Walnut Ridge Llama Farm

By Robert Sorrell
Published on January 1, 2008
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Rising Star's Antonio, one of Walnut Ridge Farm's herdsires, is known for his super silky fiber.
Rising Star's Antonio, one of Walnut Ridge Farm's herdsires, is known for his super silky fiber.
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Peaches, a suri llama, welcomes visitors of all ages to the farm.
Peaches, a suri llama, welcomes visitors of all ages to the farm.
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Silky llama WRFL Shooting Star poses in front of Walnut Ridge Farm's main barn.
Silky llama WRFL Shooting Star poses in front of Walnut Ridge Farm's main barn.

Jerry and Carolyn Ayers fell in love with llamas at the 1998 Rare Breed Exposition in Knoxville, Tennessee. The brilliantly colored fiber, slinky bodies and mystic personalities of those noble camel cousins so captivated the couple, they decided to purchase two right then and there and take them back to their small farm in Chuckey, Tennessee.

Now, eight years later, their 10-acre spread is home to more than 50 llamas. “We are llamaholics,” Jerry declares proudly. “We’re addicted to their serene nature and beauty. Our passion for llamas has become a business.”

Close to 30,000 llama farms can be found nationwide. The couple’s Walnut Ridge Llama Farm and Store is the second largest such farm in Tennessee.

Located on a hillside along the Chuckey Highway between Greeneville and Limestone, the farm welcomes visitors who can go face to face with the llamas and browse through the Walnut Ridge Store. They quickly understand why the Ayerses like these extraordinary creatures so much.

A tale worth telling

The Ayers operation was founded about a decade ago with Suffolk sheep and Nubian goats, but now, except for one emu, one miniature horse, one pot-bellied pig and a flock of chickens, the family is living the full-fledged llama lifestyle. Jerry still maintains his position as principal at Greeneville High School, but Carolyn, a former fourth-grade teacher, has now dived into the llama business full time.

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