The Llama Costume Contest

4-H is a well-known University of Minnesota program for kids across Minnesota to get together and learn and have fun. They have camps, get-togethers, and now? Llama costume contests.

Nobody seems to know how this started. As Dan Whittaker, the show superintendent tells MPR in the charming video below, people basically realized that llamas were really amiable to being dressed up and it just keeps getting crazier and crazier.

And where did this llama contest take place? The Minnesota State Fair. Welcome to the only place where you'll be cracked out on cheese curds and deep fried anything-on-a-stick, and probably beer, and out of nowhere, a dressed up llama will walk by. Minnesota? You're weird.

We feel this is the appropriate moment to congratulate the Minnesota State Fair for breaking their attendance record this year: 1,790,497 people. (And a lot of animals.)

"They're very regal, they're very proud of themselves," comments Whittaker on the species. "You don't ever have to build up a llama's ego."

With no further ado, check out this video from MPR, especially if you love llamas as much as I do. Good.

Photo via pmarkham@flickr.