A llama on the loose in Salem as FFA students enjoy annual tradition

SALEM - "Pay the $25 before someone sends it back."

That was the common theme for many Salem businesses that couldn't help but laugh when McCook Central FFA students walked through their front door with a llama on Wednesday.

"Jackson" the llama was this year's animal visitor for McCook Central FFA. As part of its annual fundraiser, McCook Central students brought Jackson around town to businesses for a quick visit. Blake Pulse is the McCook Central student who owns Jackson, and most businesses that received a visit quickly paid a fee to remove the llama.

"We've done a pig, we've done a sheep, we've done a goose, we've done a duck," McCook Central FFA adviser Terry Rieckman said. "We've done all these other animals and a cat. And (Blake) had a llama. Next year, we'll have to find a camel or something."

The event was originally scheduled during National FFA Week in February, but then was moved to run closer to National Ag Day, which was on March 14. But due to other scheduling conflicts, the McCook FFA chapter decided Wednesday was the best day to parade a llama around town.

This year, 14 businesses bought insurance, which prevented the students and Jackson from showing up on their doorstep.

Rieckman said this year there were fewer businesses that bought insurance, as typically there are 30 to 40 businesses that opt-in. But the chapter didn't make a day-before visit delivering goodies this year. Instead, there was an appreciation dinner.

"We probably didn't get the attendance we wanted for that but it was the first year," he said.

It cost $25 for insurance ahead of time, or a business risked the animal coming on the day of the event. Once arriving, it cost $5 to send the animal away or the business could spend $25 to ensure it couldn't be sent back to them.

The proceeds from the event go back to McCook Central's FFA program.

1/22: McCook Central students Tanner Peterson, right, Morgan Erikson, center, and Ciara Rother laugh as Jackson the llama decided that while visiting McCormick Motors was an opportune time to go to the bathroom while they visited the business as part of McCook Central FFA's annual fundraiser on Wednesday in Salem. Blake Pulse cleaned up after Jackson. (Matt Gade / Republic)

2/22: McCook Central senior Ciara Rother walks Jackson the llama out of the back of the trailer along side Tanner Peterson while Blake Pulse closes the door to the trailer while going to visit businesses as part of McCook Central FFA's annual fundraiser on Wednesday in Salem. (Matt Gade / Republic)

3/22: On their first stop of the day McCook Central FFA student Blake Pulse brought his llama Jackson to Kevin Erikson at Wilbur-Ellis as part of McCook Central FFA's annual fundraiser on Wednesday in Salem. (Matt Gade / Republic)

4/22: McCook Central senior Ciara Rother reacts as Jackson the llama catches his reflection in a window while walking down Main Street in Salem as part of McCook Central FFA's annual fundraiser on Wednesday. (Matt Gade / Republic)

5/22: McCook Central senior Tanner Peterson holds the door as Blake Pulse brings Jackson the llama into Wilbur-Ellis to pay Kevin Erikson a visit as part of McCook Central FFA's annual fundraiser on Wednesday in Salem. (Matt Gade / Republic)

6/22: McCook Central FFA members Tanner Peterson, Ciara Rother, Morgan Erikson and Blake Pulse visit the Salem Community Drug store with Jackson the llama as part of McCook Central FFA's annual fundraiser on Wednesday in Salem. (Matt Gade / Republic)

7/22: Dave Hoiten, of Dave's Barber Shop, shares a laugh with McCook Central FFA seniors Ciara Rother, left, and Blake Pulse after Hoiten had to stop them as they walked by his barbershop so he could take a photo with Jackson the llama as as part of McCook Central FFA's annual fundraiser on Wednesday in Salem. (Matt Gade / Republic)

8/22: McCook Central students Ciara Rother, left, Morgan Erikson, right, Tanner Peterson, second from right, and Blake Pulse make their way out of Wilbur-Ellis after visiting Kevin Erikson as part of McCook Central FFA's annual fundraiser on Wednesday in Salem. (Matt Gade / Republic)

9/22: McCook Central senior Ciara Rother can't stop laughing as Jackson the llama doesn't want to leave the window while staring at his reflection as they walk past a business along Main Street in Salem as part of McCook Central FFA's annual fundraiser on Wednesday. (Matt Gade / Republic)

