Rural route

Ken Sutton, a retired former plumber, trains a llama on his 761/27-acre Apple Valley spread. (Irfan Khan / LAT)

Sept. 15, 2014 11:25 PM PT

Joy and Rodney Chow have 600 fruit trees on their 5 acres in Carpinteria, where theyre building a house. (Stephen Osman / LAT)

Nanci Sutton, offering a treat to one of her animals, opted to move to San Bernardino County ranch. (Irfan Khan / LAT)