Who’s Your Llama?

By Andra Moss

In Norfolk it’s wise to keep an eye out for deer, bears, skunks and the rare awe-inspiring appearance of a bald eagle. But travelers on Winchester Road often do a double take at an unfamiliar hilltop silhouette. These are the llamas on Roy Pilbin’s farm. 

Pilbin has been raising llamas in Norfolk since soon after he moved back to the family acreage in 1982. He started by raising sheep, but after some coyote problems, he acquired a few female “guard llamas” from a breeder in Cornwall Bridge. Since two of these were pregnant, he soon had a herd of five and found himself deep in the llama world. And he loved it.

Today, Pilbin’s herd numbers about 25—llamas like llama company—and he has had as many as 100. “Right now there is a group I call the Three Musketeers—they stick together and they look like trouble!” 

Llamas are generally calm, with big soulful eyes, banana-shaped ears and a velvety snout. They are smart and curious, with distinct personalities. Explains Pilbin, “They’re not like a dog, they won’t come running if you call, but once they trust you, you can do anything with them. And if you’re gentle, they’ll come right up and give you a kiss on the cheek.”

Pilbin enjoys both breeding and showing his llamas. Llamas can be bred taller or with softer fleece, but color is tricky. Browns, blacks, whites, grays . . . “You never know what color you’re going to get,” says Pilbin. A recent arrival is Rewind & Repeat, a male whose mother and father were each national champions. Rewind is tall and elegant, with long, spiraling dreadlocks of fleece. Rewind is cool. 

Pilbin has frequently taken his prize llamas to compete in shows throughout the Midwest (who could resist the Llamapalooza in Minnesota?) and as far away as Oklahoma. He has won best in show regionally and has trained llamas on homemade obstacle courses for performance events. His llamas enjoy being on the road, says Pilbin: “Usually within a few miles they lay down in the trailer and travel really easily.” 

These gentle giants can grow up to four feet tall at the shoulder and weigh up to 400 pounds. They can easily carry up to 25 percent of their body weight. This, coupled with their agility and companionable personalities, makes them ideal pack animals. Roy recently sold a pair to a couple that planned to take them along on camping trips. Others have found llamas to be excellent therapy animals. And, Pilbin says, “They are very easy animals to care for. I feed them hay and grain and water, and of course they eat grass in the pasture.” He keeps treats to a minimum. They need plenty of fenced outdoor space (his is electrified), along with a barn area to hang out in when storms hit. 

Pilbin points out that since they’re originally from the mountains of the Andes, llamas fit in perfectly here in the “Icebox.” “They love the winter! They’ll just go lay out in the snow—water rolls right off their fleece.”

So, if you’re on Winchester Road, keep your eyes peeled for a lucky llama sighting! But remember—please don’t feed the llamas.