Minnesota ranch is a pastoral dream

Eskadra needs a hug. So does Eskari. In fact, dozens of llamas are pouring in from the pasture, having heard Linda Pierce's call, and they all want a share of her attention.

One young male, Lucchese, is a favorite. Not content with just a hug, he delivers a kiss to Linda, as well. And from the look from his big, dark eyes, Lucchese wants a kiss in return. And he gets it. "Llamas seem to like me," Linda says, in grand understatement.

It's a scene that plays out often on the Co-Rect Llama Ranch, home to Michael and Linda Pierce and their 65 or so llamas, along with a couple of suri alpacas and two Paint horses. Linda is a flight attendant for Northwest Airlines, and she greatly misses the ranch during her three-day tours of duty. "I love getting off that plane," she says. "When I get home, I call the llamas, and they come running when they hear my voice. I look forward to the hugs and kisses. It's such a nice place to come home to, so very peaceful."

The llama ranch is a landmark on the Luce Line Trail, a busy recreational path that runs alongside the 70-acre ranch. Hikers and bikers are introduced to a touch of the West just outside the western suburbs of Minneapolis. Located near Maple Plain, Minnesota, the ranch features split-rail fencing, an expansive Santa Fe-style ranch house, native grasses, wetlands, and wildflowers. Visitors arriving by car are greeted with an authentic tepee just off the main drive.

"I grew up in the Twin Cities, but always dreamed of having a ranch," Michael says. "I thought it would be a horse or cattle ranch. I never dreamed it would be a llama ranch."

Destiny brought llamas into the picture in 1991. Michael and Linda went sightseeing during a ski trip to Aspen, Colorado, and they spotted llamas in a field. "I had never seen a llama before," Michael says. "For 10 minutes, we just stared at the llamas, and they stared at us."

Michael and Linda were living on a small acreage not far from the ranch they now own. They were able to locate four llamas for sale in Iowa and started their herd.

Not long after, they watched a llama show at the Minnesota State Fair and began to research the breeding and showing of these unusual creatures. The Pierces purchased a few animals at a national show and sale. They entered one at the state fair, and it earned a third-place ribbon. "Winning that ribbon was such an adrenaline rush," Michael says. "We started to take more animals to shows, and it just grew from there."

The llama herd was expanding, and the Pierces were looking for more pasture for their animals. They had long admired the house on the Luce Line Trail, but it was not for sale. However, an adjacent 20 acres was on the market, and the Pierces purchased it, with the idea of building their dream ranch.

Soon after, Michael and Linda were attending a llama auction when they received a call from their real estate agent, telling them that the big house and its 50 acres would be going on the market. "We made the first appointment to look at the house," Michael says. "We toured the living room, and by the time we stepped into the kitchen, we knew we had to own the place."

Both Linda and Michael are fans of the American Southwest. The house, with its turquoise color scheme, earthen tile, and touches of Santa Fe decorating, "was a perfect fit for us," Linda says.

It was a perfect fit for the llamas, as well. Some additional split-rail fences and new barns completed this piece of llama paradise. Even in inclement weather, the llamas can be brought into heated facilities to deliver their babies, or to be bathed and groomed for shows.

And Michael and Linda continue to attend a lot of shows. While llamas can be used as pack animals or to guard flocks of sheep, the Pierces have focused on raising stud-quality animals and exhibiting them at shows across the nation. Last spring, their young female named Esira won her class at the Celebrity World Futurity, the Super Bowl of llama shows.

"Once Michael and Linda decided to get into the llama business, they studied pedigrees and acquired foundation stock to breed for a specific type and style," says Doug Able, editor of the Llama Banner, a leading industry publication. "They are known for producing some of the finest llamas in the nation. And they're also very involved in the industry -- the kind of people that are good for the llama business."

The name of the ranch reflects Michael's family business, Co-Rect Products, Inc., which he owns and operates. The manufacturing company makes bar supplies and pneumatic tools. The farm name, Co-Rect Llama Ranch, also describes the mission of breeding a better llama.

"We're out to make a more structurally correct llama with correct conformation," Michael says. "We like to breed them big, with long necks and good fiber quality."

But it's not all work.

"We find that many couples are active as partners in the llama business," Michael says. "We've made a lot of friends." The Pierces are members of Llamas of Minnesota, a group of about 70 llama enthusiasts who mix work and play in promoting the business. The group toured Peru last year and visited the ruins of Machu Picchu, an ancient Inca archaeological site where llamas still roam.

And then, there are the moments spent relaxing on the decks that wind along the back of their house, watching llamas graze on pastures below, while hikers and bikers and horseback riders enjoy the Luce Line Trail in the background. Peaceful in the twilight hours, dark and still at night, it's difficult to believe that the property is just a half hour from Minneapolis and 20 minutes from the airport.

"We have the best of both worlds," Linda says. "We enjoy going out to dinner in the city, but we really enjoy coming home to this. We just love it."

Co-Rect Llama Ranch

Pastures at Co-Rect Llama Ranch (left) are divided so young llamas can be weaned and developed separately from the main flock. Day sheds protect llamas from the elements.

Linda hugs one of the prize-winning llamas on her family's 70-acre ranch west of Minneapolis.

Each room on the lower level of the house has a door that opens to one of the decks that weave for about 175 feet along the back of the house. "It's a great place to entertain guests," Linda says.

The ranch house reflects the Santa Fe style Michael and Linda love and is surrounded by manicured lawns and flower beds.