COLUMBIA FALLS, Mont. \u2014 In the Flathead Valley, a long-time family business brings a unique experience for people exploring the outdoors.<\/p>\n
Llamas are not the typical animal you would think of when it comes to an outdoor recreation experience. However, the Great Northern Llama Company is a family-owned and run business in the Flathead that’s raised llamas for decades.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy parents started raising and breeding llamas and then subsequently alpacas in the late \u201970s. They\u2019ve been doing it for almost 45 years,\u201d said Jamie Rolfing, owner of the Great Northern Llama Company. \u201cI grew up outfitting packs with him down in the Swan and Mission Mountains of Montana. Over the years my parents have sort of scaled down; they sold their outfitters licenses and focused on breeding and sales.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jamie is in the Army, and his wife, Sarah, is a nurse. The two came back to the ranch in 2018 and decided to revive his parents\u2019 llama tour business. But this time they are focusing on accessibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we came back here to the ranch and started to get more involved, we wanted to translate what I used to do with my father, outfitting the llamas in the backcountry, to the property itself to make it more accessible for families, kids and folks on more of a local level,\u201d said Jamie.<\/p>\n
The farm is a middle ground for the Flathead Valley. It’s roughly 15 minutes away from Kalispell, 25 minutes from Whitefish and 30 minutes from Glacier National Park.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is truly a family legacy business that we’re running and opening up to the public,\u201d said Sarah Rolfing, co-owner of the Great Northern Llama Company. \u201cBut there aren\u2019t a lot of agri-tour options in the valley, which is surprising, so we are probably one of just a handful of opportunities to actually interact with animals.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the ranch, llama treks are available for anyone 6 years or older, and llama tours are available for anyone.<\/p>\n
\u201cLlamas are very approachable. We have experiences with llamas that are available to all ages, from the littlest kids even in a family pack to the oldest adults,\u201d said Sarah. \u201cLlamas can be experienced by everyone, so that is very unique. It’s for all ages, all abilities.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Rolfings want to provide a convenient way to experience the backcountry, tailored for anyone who visits their ranch.<\/p>\n