The CLI Judges Tell It Like It Is . . .Everytime!

One of the founding members of CLI, Dale is known for being passionate about any project he undertakes. His working years included many occupations, beginning with a stint in the Marine Corps. Following that, Dale obtained a BS in Sociology and a Masters degree in Psychology.

In the decades that followed, Dale began and subsequently sold several successful startup businesses. Some of these included a jeans pre-washing company (first in Alabama), one of the largest commercial laundries in the South and telephone centers located on military bases across the country.

While these business ventures were ongoing during the mid eighties, Dale and his wife, Kathy, became intrigued with llamas in the mid eighties. Instead of diving in head first with no practical knowledge, they decided to research the breed and to educate themselves before making any purchases. To this day Dale vividly recalls a conversation where a large, high profile breeder of the 1980s told him that a good llama was “one with four legs, a tail and two ears.” Believing a good llama was more than that, the Petersons visited dozens of farms, attended several ILA conferences and observed many sales around the country. They were among the first members of ALSA and had been llama judges for a couple of years before they purchased their first llamas in 1990. Several years of travel and fun followed as they attended llama events and grew their show winning herd to around 40.

In 1995 the Petersons started a chain of retail pet stores and spent much of the next eight years building the business. They sold the business in 2003 and once again have more time to devote to llamas.

In short order it became apparent to Dale that llama prices and the general appreciation of llamas had declined significantly and showed few signs of rebounding. In 2004, Dale and a few others started CLI in as a way to rekindle the fun and excitement about llamas and to put all exhibitors and llamas on equal footing in the show ring. Dale is a CLI conformation judge and enjoys educating llama owners through CLI shows and clinics.

An Alabama native, Dale and Kathy live in Birmingham, Alabama.