August 1 , 2024 The Beacon • 7

By Jen Jones

For The Beacon

Mike and Jean Haumschild got their first llama in 1990 after seeing an exhibition of llamas at the Ohio State Fair . The llamas were added to their cattle , sheep and hogs at Jean ’ s family farm . Today , Mike , Jean , and their four children and eight grandchildren are all involved in raising llamas .

As their children grew , the family often traveled all over the eastern part of the United States to show their llamas . Jean Haumschild said her children made good friends as they showed their llamas and are still in contact with some of them .

In 1999 Mike Haumschild became a llama judge for youth and performance classes . In a few years , he started judging halter classes and became a teaching judge . A friend , Jack Moore , knew Jean had been a music teacher and asked her to create a list of music that could

be played during the shows to add some fun to the events .

“ It didn ’ t take long before the kids were asking me to play certain songs while they were in the ring — songs that reminded them of their llama . Soon , even the adults were getting into it , and now I ’ ve heard of people who are naming their llamas to go with certain songs ,” Jean

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Haumschild said . Her daughter had a llama named Magic and always wanted the song “ Do you Believe in Magic ?” played when she was in the ring .

Mike and Jean Haumschild have served as superintendents of the Buckeye ASLA Regional Show and worked with the OSU Extension to assist in

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developing a resource manual for youth that choose llamas as their 4-H projects . While Mike continues to judge shows , Jean volunteers as a clerk for different llama shows .

They were advisers for the Coshocton County Llama 4-H Club for 29 years and are proud their members earned special recognition as a banner club every year of its existence . They have both served on many 4-H committees and are the current chairmen of the Coshocton County Open Llama Show , held at the county fair each year .

Last year Mike and Jean Haumschild were asked to speak to veterinary students at Ohio State about llamas . After that presentation , they took llamas to the OSU Veterinary Spring Symposium so students could watch instructors do hands-on evaluations of the animals .

Jean Haumschild said the president of the national organization told Mike while they were at an event that he

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BF-135779 and Jean had been chosen for the distinguished service award . “ Honestly , when they face-timed me , I thought it was a prank , as the president is known to pull pranks on people . I was really surprised to learn we had really been chosen ,” she said .

The distinguished service award was presented by the International Llama Registry in Iowa in June .

“ This is just such a great honor for us . Thousands of people across the country raise llamas . We are very honored , very humbled , by being chosen ,” Jean Haumschild said .

In their letter to the organization , Mike and Jean Haumschild added this message : “ We are extremely humbled and honored to receive this award at The Gathering this year . We hope we can continue to work within the llama industry for many years to come and be with the great friends we have made within this organization .”

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