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Kids Corner- Southwest Regional Show 2006
South West Regionals
The First ALSA Southwestern Regional Show By Meagan Browne – age 14 Golden Browne Llamas – Phelan, CA
The first ever ALSA Southwestern Regional Championship Show took place at the Industry Hills Expo Center on September 30th and October 1st 2006 in the City of Industry, California. It was a great show, with Cart Driving Performance Classes, Showmanship, Halter Classes, and even Youth Judging.
The Grand Arena, where all the classes were to take place, was on top of a large hill. There were two paths leading up to the Grand Arena, and both were steep and hard to climb. I think my llama, Checkers, who is a little over-conditioned, lost some weight though! I sure am glad that Norma Stevens was there to give me a few rides up and down the hill on the golf cart she volunteered to drive! Thank you, Norma.
On the first day we brought our llamas and set up their stalls and our display table. The animals were kept in big horse stalls, in two large barns. After I helped my parents set up everything I spent most of the rest of the day with my friends, Dylan, Jeremy, Bridget and Matthew.
On the second day that we were there, all the youth classes were held. In the morning, before the show actually began, all the youth performed the opening ceremony, a drill exercise to music with our llamas. Kathy Nichols put the drill team together, and she did a great job. I had a lot of fun learning the drill.
The first class was Public Relations. I loved it and so did my llama, Checkers. The obstacles in the course were pretty easy, but we had one of the hardest youth judges there is. In the end I won first place.
The second class was Obstacle. Again, the course was pretty basic, but I’m still working with Checkers on his change of pace and jumping. He does really well at home but sometimes not so well in the show ring. Checkers and I did well over all, but we only got one point out of ten for the change of pace. The score sheets later revealed that if I had gotten at least three points more, I would have won first place. I was glad I did well anyway and came in second place.
The third and final performance class was Pack. At the previous show I had gone to, the AV Fair, I did really well in Pack and was hoping to do well again. The obstacles in the class were fun, and I really enjoyed it. The second obstacle was the bridge, the same bridge Checkers had gone over just fine in the first two classes. I don’t know why, and might never, but he stepped off the bridge the first time, and then went over it fine the second. The rest of the course went smoothly, but I was still surprised to learn that I won first place.
Even though Performance Classes were over, we still had a couple of classes to go. The first one was Youth Showmanship. I took our llama named Bounder into the class because that’s who I qualified with for Regionals. I won first place with him in Youth Showmanship at a couple of shows this year. Bounder was not in a good mood that day and he did not want to move at all. I felt like I had to drag him through the class. The judge asked us all where the Gaskin was on the llama. Some of the other kids didn’t know and told me they just guessed. I simply said I did not know. I ended up winning fifth place out of six, which was better than I thought I would place.
Before we did Youth Judging, the final awards were announced. I was so excited when I won Grand Champion. I got a bottle of sparkling white grape juice with a really neat llama label for winning! The best part was that I won sixty-five dollars all together for my two first and one second places in performance.
The last youth class of the show was Youth Judging. I don’t particularly like it, but I do it none the less. We judged three classes, a halter class, a showmanship class, and a performance class. The actual judge was helpful and taught us a lot about how to judge, and I am thankful for that. I placed fourth, and thought I did rather well considering who I was competing with.
That night there was a party for the adults and kids alike. Unfortunately, by the time we got out of Youth Judging and to the party, most all the food had been eaten by the adults. Still, I got to eat a couple cookies and a piece of a cake with a llama on it.
On the third and last day, I sang the National Anthem in the morning for the opening ceremony, and then all the halter classes took place. I spent most of the day hanging out with Dylan and Bridget (Jeremy was showing in halter classes).
I got to learn some things about training a llama how to get used to wearing a pack from Charlie Hackbarth when my parents were at his booth buying a new Sopris Llama Pack. He is a really good teacher. I can’t wait to start using that pack on Checkers! He said he’s going to come and teach a clinic next spring so I want to go to his clinic.
Later that day, I changed back into my Showmanship clothes and I showed a llama named Ivan for Crystal Meyers in the Get of Sire class. Then I said a reluctant goodbye to all my friends, (except for Jeremy who had already left) and went home after a long and exciting Southwestern Regional Show.
I want to thank Maryan Baker for putting together this show and making it so great. I look forward to next year!!!!
Checkers and I will be starting off the New Year 2007 walking the 5 ½ mile parade route on paved city streets in the internationally famous Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, CA. You can check out my new story about it and my other stories on www.goldenbrownellamas.com web site on my “Muses from Meagan” page. |
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