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 Ranger
DustyILR # 55817 male b. 6-2-84 Ranger Doug x Star Baby Dusty has also proven himself worthy in the breeding pen. His fertility record is nothing short of enviable, he has produced entirely genetically sound cria, and he has passed his outstanding old-style disposition, cool and easy-care classic coat, and superior biomechanical features to his offsping. His first daughter to enter breeding, Lost Creek Ranger Olallie, has shown multiple reproductive and maternal trait improvements over her own mother, a good indicator of the long-term genetic depth and value Dusty's genes hold for the health and viability of the classic llama gene pool. Dusty showed for an unprecidented14 seasons. He holds the ALSA titles of Champion, Performance Champion, and Supreme Champion. He is the first llama ever to earn six ALSA Recognition of Merit certificates -- in Halter, Obstacle, PR, Pack, Pleasure Driving and Obstacle Driving -- and he is still the only llama with all six ROM certificates! Dusty is the only llama ever to compete in an open ALSA obstacle competition OFF LEAD (and he won the class!!!). Dusty topped the ALSA total point standings since 1993, and finished his showing career in 2001 with a lifetime total of 570 points earned, topping the next high-point llama, Nubin Sydney, by a 95-point margin. Not only does Dusty have the highest lifetime ALSA total points, but those points were earned in only 41 shows (none of them "double-point" shows and most before the higher point scale for larger classes went into effect); also, when Dusty started showing, there was only one ALSA sanctioned show in Oregon (there are literally dozens in Ohio alone now) and many shows did not offer full performance slates then, let alone Performance Champion awards; finally, Dusty had to compete with our own super show gelding Nubin Sydney at every show. That puts Dusty's point total in a different light -- no llama today has even come close to his achievements: an unapproachable lifetime 14 points-per-show average ... and, in the 33 total ALSA shows Dusty competed in where Performance Champion awards were tabulated, Dusty walked away with 23 Grands and 8 Reserves!!! Dusty enjoys packing, driving, off-lead work, trying anything new, evaluating packs for The Backcountry Llama Newsletter, being ridden (good grief), edging the lawn, Coke Classic®, organic bananas (peels and all), carrying bigger and heavier loads than anyone else, and being certain his females are safe. Dusty no longer competes in ALSA shows because he abruptly realized it wasn't fun anymore. He does not participate in "pack trials" because after we read the rules, we realized that the only challenge to would be going slow enough to avoid disqualification, and Dusty doesn't like to go slow! Dusty also enjoyed his son Logan, and misses having him around; Dusty also rather liked Andrew, who felt the same about Dusty (a decidedly unusual alliance indeed). Dusty wouldn't exactly say that he enjoys his chiropractor, but he certainly does appreciate him! Although there are a few llamas who can come close to or match Dusty's performance in a single discipline, none actually surpass his packing, driving, or show performance competition abilities. None can match him in more than one area, let alone all three. Unquestionably, there has never been another llama to even approach Dusty's all-around performance excellence . . . let alone sustain that excellence. He is the blueprint for the ultimate performance llama. Everyone who has seen him working with Gwen or quietly going about his tasks despite being attacked by others' aggressive studs or having open females in close proximity knows immediately that he is also the model of the ultimate companion most people can only dream of. We are extremely fortunate to share our lives with him.
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