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Show THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Volume IV, Issue I Page 5 April 15, 2001 Award Winning Llamas Reside Eastward in Eden By Nancy McNeal Eastward Inn Eden might evoke visions of a Bed and Breakfast, especially upon seeing the charming white home trimmed in red with a hint of Victorian style. But the Inn owned by Gale and Marge Armstrong, and located North and Eastward of the Eden General Store, is, instead, a haven for a menagerie of appealing animals. Most distinctive are the aristocratic llamas—which are relatives of the camel—that have brought fame, and a few grand championships in recent years to the Armstrongs at an array weekend and summer “get-a-way in Eden in order to raise a few llamas. But it wasn’t long before they remodeled the summer cottage and moved permanently to Ogden Valley. At one time their herd included nearly 32 llamas, although they now number 17, as the forays to the llama events have declined. Marge has long had an interest in cultural diversity, and was eager to participate in a program begun five years ago by the Navajo Sheep Project at Utah State University. The Navajo-churro sheep, brought to the Americas by the Spanish Conquistadors, were used by Navajo Marge Armstrong feeds some of her fine llamas. weavers to create their renowned rugs. of llama events throughout Oklahoma, But the sheep nearly became extinct. Colorado and Utah. The Celebrity Show Fortunately, due to the vision and efforts in Oklahoma accepts only the cream of of Dr. Lyle McNeal, professor of sheep the crop,” and the Armstrongs have been and wool science at USU, the sheep have eligible to exhibit at this exclusive show. made a comeback. The project develTheir llama stud M. C. Hammer has oped a breeding program and soon began come away with a grand championship returning the churro sheep to Navajo famfrom the Celebrity Show. ilies. Llama enthusiasts are not all language One of the greatest threats to Navajo purists. They’re known to use the pro- sheep flocks is the coyote, which is also nunciation L-ama rather than the Spanish highly respected, thus protected, in form Y-ama. Navajo tradition. A unique solution to the Marge talks of the ethereal quality that aggressive coyote and threatened sheep originally drew her to these South came when Dr. McNeal was able to American camelids, and how she quickly arrange for the donation of llamas to developed an eye for an exquisite and del- Navajo families. The llamas, which are icate head, as artistically attractive as the turned out to graze along side the Navajorefinement typical of the Arabian horse. churro sheep, instinctively protect the Marge feels very comfortable, and right at sheep flocks from predators. Gale and home raising animals, as she grew up on Marge generously stepped forward to a dairy farm in northern Wisconsin. If donate several llamas to the program, and you listen real close, you can still hear a also persuaded Gus and Jeanie Hansen touch of the northeastern intonation in her from Huntsville to do the same. voice. The Armstrongs jointly own a llama Gale is a retired orthodontist who stud, M.C. Hammer, with Colorado resiworked many years in Bountiful, Utah dents Mike and Dale Pettigrew, who have where he and Marge raised their family. spent a great deal of time on the Navajo More than 15 years ago they wanted a reservation teaching families how to care DOWNTOWN HUNTSVILLE LAMAR BOTT Broker 32 Years Marketing Experience -COMPLETELY RENOVATEDNew Carpet, Paint, Tile - Hardwood Floors Lifetime Aluminum Roof - River Rock Fireplace New Kitchen - Double Pane Vinyl Windows. OWNERS ANXIOUS ! ! ! Phone: 430-BOTT (2688) 2555 N. Wolf Creek Dr. Eden for the llamas. In recent years Marge has become increasingly involved in the fiber aspect of llama fleeces, and cleans and spins the fleece from her animals into luxurious soft yarns that are blended with wool. The yarns sell for $3.50 per ounce. She has designed elegant handmade felted hats and other creations from the fleece, which she sells at trade exhibits associated with the llama shows. Marge’s artistic sense is reflected throughout the Armstrong home, as seen in the home’s interior design, hand painted rabbits on an antique hutch, in the family’s collected antiques, and even with the design of the family business Eastward Inn Eden logo. Neighboring artist Elise Summers has added to the charm of the Armstrong home by painting lifelike wall murals depicting the family’s llamas. The Armstrongs are currently looking for homes for their new fuzzy male and female Shih-tzu puppies. Other signs, such as the birth of new puppies each year, signal the arrival of spring. Black Cayuga ducks now enjoy the pond which, until recently, was covered in ice. Soon the ducks will be nesting. Gale chuckles about how easily the ducklings take to the water when their mother is there to supervise. Three geese gabble about the yard with the banty chickens, and with one remaining Drahthaar dog, from the many that the Armstrongs once bred and raised. Part of the Armstrong’s spring routine includes the annual shearing of the fleece from the llamas, and the trimming of their feet. Llamas are used extensively as pack animals in the mountains, being in harmony with their traditional use in the South American Andes. Although still recovering from a recently broken ankle, Marge is anxious to begin taking the fairly docile, sure footed animals for hikes along the trails in the Valley. Don’t be alarmed if, on the trail, you come across one of man’s (and woman’s) best friends . . . no, not a dog . . . but a llama and its master! Picture of the Month Ogden Valley in the spring. Photo taken by Priscilla Van Valkenburgh of Eden. T h e O G D E N VA L L E Y N E W S prints a “Picture of the Month” i n e a c h m o n t h ’s n e w s p a p e r e d i tion. At the end of the followi n g y e a r, a Va l l e y c a l e n d a r w i l l be produced using the selected pictures. The calendar will be made available for purchase. So get your cameras ready and start shooting! O r, i f y o u already have a favorite photo, s e n d i t i n . Yo u r p i c t u r e s m a y b e b l a c k & w h i t e o r c o l o r, a n d s h o u l d d e p i c t a Va l l e y t h e m e . Photos may also be historical p h o t o s o f t h e Va l l e y. B e s u r e t o include your name, address, t e l e p h o n e n u m b e r, a n d t h e n a m e o f t h e p h o t o g r a p h e r. A l s o include something about the picture - the approximate date, and the who, what and when about it. Please note, photos must be horizontal, not vertical and the collected pictures will become the property of The OGDEN VA L L E Y N E W S . Send your pictures to: The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS PO BOX 130 EDEN UT 84310 |