For the fifth year running, we present the end of year Llama Market Report! 
Many have noticed that this is the only piece of writing we published in 2024. In our personal lives we moved to a new farm this spring, and that has consumed all of our available free time. But things are finally beginning to come together for us at home, and we have things in the works for the magazine next year!
But back to the article at hand:

133 Llamas were included in our 2024 statistics, combining results from the ILR Spring Showcase Sale, ILR Gathering Sale, Cascade Llama Sale, and all Justin Timm Auction Service online sales.
The gross for all sales lots was $443,450, for an average of $3,344. The median was $2,800 (exact middle sales price for all 133). 
The average for all females was $3,936, and the median was $3,500.
The average for all males was $2,043, and the median was $1,300. 

The average for females under 2 years old was $4,207, and the median was $3,400.
The average for females 2-10 years old was $3,989, and the median was $3,800.
The average for females over 10 years old was $2,333, and the median was $2,000.

​The average for males under 2 years old was $2,267, and the median was $2,050.
The average for males 2-10 years old was $1,638, and the median was $1,200.
Two males over 10 years old sold, for $1,100 and $1,300. 

The high selling llama of 2024 was HHNA China's Shall B for $10,800. Sold by Venesa Carter purchased by Debbie Shoff of Shoff Farms.
The high selling male was MSF Law and Order for $6,500, sold by Mark and Susan Smith to Michael and Patricia West. 

133 sales lots was a decrease from 2023 (172), though the lack of a production sale (Llama Pickin' in '23), and no Fall/late summer auctions were likely the cause of this. Participation in sales that were held was reasonably steady. 
Averages for males and females were both down from 2023. 
Females moved from a $5,025 average and $4,375 median in 2023, to a $3,936 average and $3,500 median. 
Under 2 year old females had the smallest decline, from a $4,757 average in 2023 to a $4,207 average in 2024. 
2-10 year old females moved from an average of $5,509 to $3,908. 
Over 10 year old females moved from an average of $5,021 to $2,333. 

Male averages dropped from an average of $2,947 ($2,000 median) to an average of $2,043 ($1,300 median). 
Males under 2 years old dropped from an average of $3,143 ($2,325 median) to an average of $2,267 ($2,050 median).
 Males 2-10 had a small drop from $1,886 to $1,638 ($1,750 and $1,200 medians).

​While the comparison to last year's numbers aren't exactly favorable, we do now have the benefit of 5 years of data to compare to. We see steady growth from 2020-2022, with 2022 serving as the peak of this 5 year period. 2023-2024 had a slight decline, with 2024 settling slightly above 2020 averages. 

Sixteen females sold for under $2,000 in 2024 (17.4%), which was an increase from 7 in 2023 (5.5%). 
54% of females sold for between $2,000-$5,000 in 2024, up from 52% in 2023. 
28% of females sold for over $5,000 in 2024, down from 42.5% in 2023. 
Three females sold for over $9,000 (3.25%), down from 17 in 2023 (13.4%). 

Ten males sold for under $1,000 in 2024 (25%), this was up from three in 2024 (6.7%). 
56% of males sold for under $2,000, up from 44.5% in 2023. 
39% of males sold for between $2,000 and $5,000, basically even with 40% in 2023. 
Two males sold for over $5,000 in 2024, down from 7 in 2023. 

We also compared  pricing tiers, with a 6 year comparison going back to 2019. 
​Llamas (male and female) selling for under $2,000 gradually moved from a high of 58% in 2019 down to a. low of 16% in 2023. In 2024 there was an increase in this figure to 29%. This figure is higher than '21-'23, but lower than '19-'20. 
Llamas selling for more than $5,000 gradually moved from a low of 11%, and up to a. high of 36% in '22 and '23. 2024 saw a decline in this tier, to 21%. This was lower than '21-'23, but higher than '19-'20. 
Llamas selling for $2,000 to $5,000 has been very consistent. It moved from 30% in 2019 to 47% in '20, and 2024 saw the 6 year high at 49.6%. 

While we'd all love to see prices continue up and to the right, I hope that this data helps to provide some historical context and a starting point for pricing animals in the new year. I will be continuing forward with plenty of optimism for the llama community, 

​Highs and Lows
The bottom of the market improved in 2023, with one female selling for less than $1,000 and 7 females selling for less than $2,000. Both numbers were an improvement from 2022, where 4 females sold for less than $1,000 and 15 females sold for less than $2,000. 
Three males sold for less than $1,000 in 2023, and 20 males for under $2,000. Both of these numbers represented an improvement from 2022  (6 under 1k, 26 under 2k). 
At the top end of the market, 54 females sold for $5,000 in 2023, accounting for 42% of females sold (2022 had 55, accounting for 47%). 
Seventeen females sold for more than $9,000, down from 20 such females in 2022. 
Seven males sold for more than $5,000, and zero males sold for more than $9,000, down from 12 and 3 in 2022. ​​

Looking Ahead
The llama market has shown a remarkable amount of resiliency, with prices remaining strong through Covid, inflation, and stock market volatility. 2023 did not match the averages or heights of 2022, but when taking the longer view to 2021, 2020, or way back to 2013, the market is showing a trend of growth and stability. I am looking forward to the shows, sales, and everything else the New Year will bring in the world of llamas. Happy New Year!
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A few weeks ago I got it in my head that I needed a camera in our barn. It seemed like a fun thing to be able to pull it up and check on the llamas while I was away. While researching barn cameras, they all required internet access to be able to see a live view. This led me down a rabbit trail of how to get internet from the house to the barn. Luckily, I found an option to easily get WiFi in the barn and a barn camera setup with a process that took under an hour and costs less than $200!

Driving llamas is one of the most fun and unique things to do with your llama. People often drive their llamas in parades, on beaches, in competition at llama shows, or just for fun. To be successful with training a llama to drive it is essential to select the right llama, use equipment that is made for specifically for llamas, and to use good training methods. Training a llama to drive is hard work and there are rarely, if ever, llamas for sale that are already trained. Below we have included a story about Cadence the Llama who was trained by her owner, Barb Romano, to pull a cart. Barb includes recommendations for those interested in driving llamas or learning more about this fun hobby.