Outside of Estacada, Oregon, on a ranch called Hidden Oaks, lives a little girl named Kayla. I got to meet her once, briefly, after an incredibly long day of traveling to relocate a group of llamas in Grants Pass, Oregon. And there was just something in her that grabbed at me. Not sure what, but there was trust, and innocence, and joy, and excitement, and curiosity. And it lingered in my head. So earlier this summer I decided to play a little Q&A with her about her life with llamas, the world of sharing llamas in real life Public Relations situations, the world of showing llamas, and her part in the world of llama rescue.

This column is for kids and their handlers...whoops! I mean their parents or youth leaders. Llamas and kids seem to be a match made in heaven. Examined a bit closer there are a few issues that, when addressed, will make all the principals - llamas, handlers and adult supervisors - a lot happier.

I sent a whole range of questions for her to answer. And what I got in response to those questions reminded me that no matter how complicated you think a question is, no matter how 'probing' you are trying to be, only a child can find the core and the truth to the question and answer it with simple, clear, and concise one-liners. And so, without lingering with words like only an adult can, welcome to the world of Kayla and the Widget of Oz.

Gary: Kayla, tell me the very first time you saw a llama. How old were you? Where was it?

KAYLA: The first time I saw a llama I was about 6 years old, my mom and I went to a horse meeting at the Holiday Inn.... They had llamas inside the hotel, a benefit dinner to raise money for llama research, it was the same night.

Gary: What was the very first time you got to lead a llama like? Was it scary? Who was the llama and what were you doing with it?

KAYLA: The first time I got to lead a llama I was about 6 years old, it was at Ken Austin's place, a llama named RDRL Comet. We brought him home and I ended up using him for performance, it wasn't scary at all.

Gary: What do you think about shoveling beans?

KAYLA: It's a pain, but I do it to help my mom out.

Gary: IF you had to tell your best friend in school the funniest story about something your favorite llama did, who would that llama be and what did they do that was so funny?

KAYLA: I would probably tell my friend about how Widgit takes grain from my lips- it's really cute!

Gary: What do you do besides play with llamas? What grade are you in?

KAYLA: I would really like to show pygmy goats next year at fair. I enjoy school and hanging out with my friends. I'm in 8th grade.

Gary: Do you have any special " When I grow up I want to be a __________ [fill in the blank]"?

KAYLA: When I grow up I want to be a large animal vet or a vet assistant.

Gary: Sometimes bad things happen to animals we love. Can you tell me a story about that? What did you learn from it?

KAYLA: I was playing in the front yard with my cousin. Our Min-Pin, Tasha, and our big Rottweiler, Brittney, were running and playing too. The next thing I knew, Tasha tore into Brittney, jealous I guess, and Brittney bit her in the neck, she died within minutes....it was very sad! I learned to be very careful when playing around dogs.

Gary: Your mom and dad spend a lot of time helping people with llamas and rescuing llamas. What do you think about that?

KAYLA: I hope they keep helping and rescuing llamas, so that more llamas can live.

Gary: OK Kayla, now for the 64 thousand dollar question. A whole flock of little birdies told me about this llama named Widget and Debora Slocum and the Boyz. They told me that somehow special magic happened between you and the Widget of Oz and now he gets to share his life with you. When did that happen?

KAYLA: My dad and mom gave me Widgit for Christmas. I was so surprised....I really wanted him, but thought he was too much money.

Gary: What do you think of Widget?

KAYLA: He's a really good llama, I've taught him a lot.

Gary: What sort of things does he let you do with him?

KAYLA: He does all the performance classes...obstacle, PR & pack. He counts. We visit nursing homes. He rides in the minivan. I've started ground driving too.

Gary: Is there anything special you want me to make sure people get to read that you think is also really important? It doesn't have to be about llamas. It can be about anything you want.

Kayla's Mom writes: "Kayla is always trying to out do me in the show-ring! She really has a way with the llamas and recently won her very first halter class at the Oregon State Fair last weekend". She also qualified for nationals with Widgit at the first show of the year.... He has really helped her grow as a person and in the show ring.