Bandaloop Ranch

The dream of Bandaloop Ranch was an accident. We were living in Coos Bay and discovered that we really liked this part of the state. We came over looking for a parcel of land to build our home on when Robert retired from the Coast Guard. We found property that we liked and had time left to kill on the trip. Lee Anne saw an ad for the COLA festival and it sounded like it would be something fun to do. There we meet Ruth Halligan, who planted the seed that we could have llamas.

On the drive home we discussed the idea of having llamas. We thought it would be nice to have two or three geldings for packing after Robert’s retirement that was six years in the future. Well you know how plans work, six months later Robert bought Lee Anne a weanling for her birthday. This was made possible by the generosity of Don and Dee Dee Davison of Coos Bay who allowed us to board our first llama.

Well, Three months later Robert was transferred to San Diego. There we meet and became friends with Sandy Mubarak of Rancho Machu Picchu. We thought we would be there a couple years, it turned out to be five. While we were in San Diego we boarded at Sandy’s ranch after Robert purchased Can-Do. The herd was starting to grow.

One of the best things to happen in San Diego was our friendship with the Mubaraks. Sandy became our mentor teaching us about llamas, how to train them and how to care for them. Working with Sandy’s herd of a hundred animals allowed us to experience and learn much more that we would have on our own. We also discovered the enjoyment of the arrival of a healthy cria and the heartbreak of loosing a member of the herd.

Over the five years in San Diego we purchased seven females and three males. From that beginning our herd has grown to thirty animals. Our breeding program is focused on athletic bodies and classically shaped heads. We love to see fine soft fiber but we are not willing to sacrifice conformation.

We returned to Oregon in 1997 after Robert finally retired from the Coast Guard after twenty-three years of service. He sent the next year and a half building loafing sheds for the llamas and our home. In 1998 Robert went back to school full time and is pursuing a bachelors degree in nursing and Lee Anne is working at the Bank of the Cascades. We are active members of the Central Oregon Llama Association, which brings the story to a full circle.