Kendall Gibson might not be an “alpaca whisperer,” but she certainly seems to communicate well with her animal, Buttons, when the time is right.

On Monday, as her mother, Dana Maggart, talked about the newly emerging alpaca club, Kendall offered to show how she and Buttons trade whispers.

First, she quietly says something in the animal’s ear and then Buttons snuggles against hers and mimics the move.

The friendship between the two has been built over three years and it showed as they won the title of grand champion in Wednesday’s alpaca show at the Kosciusko County Community Fair.

“It absolutely does help,” Maggart said of the bond. “She does have a really close relationship with her alpaca. They just really work well together.”

Kendall, competing in the beginner class, took first in showmanship, obstacle and royalty, which includes a written test.

The reserve champion was Lauren Ramirez, who showed Brownie.

While Ramirez and some other contestants fared well in much of the show, some animals featured their obstinate side in the obstacle competition where they were led through a series of stations that included steps, a teeter totter and even a hula-hoop.

Many of the alpacas balked at the idea of walking over the steps. One boy, who was shorter than his Alpaca, appeared to be momentarily lifted off the ground as the animal bucked and moved in another direction.

But Kendall and Buttons nearly sailed through the obstacle course as she held her close while passing through the stations almost with ease.

Wednesday’s 11 participants were twice as many as last year when the club had its first chance to participate as its own club after separating from the llama club.

Maggart said she thinks interest in the club is gaining because the animals tend to be easy to handle.

“They’re really good animals to be around kids. They are therapy animals. They go to nursing homes,” she said. “They’ve been a lot of fun for the kids.”

Maggart credits much of the success of the club to the support of Kent Mishler, owner of Mishler Alpaca Farms, who allows children to work with the animals at the farm without a lease fee.

“He’s an amazing benefactor,” Maggart said. “All he asks is that the kids come out, work with the animals, spend time with the animals and enjoy the fair.”

Mishler, 74, was at the show Wednesday taking photos from a distance. He and his son, Franklin, run the family operation, which is  just east of the county line in Noble County.

Mishler started raising alpacas about 10 years ago and has about 30 to 50 at any one time on the farm. He calls it more of a hobby than anything else.

He said he was glad to see alpacas break away from the llamas and the growth of the new club. While it’s good for the kids, its also good for the farm, he said.

He said he thinks kids are drawn to the animals because they are relatively calm and easy to work with.

He said he likes it when he sees the children snuggling up with the alpacas in the pens.

“Alpacas are cuddly creatures, you know?” Mishler said. “Who wants to cuddle with a dairy cow?”

The show also featured the debut of a 2 or 3-month-old alpaca who followed its mother around in the show and then tried the obstacle course on its own.

The club hosted a name the baby contest. More than 200 entries were received. The winning name was “Wooly 103.5,” a take-off from the local radio station, Willie 103.5.