The MSU Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education was packed with award-winning llamas and alpacas this weekend for Lamafest.
The event, which shows and sells the animals and their products, brought people from across the country to MSU's campus.
"Lamafest is one of the biggest llama shows in the Midwest," Lamafest co-Coordinator Sheryl Topliff said. "It started about 20 years ago by just a couple of people selling llamas at a local venue."
The llama auction, which sold 60 animals, was bigger and better than ever, Topliff said.
"We have some very awesome animals this year because we brought back the auction," Topliff said.
"We have not had this caliber of an auction for a number of years. We have some of the finest llamas you would find anywhere in the nation."
The llama auction was planned since October 2003 by a committee of about 15 members.
"We put a sale together and they are brought here to be auctioned off," said Tami Lash, chairwoman of the Select Sale Committee.
In addition to the auction, clothing made from llamas was sold.
Llama vendor, Sharon Winsauer, uses llama fiber to create uniquely colored and designed items.
Winsauer breeds alpacas, a type of llama, at her farm in Bath.
"I spin, knit and use my own fiber to make shawls and sweaters," she said. "My daughter is a weaver, so she takes the alpaca yarn and weaves rugs and so forth."
Winsauer has had an alpaca farm for seven years and enjoys the llama breed.
"Alpacas are the perfect farm animal," she said. "They're clean, quiet, you don't wash them, brush them, or groom them - you shear them once a year. They are the ideal animal."
Farmers and families were not the only ones in attendance at the festival. Students also enjoyed Llamafest.
"It sounded kind of interesting," animal science sophomore Megan Reponen said. "Last year I came to all of the events at the Pavilion."
Lamafest takes place every year at the Pavilion. A date for next year's festival has not been determined.
"People come for a variety of reasons," Topliff said. "Either they are interested in the animals themselves or they want to watch. It's a real upbeat atmosphere."
