getting along.

We have "dubbed" our place Grasshopper Ranch. We use the name Grasshopper Ranch more for the Horses, Goats and Llamas that we also work here in WI.

We called the place Grasshopper Ranch because we would rather play then work... we both have made our livings out of what we love to do or "our play". Deron is a computer Programmer and has a desk top publishing program he has had and sold in many countries since 1985. www.pagestream.org I have been a sled dog harness maker since 1986 professionally but have made animals equipment most of my life www.marnsmenagerie.com. I make all kinds of items including but not limited to goat harnesses, goat packs, llama packs, rabbit, guinea pig, rat, hamster and even mouse harnesses and clothes, dog coats, llama tassles and much more.

Deron and I do all sorts of things with our animals. We have the sled dogs and we also backpack with them. Although it is not Deron's favorite sport, I enjoy weight pulling and have done well at competition. I have dogs that do frisbie www.upnorthdiscdogs.com and I used to compete. We have horses we horse pack with, as well as the goats www.workinggoats.com and llamas that both pack and pull. Deron breeds all sorts of snakes and reptiles, and I have small animals as well. I even do agility, but not just with dogs... have a look at these www.theagilerat.com and www.rabbitagility.com Ever see Rabbit Hopping? It is a form of Rabbit Agility my rabbits enjoy.

At DogStar Kennel www.dogstarkennel.com, as far as dogs, we mostly have AKC Siberian Huskies that we own, raise, train, race and backpack with. Deron and I are so proud of the lines of our dogs that we also have a website called www.seppalanews.com We also have Labrador Retrievers, English Shepherds, St. Bernards (only one now) and a few Cocker Spaniels... yes, they pull, pack, weight pull and many, including the Sibes, do a few tricks. I am learning to groom my Cockers (good thing we live in the woods).