10/22: McCook Central FFA seniors Tanner Peterson, left, and Blake Pulse walk Jackson the llama to a business for a visit as part of McCook Central FFA's annual fundraiser on Wednesday in Salem. Due to the weather, the event which is typically held on National FFA week, was postponed to March. (Matt Gade / Republic)

11/22: Deb Lobien, second from right, reacts after touching Jackson the llama brought to Randy Sabers and Associates Insurance Agency by McCook Central senior FFA students Blake Pulse, left, Ciara Rother, center, and Tanner Peterson while Lobien's co-worker Darla Erikson, right, looks on as part of McCook Central FFA's annual fundraiser on Wednesday in Salem. (Matt Gade / Republic)

12/22: McCook Central seniors Tanner Peterson, from left, Morgan Erikson, Blake Pulse and Ciara Rother walk Jackson the llama down Main Street in Salem to businesses as part of McCook Central FFA's annual fundraiser on Wednesday. (Matt Gade / Republic)

13/22: Jeremy Grady, president of First Dakota National Bank in Salem, pets Jackson the llama on the head as McCook Centrall FFA senior Blake Pulse holds Jackson in the lobby of the bank as part of McCook Central FFA's annual fundraiser on Wednesday in Salem. (Matt Gade / Republic)

14/22: McCook Central seniors Tanner Peterons, right, and Ciara Rother, second from right, laugh as Blake Pulse walks Jackson the llama through the front door of Randy Sabers and Associates Insurance Agency on Wednesday morning as part of McCook Central FFA's annual fundraiser in Salem. (Matt Gade / Republic)

15/22: Blake Pulse fights with his llama Jackson to keep walking while Jackson wanted to stare at his reflection in a business window along Main Street in Salem as part of McCook Central FFA's annual fundraiser on Wednesday in Salem. (Matt Gade / Republic)

16/22: Ruby Kampshoff laughs as McCook Central senior Blake Pulse holds Jackson the llama in the middle of the business at Central Farmers Cooperative on Wednesday morning as part of McCook Central FFA's annual fundraiser in Salem. (Matt Gade / Republic)

17/22: McCook Central senior Blake Pulse closes the trailer carrying Jackson the llama after visiting a business and on their way to the next one as part of McCook Central FFA's annual fundraiser on Wednesday in Salem. (Matt Gade / Republic)

18/22: McCook Central students Tanner Peterson, second from left, Morgan Erikson, center, and Ciara Rother, right, laugh as Blake Pulse holds Jackson the llama who decided that while visiting McCormick Motors was an opportune time to go to the bathroom while they visited the business as part of McCook Central FFA's annual fundraiser on Wednesday in Salem. Pulse cleaned up after Jackson was done. (Matt Gade / Republic)

19/22: McCook Central senior FFA students Blake Pulse, right, holds Jackson the llama while fellow FFA member Tanner Peterson, left, waits for Gerry Crawford, second from left, and Ruby Kampshoff at Central Farmers Cooperative to pay the fee to send Jackson to another business in town as part of McCook Central FFA's annual fundraiser on Wednesday in Salem. (Matt Gade / Republic)

20/22: Philip McCormick, of McCormick Motors in Salem, picks a name on the list being held by McCook Central senior Tanner Peterson while Blake Pulse holds Jackson the llama in the shop as part of McCook Central FFA's annual fundraiser on Wednesday in Salem. While visiting the McCormick Motors shop Jackson decided it was good opportunity to go to the bathroom. Pulse cleaned up after Jackson. (Matt Gade / Republic)

21/22: McCook Central senior Ciara Rother holds the door as Blake Pulse brings Jackson the llama into Sturdevant's Auto Parts as Morgan Erikson follows behind as part of McCook Central FFA's annual fundraiser on Wednesday in Salem. (Matt Gade / Republic)

22/22: Randy Sabers and Associates Insurance Agency's Deb Lobien, left, and Darla Erikson watch as the McCook Central students walk Jackson the llama down Main Street after a visit to their business on Wednesday in Salem. (Matt Gade / Republic)