The last llama

WASILLA — Dannielle, or “Danny Girl” is the last llama on Glenn Roberts’ farm, marking the end of an era.

As Danny Girl moseys through the shimmering, green pastures, assorted memories of those “days at the farm” come flooding back to Roberts while he chews on a strand of hay.

“My wife calls this place a museum,” Roberts said.

Danny Girl is about 17 years old. The average lifespan for llamas is 20, Roberts said. Once she is gone, that chapter of his life will close.

At one point, Roberts had about 24 llamas on the farm. He would regularly take some of them on hunting trips as “beasts of burden,” packing out equipment. He said that Danny Girl has never left the farm.

Roberts blossomed a keen interest for llamas after visiting with some of his friends. They had two llamas and Roberts thought “that’s different” and he liked it. So, he started accumulating llamas.

Roberts bought his first llama in 1983 while he and his wife, Claudia were still living in Anchorage. He found his historic Valley farm for sale and rented it out, visiting the llamas on the weekend until he and his wife settled on the farm about 6 years later. Since then, this rustic land has been Roberts’ little slice of heaven. He said it felt “more like home.”

“There’s always something to do around here. I could never live in a condo where some one cuts my lawn or cleans up for me. That’s just not me,” Roberts said.

Roberts spent more than 30 years in the Rotary Service Club and hosted several “days on the farm” gatherings with the club and surrounding community.

The Llama Farm off Hyer Road has been around for several decades. Unlike the Musk Ox Farm or Reindeer Farm in Palmer, where there are set business hours, visitation to the Llama Farm was by appointment only.

“I would tell people, I’ll give you an hour of my time, after that, I’ll hand you a rake and you can stay as long as you like,” Roberts laughed.

Roberts may like to amble around the farm, working on various projects, but he also likes to go fast. He has five show cars and is an official member of the 49th State Street Rodders, a car club with an emphasis on hot rods and classic cars. He said that he’s always been a car guy.

The llamas have played an active role in the community, much like the other animal farms on the Mat-Su. Roberts said he’s taken the llamas to various parades like Colony Day and Fur Rendezvous.

Roberts is Vietnam veteran on full disability after being exposed to Agent Orange. He said that his mission was to “outlive the llamas” and it looked like he was doing it. After years of roving around and having a vein on the community, Roberts called his life a cup. He said it was nearly full with about one-eighth to go.

“I’m ready to take a break,” Roberts said.

Roberts crafted a custom air scoop atop his 1966 Plymouth using newspaper carriers, a “cheap” and “old school” way to ram air into the carbonators. The green Frontiersman logo is screwed on the side of scoop. When he was asked why he picked that, he said, “just to be different.”

Contact Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at Jacob.mann@frontiersman.com.