Meet Debbie Labbe – Owner of Country Quilt Llama Farm
Country Quilt Llama Farm started in 1988 with two llamas. It quickly became evident that llamas were very well received by the public. Owner Debbie Labbe was constantly being asked to bring her llamas to preschools, convalescent homes and libraries. It is the llama’s docile, yet curious, personality that make them such wonderful animals to have the pleasure to work with and share with everyone. Debbie realized that she could make a business out of bringing her llamas out in the public.
In 1992, Debbie developed a children’s enrichment program for preschools, daycare centers and libraries called “Hooked On Llamas”. Also an Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) program sharing my llamas with adults at convalescent homes, rest homes, assisted living facilities and Adult Daycare Centers. The faces on a child or elderly person meeting a llama for the first time in their life is priceless. The business has grown to a client base of 300 and at least 100 programs per year. In 2013 she added llama walks to her business. The walks originally were offered from March to September but became so popular, now they are offered year round.
Country Quilt Llama Farm, currently located in West Cornwall, Connecticut, is home to six llamas. Each of these special llamas are well adapted at meeting the public, in any situation. The llamas enjoy it as much as Debbie does. She feels so blessed to be able to not only have them, but to be able to share them and love what she does.
Debbie has been a member of the Greater Appalachian Llama and Alpaca Association (GALA) since 1987. She is a lifetime member and served two terms on the Board of Directors. She was elected by the BOD to be President from 2009-2011. Debbie was the llama show superintendent at Eastern States Exposition (The Big E) in West Springfield, MA from 2013-2015. She also enjoys showing at the Big E, spinning the fiber and taking hikes in the state parks.