Moniteau High School junior Andersen Brunst, 17, a 4-H and Future Farmers of America member, jumps over a hurdle with his alpaca, Haldor, in the 4-H Alpaca Showmanship and Obstacle Course at the Butler Farm Show on Wednesday.

CONNOQUENESSING TWP — Moniteau High School junior Andersen Brunst jumped over a hurdle with Haldor, his doe-eyed alpaca.

“It's always llamas. You never hear alpacas,” said Andersen, 17, a 4-H and Future Farmers of America member. “They're just cool little smaller animals that are well-tempered, usually.”

Andersen was one of the competitors in the 4-H Alpaca Showmanship and Obstacle Course that made its first appearance at the Butler Farm Show on the farm show grounds, 625 Evans City Road on Wednesday.

Normally, his focus is rabbits, Andersen said. This is his first year raising alpacas.

“It was something new to do,” he said about joining the obstacle course.

Before the contest, Andersen trained with Haldor.

“You just have to spend time with them, work with them, get them used to being out in public,” he said.

The scores are based on how well the alpaca performs and how fast it completes the obstacles, said Jacqui Ranko, a leader of the Butler County Alpaca Pack, a group of about 12 members.

Obstacles included a jump, a walk-through pool, a stop and start, a side step and putting the alpaca through a hula hoop.

The 4-H members petitioned the Farm Show's board of directors, which voted to approve the alpacas' appearance, she said.

Confidence is built not only in the alpacas, but also their 4-H trainers through the course, she said.

“Alpacas are shy by nature, but the more you work with them, it desensitizes them,” Ranko said. “It's a good confidence builder.”

Pennsylvania Alpaca Princess Jillian Ranko, a Butler High School senior, moved through the course with her alpaca, Perry.

“I love that they are so people-friendly,” said Jillian, 18, who has raised alpacas for seven years. “They don't have any natural defenses. If they kick you, it won't hurt, and they don't have any top teeth.”

She stumbled across the animal at a previous fair and took a quick liking to it.

In the fall, Jillian worked on the presentation and appealed the Fair and Farm Show boards to add alpaca classes.

“It's really exciting. I get to see my work in action,” she said.

She said people often do not know the difference between alpacas and llamas.

Size is one key difference, Jillian said, adding that llamas typically are 300 pounds, while alpacas weigh 150 pounds.

“I love that they are really docile, calm and not aggressive,” she said.

-Alpacas were domesticated by the Incas more than 6,000 years ago and raised for their exquisite fleeces-Alpacas come in two types: Suri and the Huacaya-Therapy alpacas are growing in popularity at hospitals, health care facilities and retirement homes around the world-Alpaca fiber is much like sheep's wool, but warmer and not itchy. It is lacking in lanolin, which makes it hypoallergenic and also allows it to be processed without the need for high temperatures or harsh chemicals in washing-Alpaca fiber is flame-resistant-Like wool, alpaca fiber is water-resistant, but it can wick away moisture because of its unique ability to mimic cotton in moisture regain-Alpaca fiber comes in 22 colors and hundreds of shades, from white or light rose gray to dark fawn-Humming is the most common sound that alpacas make. Alpacas hum when they are curious, content, worried, bored, fearful, distressed or cautious.SOURCE: Mother Nature Network

Virginia Carmichael, 12, a Slippery Rock Middle School seventh-grader and a 4-H member, tries to get her alpaca, Sangria, back on its feet in the 4-H Alpaca Showmanship and Obstacle Course at the Butler Farm Show on Wednesday.