Several llamas from Hamilton County Llamas, or HCL, were brought to Marian’s campus for “Llamapalooza,” on Friday Sept. 9. The event was hosted on the Evan’s Center lawn and was free of charge to participants.
The event was hosted by the Student Osteopathic Medical Association, or SOMA. Chris Bishop, a medical librarian for the Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine, brought this idea to life. According to his wife, Kitty Bishop, a board member of HCL, Chris wanted the llamas to come to give students a mental health break.
Students were invited to participate in various activities such as llama yoga, photo opportunities, and feeding or petting the llamas. According to hamiltoncountyllamas.org, HCL frequently does similar outreach partnerships.
“We do outreaches like this,” Kitty Bishop said. “It’s just to get our name out and get kids in our program.”
HCL is a co-op organization, meaning that participants and staff work together to take care of the llamas and the farm. According to it’s website, each youth is expected to do chores at the farm at least twice a month, and participate in “herd checks,” and, “farm days.” In exchange, each youth is able to rent a llama for the 4-H show season.
HCL’s next event is on Dec. 2 with Westfield in Lights.
