Llama Costume Contest at the Minnesota State Fair - St. Paul, MN

This year, I FINALLY made it to the Llama Costume Contest at the Minnesota State Fair. You're probably asking "why", and once you see the photos, you'll know why.

Disclaimer: I'm a llama outsider and don't actually know what I'm talking about, but I've learned a lot from listening to friends, announcers, and contestants talk about it, so I know a small bit about this activity.

Apparently, there is some sort of llama circuit. There are multiple events, but I really only know about two events. There is the costume portion, and then there is the obstacle/agility portion (think dog-show agility events). There are also some sorts of "freebie" events, like the Running of the Llamas, which sadly has ceased operation after almost 20 years. But it was a REALLY fun event. And, there are things like therapy llamas that go to retirement homes - which I find hilarious because they're rumored to be stubborn and obstinate (both llamas and older people). I'm only ginog to focus on the costume portion in this post, however.

The costumes include both trainer and llama and are supposed to be themed, like a couples' Halloween costume. I heard that the neck must be covered in these contests, but clearly, there are a few that snuck into the event with exposed necks. From the copious commentating (I should talk...) of the announcer, I learned that the more coverage you've got on the llama, the better. If it looks challenging to get the llama into, then you get higher scores.

Apparently, this event at the Minnesota State Fair is the largest of its kind in the country - so go us, right? There were three different age groups: 7-8th graders, 9-10 graders, and 11-13 graders (implying people who went away to college and absolutely couldn't dream of stopping the llama activity would still be able to compete for one more year).

The announcer talked about how each of the contestants deserved blue ribbons, but I really beg to differ. It looked like a few of these kids either were phoning it in, or had woken up that morning and freaked out because they hadn't thought of a costume yet. Some looked like they were covered in a random blanket and that's as far as they got.

As you can see, it's a packed house. Which surprised me, but is a good thing.

Little Miss Muffet and her spider.

Bacon and eggs. 

Bride and groom (complete with garter).

A bowl of mac and cheese with a spoon.

A zookeeper with her giraffe.

Ghostbusters.

Viking and Packers fans.

Some minions (complete with fart gun). 

I have zero idea. (but, weak sauce)

Mulan theme with a flying carpet on the back of the llama, being ridden by a monkey.

Taco John (the trainer is IN a container of potato ole's, which rules) and the llama is a taco.

Party Animals. (weak sauce)

A painter and the llama is the canvas. (weak sauce)

Best costume in this age division: Top Gun. The llama has a bomber jacket with tiny arms. The llama also has clouds around his legs and flames coming out of its butt like an afterburner. The crowd loved this one. 

Bee and beekeeper, complete with smudge pot.

Some sort of cowboy situation, but not sure why the trainer looks like a teddy bear.

The trainer is a strawberry and the llama is the strawberry bush. (weak sauce)

Swan Lake theme. Weakest sauce of all. Like ranch sauce weak.

Uncle Sam theme, which prompted the announcer to wax poetic pro-Trump style. Not kidding.

Black Pearl theme. Yes, the llama is dressed as a pirate ship.

The trainer is a cookie and the llama is a monster (according to their neck-sign).

Dinner for two. The llama is the table and the trainer has spilled spaghetti on her tablecloth dress. (not the best effort I've seen) (exposed llama neck)

Cat in the hat. (weak sauce) (exposed llama neck)

Farmer and her chicken. This was pretty comical and well done.

1940's Salvation Army Bell Ringer - she was very specific about the 1940's part. The llama is the money bucket.

Tropical llama. (D for effort)

Steampunk llama. I guess if you put two gears and a clock on something, you've steampunked it.

Bubble bath and the trainer is a rubber ducky. The bubble machine in the llama costume helped.

Trolls.

Left Shark with beach llama, and a hobo llama (which is culturally insensitive and they didn't do well in the competition).

My favorite: this girl made her alpaca a Harley. The tiny arms with fake tattoo sleeves was awesome, and the trainer's outfit was appropriate. Nicely done and super creative.

Little Red Riding Hood with the llama dressed as the wolf in grandma's clothing.

This one took a few seconds for the crowd to get. The llama is dressed as a pig and her babies are feeding. Hilarious.

Batman and Robin. That llama wasn't happy about it.

Willy Wonka and an Oompa Loompa.

Another giraffe and its zookeeper.

Another bathtub llama.

Finding Nemo - extremely well done. Pool noodled mad the llama a sea anemone. The bubble machine was rulin', as well.

Such a fun time and despite not ALL of the contestants deserving blue ribbons, many of them put in some serious work. Really impressive.