Photo by Deb Gau Annabel Coudron and Reggie the llama walk around the 4-H arena on Thursday in costume as the witches Glinda and Elphaba from the musical “Wicked.

MARSHALL — Animal handling skills are something you always need in the 4-H show arena — but the youth lining up outside the llama barns on Thursday afternoon also needed style.

“You all look fantastic,” said 4-H llama project leader Mary Beth Sinclair as the group of 4-H members prepared to enter the arena at the Lyon County fairgrounds.

The 4-H’ers had each dressed a llama or alpaca in a homemade outfit for this year’s Llama Costume Contest.

A packed crowd applauded as contestants made their way around the ring. The llamas and alpacas were dressed up as everything from pirates to fairytale characters.

4-H members said they got the inspiration for their llama costumes from a variety of places.

“My brother was obsessed with superheroes,” said Leighton Porter.

She said it gave her the idea to dress up as Batman and Robin with her llama Rosie.

Annabel Coudron said part of her costume inspiration came from a school trip to see the musical “Wicked.” Coudron dressed as Glinda, while a flowing black “dress,” pointed hat and colored hood transformed Reggie the llama into Elphaba, the green-skinned witch.

Madison Gehrke turned to the TV show “Home Improvement” for costume ideas.

“I knew I wanted to do something from the ’90s,” Gehrke said.

She entered the arena dressed as Tim “the tool man” Taylor, while leading a flannel-clad “Al-Paca Borland.”

The llama costume contest is judged based on factors including how much of the llama is covered by the costume, and how well the animal handles being dressed up, Sinclair said. She was impressed by the outfits llama project members came up with.

“They’re very creative this year,” she said.

4-H members said it can be a challenge to get a llama or alpaca dressed up.

“She was OK. She was a bit stubborn,” Porter said of getting Rosie dressed for the show.

“Have you ever tried to get your children into Sunday clothes? That’s what it’s like,” Josh Michals said of putting a llama in costume.

“It’s different for each llama,” Gehrke said.

She said sometimes it helps to have someone to talk to the llama and calm them down while you’re getting them dressed.

“You just have to keep them calm,” Gehrke said.