From Spotlights to Spotted Llamas
Updated: Oct 22
By Alexa Janoschka
Reese and Alexa
As I sit here drafting this on my Freewrite Hemingway digital typewriter, fueled by my usual, a small flat white with an extra shot on skim milk, I’m reflecting on a question I get asked almost daily: "How in the world did you go from lighting design to llamas and alpacas?"
If you’re new here, hi! I’m Alexa Janoschka. I’m a lighting design professional, but I also have a deep background in animal husbandry, specifically caring for camelids like llamas and alpacas. My path hasn't been a straight line, but if there's one thing I am, it's a self-learner. Here’s the backstory of how I ended up bridging two completely different worlds.
Act I: The Theatrical Beginnings
It all started in high school theater. Through a lot of trial and error, I taught myself how to program the light board. I ended up lighting over a dozen productions, developing my skills as both a creative and a technical programmer. I competed on a national level, and by the end of my senior year, I was accepted into the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama for design and production.
Because of its world-class reputation and the incredible intersection of technology and the arts, CMU felt like the perfect fit. I actually didn’t even tour the campus before going! As a triplet, the cost of school was a major factor for my family. My siblings and I all went to different schools, with my sister Lauren heading to Ohio University for musical theater and my brother going to Virginia Tech for computer science and engineering. I had been saving up since I was twelve to cover my room and board, so after accepting my financial aid package and some private scholarships, I packed my bags for Pittsburgh.
Act II: The Plot Twist
My freshman year at the conservatory was intense. I worked relentlessly, spending most of my time alone in class or on projects. It’s an environment where everyone around you is exceptionally talented, which can be stressful if you let it be. My first year was going incredibly well, until the second semester, when the world shut down for COVID-19.
My sophomore year was spent entirely online in my apartment in Pittsburgh while working as a resident assistant. This is where the friction began. I realized I wanted to pivot away from pure lighting design and lean heavily into the technology and programming side of production. Unfortunately, the advisor I was paired with wasn't a good fit. We constantly clashed over coursework, expectations, and the lack of empathy for students' personal lives during a global pandemic.
The environment became incredibly toxic. The immense pressure, combined with a lack of resources and inflexible faculty who blamed students for systemic disruptions, took a massive toll on my mental and physical health. By my senior year, I hit a breaking point and had to take a medical leave of absence.
Reese the Spotted Llama
Act III: The Llama Revelation
While recovering, I started working at a local grocery store and later as an instructor at a farm museum I had loved as a kid. I was slowly re-engaging with the world. One day, during a heated argument with my mom, I blurted out the truest thing I could feel at that moment: All I wanted to do was hike with llamas.
Being the strong-willed person I am, I made it happen. I called up Double 8 Alpaca Ranch in Virginia, went out for a farm tour, and started volunteering every single weekend. I completely threw myself into learning everything I could about camelid care. Before long, I was leading farm tours, out on the trails in my trusty Cotopaxi hiking pants, and even delivered my own spotted llama, Reese. I realized that when I truly enjoy something, my ADHD becomes a superpower—I dive in completely.
Bond University - Island Studies Trip 2025
Act IV: The Australian Adventure
Feeling recharged, I reapplied to CMU as an independent student, secured full financial aid, and structured my General Studies capstone on quails to focus on what I actually loved. This pivot took me straight to Australia to pursure animal husbandry.
I studied abroad at Bond University, taking an island studies course on Stradbroke Island (where I became affectionately known as the "Bird Girl"). I threw myself into wildlife conservation, volunteering as a zookeeper at Australia Zoo and helping out on shearing day at The Llama Farm in Ipswich.
But I never really left production behind. I merged my love for nature and lighting by working as a technician on the Astra Lumina lighting installation at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. It was the perfect synthesis of my two passions.
Act V: The Swiss Army Knife Life
Today, I straddle multiple cities—from NYC and DC to LA and the state of Oregon. I am still a lighting professional working on theater, concerts, and film, but I also work with the most amazing llamas and alpacas. I even get to bring these worlds together by working on the lighting crew for the Steve Irwin Gala in Las Vegas.
Las Vegas - Steve Irwin Gala 2025
Whether I'm deep in conversation about coffee roasters, designing a complex lighting rig, or helping people find peace by hiking out in nature with a camelid, everything I do connects back to who I am. I’m a Swiss Army Knife of Life, and I will always follow where my curiosity and eclectic skills lead me!
The Global Camelid & Conservation Directory
If you want to experience some of the magic for yourself, here is a database of the incredible farms, sanctuaries, and resources I work with and highly recommend:
Double 8 Alpaca and Llama Ranch (Hillsboro, VA): The place that started it all for me. Incredible farm tours, llama hikes, and a wonderful environment to learn about camelid care.
The Llama Farm (Ipswich, Australia): A fantastic hands-on farm where I had the privilege of volunteering during shearing day. They do incredible work promoting camelid education.
Australia Zoo (Beerwah, Australia): The home of the Crocodile Hunter! While they don't currently have llamas, their global conservation efforts and wildlife habitats are unmatched.
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary (Gold Coast, Australia): Home to three lovely llamas, an array of native wildlife, and the breathtaking Astra Lumina night walk installation.
Camelid Veterinary Services (UK): Run by Dr. Claire Whitehead, this is the premier resource for specialized, high-level camelid health and herd management training.
Long Look Ranch (Agua Dulce, CA): A beautiful working ranch out in California. I discovered them through WWOOF travels and they are an excellent connection in the US camelid community.
Travel & Accommodation Resources
If you are looking to travel affordably while connecting with animals and farmers (this is exactly how I'm planning my 2027 travels!), I cannot recommend these enough:
TrustedHousesitters: For a small annual fee, you can stay in incredible homes around the world in exchange for taking care of peoples' pets. I've had a dog-sitting business since I was 12, so this was a natural and fun way for me to find accommodation!
WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms): If you want to get your hands dirty and actually connect with farmers rather than just pet owners, WWOOFing is the way to go. You exchange farm work for room and board, which is exactly how I've discovered amazing places like Long Look Ranch.
Please check out more about CriaTrek to learn more about my passion for connecting others with nature to promote mental and physical health thorugh engugment with animals and the natural world, both in the US and abroad!
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