Photo by Mike Lamb Ashley Overgaauw shows off Junior and their numerous ribbons and awards during the llama/alpaca show at the Murray County Fair on Thursday.

SLAYTON — As Amanda Overgaauw watched, Judge Eric Olson stood in front of her llama, Pretty Girl. He slowly lowered his head, allowing the llama to put its nose right up on it.

“It’s just a way to get in touch with them,” Olson said after judging llamas and alpacas during the Murray County Fair on Thursday. Olson explained that the llama didn’t want any part of him so he had to do something to earn its trust.

“Just getting to know them. I put my head down and they sniff me,” Olson said. “It’s just way to get in touch with them.”

Meanwhile, Overgaauw worked to keep Pretty Girl in control.

“I usually talk to Pretty Girl. She likes my voice and I trust her and she trusts me back. It’s like building a relationship with them,” she said.

Overgaauw’s twin sister, Ashley, both competed with their llamas. Ashley Overgaauw also talks to her llama, Junior, during judging.

“Keeping them calm,” she said.

Talking to their llamas worked, as the sisters from Lake Wilson earned a number of ribbons in the different categories, including costume, showmanship and obstacle.

Olson, from Oak Grove, works as a judge in county fair throughout the state including Murray and Lyon counties.

“Llamas are weird and people are really interested in them,” Olson said. “But nobody wants to buy them.”