White Mountain Llamas used to be situated in Jefferson, New Hampshire right in the heart of the White Mountains. Nestled in the valley with a view of Mount Washington and the Cog Railway were the original White Mountain Llamas. Our two llamas, May and Bella grew up there. This wonderful farm was owned by Joanna Fyon, our friend and teacher.
In 1998 Joanna got breast cancer and needed to find a home for her twenty or more llamas. It was difficult for her to find so many homes so our parents let Hana and I invite two of her yearling llamas, Silace and Fabyan into our backyard for the winter. That was our introduction to llamas. Hana and I took care of them as diligently as a 5 and an 11 year old could. Joanna would come often to help us learn how to work with them and get them ready for a happy life full of people and good interactions.
Joanna recovered from cancer that winter and all her llamas came home. That was the first year that Hana and I got to show llamas. Joanna took us to Fryeburg Fair and we won versatility championships with Fabyan and Lizzy Bourne for a few years.
We went to Fryeburg Fair every year for the show and helped Joanna around the farm. In 2001 Joanna's cancer returned and she gave us three more yearlings, May, Jazzy Lamb, and Marcel Marceau. We had another spectacular winter with the boys and May. We took them out into the community and in the fall we took them to the Fryeburg Fair and had a great time. We continued to help Joanna with the farm as she was losing physical strength.
In the summer of 2002 Joanna and I took a trip to New York to bring Jazzy Lamb and Marcel to a new home. We stayed over at Green Mountain Llamas for a visit on our way. At Jazzy and Marcel's new home they had their own "llamasairy" and their own flock of guinea fowl and peafowl! It was one of the most fun road trips I've ever been on. We slept out in the pasture with them the last day we were there.
In 2003 May came back to us and Isabella Stone (Lizzy Bourne and Fabyan's first born) came as well. Joanna gave them to us as our very own first llamas. It was the first fall we showed our own llamas.
In January 2004, Joanna passed away. She was always there for us and a few days before she left she gave Hana and I beautiful llama trail packs and a driving harness, among other things. She also let us carry on the White Mountain Llamas farm name. Along with carrying Joanna's legacy of amazing devotion to her animals and always giving optimal care, we have a few White Mountain Llama traditions as well.
The Importance of Names
Joanna always named her animals after historical figures of the White Mountains. We are starting out with Isabella Stone and Queen of the May. May's name is after the holiday of Beltane on the first of May. Its a celebration of spring and the Queen of the May is the beauty of the town who is recognized on that day. Bella is named after a historical figure who lived in the White Mountains in the late 1800's.
Importance of Community
Joanna always served her community and her friends first. As owners of White Mountain Llamas, Hana and I are always looking for ways we are needed. We take our llamas to local schools and events giving presentations on agriculture and animal care. We also love to promote these amazing creatures!
I am also now an officer of the Greater Appalachian Llama and Alpaca Association so that I may help spread the word and help any new camelid owners.
Hana and I have been making home visits to shear llamas, trim toenails, and help owner and llamas with general training for the past three years now, and we continue to make a business out of it.
Showing
Since the first show in 1998 Hana and I have not missed a llama show in Fryeburg. While we are there we give presentations on the uses of llamas and we bring spinning wheels and felting to show what you can do with their wool. For 8 years in a row Hana or I won the Versatility Championship with one of our girls and Hana and I have both received the Joanna Fyon Youth Memorial Award showing stewardship of our animals. We have lots of fun promoting llamas and being with our girls.
Here is a picture of Joanna's prized show llama Fabyan on top of his "mountain." He often stood on his mountain to be on the look out for anything that might come along to threaten his herd. He is an amazing llama and now resides with Joanna's dear friend Lindsay at Northern Vermont Llama Company. After Joanna left we became wonderful friends with Lindsay and Deb and they have helped Hana and I keep growing with our new farm.
I can give credit to only a handful of people who have altered my life in the same capacity as Joanna has. All of our memories were of loving, learning, and happiness. From buggy rides with Fabyan through the back roads of Jefferson to spring time when all the crias were born, to showing and shot time the memories are extensive. Joanna has given me a gift that I can pass on forever in life and in farming and I will always remember her for that and thank her.
