Winsome Bengals is owned by David & Caroline Welk.   Prior to Bengals, we have been breeding show quality llamas for over ten years in the beautiful Santa Rosa mountains above Palm Springs, CA and still do (www.winsomellama.com).    We show extensively up and down the West Coast each year and eventually end up competing with our champions for National Titles in Lincoln, Nebraska.   In 2006, our full Peruvian stud, Nachi, was titled the 2006 ALSA Grand National Grand Champion male with a unanimous vote by all 3 judges - number 1 in the nation.  Through careful selection of our breeding stock, our Get have championed and competed on a regional and national level year and year and its an achievement that brings us great pride.   Caroline has held the position of the President of the Llama Association of North America, served on the Board of Directors for the Llama Assocation of Southern California, has participated in the annual Walk for the Animals Charity Fundraisers in Palm Desert, CA, has appeared in nativity scenes with llamas and loves to share these magical animals with the public.  For Caroline, a call from Hollywood to appear on the television show, "You Lie Like a Dog" with one of her llamas was very memorable as was the Hyundai advertisement where she brought four llamas to use as props for an ad campaign.   It's the magic you spread to others that makes it all worthwhile.  In May, 2006, Caroline left her legal career of 20 years to run her ranch full time and hasn't regretted it for one minute.     For Caroline, animals have always been a huge part of her life for as long as she can remember.   From swinging between the front legs of a draft horse when she was 6 years old to surfing the waves on back of her horse as a teenager, her fondest memories were of her animal friends whether it be her faithful dog or steed, a lost stray or a small bird, they were all special.     Hi, my name is Caroline and I'm the "addict" of this operation.   Bengals were first introduced to me by a very good llama friend of mine, Sherry Johnston of Beloved Bengals, who also is a Bengal breeder in Oregon.   She had asked me to visit a local Southern California Bengal Breeder to take a look at a kitten she was purchasing.  "No problem," I said.   So, on my way to a llama show, I stopped by Millwood Bengals and met Jean Mill.  She got a kick out of all of my llamas peering their heads out of the horse trailer for a peek as to what we were doing.   Well,  I held this darling kitten in my hands, helped take some photos, and was on my merry way.   Quite impressive little feline, I said to myself and very nice cats.    I enjoyed these Bengals from afar and never in a million years did I think I would end up being owned by one or two or three . . . Our first bengal came into our lives quite unexpectedly when I was asked again to go and take a look at a kitten from another breeder who happened to live close to me (8 miles away, who would have thought).  "Okay, will do," I said and set out one day for a scheduled meeting with Leslie Hall of Junglebook Bengals.    We became fast and close friends due to our livestock backgrounds and the fact that we are both passionate about what we do.  I instantly admired her cats, her knowledge and respected her obvious contribution to this breed.  I could instantly admire this "wild" look she strived for, it was exotic and I started feeling that ol' familiar feeling that I was about to enter into another chapter of my life.  I looked at this kitten for my friend, Sherry Johnston, and its littermate (which would prove to be the founder of my addiction) and left for home.   Oh why couldn't I stop thinking about this kitten, he was a marble male with the biggest, loving eyes I had ever seen.   I had this nagging feeling for days that this little male kitten was somehow meant to be a part of our lives (my husband, David, had wanted a cat for so long and I couldn't let him down, could I?)     To make a long story short, our first Bengal was Dash.  When we picked him up from Les' house, he stole our hearts that first night and is now known lovingly as our "Dashelle Dude".  Due to Dash's charm, we knew we had to get another Bengal . . . someday.    Since that time, I resolved myself to these incredible felines and began to compile a small group of girls as a solid, quality foundation stock.   Thanks to Leslie Hall, my mentor and friend, I did just that.   I spent the first couple of years putting together a marketing program and visiting local cat shows as well as my first Congress.  It was exciting to say the least and here we are today.    In 2007, we decided to add our very first stud to our program.  We searched high and low for the perfect rosetted male as our "coat cat" and we found him at Drinkwater Bengals in Floriday.  We are passionate in maintaining a breeding program based on type and temperament, researching bloodlines for consistency so we are always working towards our vision of the perfect bengal all the while considering the ALC line they each derive from of utmost importance.     When our first kittens began to arrive, their quality has made this journey all worth while and very rewarding.   We look forward to many, many years of sharing them with you and are thankful for all of the quality people we have met along the way.     Caroline Welk