Llamas draw crowd to Stephens County fairgrounds
Derrick Miller
The Duncan Banner
DUNCAN — What once was a Tulsa program has become Stephens County’s lone llama spectacle.
The weekend regional llama show at the Stephens County Fair & Expo Center actually had more participation from people from out of state than from within the county. In fact, many of the llamas and their owners came from states including Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and Missouri.
Susan and Scotty Elliott of Duncan were among the few people from Stephens County to show a llama in the regional show.
This was the third year the llama show was held in Duncan, since its move from Tulsa. Scotty Elliott said this had a lot to do with the Stephens County fairgrounds.
“The Stephens County facility is so nice that it took the regional show from Tulsa,” Elliott said.
He said he and his wife, Susan, have taken part in the program in Tulsa, but the move has made the show much more convenient for them. Even though many people live closer to Tulsa than Duncan, no one has complained about the move, he said.
Instead, the response to the fairgrounds has been positive.
“For this facility to take this show away from Tulsa, that’s a pretty big statement,” Elliott said.
Although he and his wife haven’t shown llamas in a while, they decided to participate this year. He said the restriction for getting into the regional show has lightened up.
That, mixed with the convenience, is why they decided to show this year.
“It was right here, and I live here,” Elliott said.
Susan Elliott said showing a llama is similar to showing a horse, but the performance aspect of the show differs quite a bit.
For performance, llamas have to compete obstacle course. Sometimes, they have to avoid getting excited with a flash of light or if they’re being petted or going through streamers.
They’re also required to step over objects in the way and, literally, go through hoops.
“They expect a lot,” she said.
Scotty Elliott said the regional show has probably benefited Stephens County because of the number of visitors it has brought to the county.
Elliott said the show provides an economical benefit to the county because visitors use the hotels, restaurants, gas stations and various other businesses throughout the county.
“I’m sure it’s brought some money to town,” he said.
