Twenty years ago, Tracy Pearson was working with her husband, Jack, at one of their stores in Atlanta. They had acreage that they weren't sure what to do with, but they needed something to 'keep the grass down' on the property. They didn't think horses would be the thing (Tracy didn't think she wanted to spend that much time getting fixed at the doctor's office) , and Tracy didn't think she could bond with pigs. The idea of raising llamas came up during that time, but Jack said, "Nobody raises llamas." Tracy had never seen a llama, never been around them, but they went to a llama auction where they purchased their first llama, a white packer named Tachadero, who still lives at Pearson Pond Llama Ranch in northern Georgia. Jack tells the story: "The next workday, she went in, gathered her things at the store and walked out into another world, without glancing back."

Within a year of purchasing Tach, the Pearson's had acquired 47 llamas. Throughout the years, the Pearson's have learned about llamas by observing other llama breeders, both successful and not. Tracy says, "You don't always have to follow the big name", and she has enjoyed making big names of some of her own llamas. Buying big name llamas has not been the norm at Pearson Pond.

Pearson Pond enjoys the reputation of being a ranch that is known for hosting birthing clinics as well as show and fiber clinics. They recently hosted many FFA youth from all corners of Georgia. Tracy says they don't host clinics and give of their time with the idea that this will help them sell llamas. They have these functions in order to educate the public and llama owners in their region.

Although they do consider themselves a breeding ranch, with 24 herd sires, they have never imported any llamas. In fact, the day that I interviewed Tracy, via telephone, a new cria had just been born. (I haven't suggested this to her, yet, but I think that she could name it Jilliebean!)

Tracy and I visited about the llama 'industry' and she has a very positive outlook on what has happened over the past few years, with prices of llamas lower than they were 15 - 20 years ago. "It used to be that any llama that could walk would bring a price of at least $10,000 and you'd pay at least $30,000, and up to $100,000 for llamas of any quality" She continued, "There was a panic when llama prices dropped, but people should not have been concerned. More people can afford llamas, now. Llamas can now be enjoyed by ever so many, instead of ever so few."

Pearson Pond is proud to have started people into llamas that truly enjoy them. Jack and Tracy have also come up with new and different ideas and methods to deal with medical problems and ways to deal with premature and distressed crias. They field calls from llama owners all over the US and abroad, people who take advantage of their knowledge and love for llamas.

Tracy and Jack are in the midst of re-vamping their website. Visitors will find it whimsical and fun, much like Tracy, herself. When asked about the ideas and the graphics that are scattered throughout the many pages, Tracy said that she and Sandy Stillwell, her webmaster, have worked together to create the many different 'characters' that welcome web-surfers to http://www.pearsonpond.com/ . You'll want to have a full cup of coffee and a comfortable chair as you browse the web site and enjoy all the information that Tracy and Jack have compiled over the years.

Interview by Jill Edinger for LlamaCrossing.Com