Riverside, Calif., November, 2001-- Marquis the champion stud llama, owned by Willard and Pat Leighton of Lazy Critter Ranch in Norco, visited La Sierra University on November 15, and was the star of a photo shoot featuring the Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team.

At class break, students from the Math and Computing building were expelled onto the lawn; meanwhile, students heading for the University Library noticed the exotic creature on the lawn by the School of Business and Management. They detoured for a closer look, to have their own photos taken, and to stroke the silky wool on Marquis.

La Sierra's SIFE team members pose with Marquis while the professional photographer shoots about 50 photos for use in the Riverside book.

So why was a llama strolling about the La Sierra campus? Riverbend Books, a company based in Atlanta, Georgia, is publishing a coffee table book on Riverside and its environs, called Riverside -– Heart of the Inland Empire. La Sierra University will be part of a two-page spread in the large book. Copy will focus on La Sierra’s 80 years of contribution to the Riverside community. The two photos in the spread, shot by a professional photographer, will feature the music technology lab and Dr. Elvin Rodriguez, professor of music; and the award-winning SIFE team.

Still wondering about the llama? SIFE operates several social entrepreneurship projects, including a chicken bank in Mexico, a cow bank in India, and an alpaca/llama bank in Peru. We didn’t want to do a chicken thing or a cow thing in the book (too passe´), but we knew people who knew people, who had llamas! Mrs. Leighton graciously brought her llama, Marquis, part of a herd of about 40, to be photographed. Marquis is a gentle creature who doesn’t kick or bite, and seems fairly cheerful (as exotic South American dromedaries go) about being led about by the halter, being brushed, and hopping up into his trailer for a ride. He is a professional, after all.

Marquis was presented with a gift basket for his troubles. One cannot find a "llama treats" aisle in Petsmart, so Trader Joe’s and the LSU Bookstore sufficed, for three kinds of seedless grapes, Red Delicious apples, carrots with tops, a La Sierra University visor hat, and recent La Sierra Today magazines.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch…
Marquis’ mates gave birth to two foals (or fawns?), the day of the photo shoot. One of the babies was named Sierra, in honor of La Sierra University.

Does that make us godparents?

Sierra the baby llama, born Nov. 15, is named for La Sierra University.

Sierra becomes part of the herd, surrounded by her mother and aunties.

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by Christy Robinson