Premiere alpaca event of the year to take place March 23-25

Peoria, IL -- (ReleaseWire) -- 02/19/2018 -- The Alpaca Owners Association, Inc. (AOA) National Alpaca Show sponsored by Fun in the Country Alpacas, which draws hundreds of alpaca enthusiasts and fiber artists from across the country, is held in a new geographic location nearly every year.

This year, AOA selected the Peoria Civic Center to host the 2018 National Alpaca Show.

"We are thrilled to bring our national show to Peoria in 2018," said Bud Synhorst, AOA executive director. "We visited several cities throughout the U.S. to choose a host site for our premiere industry event and the city of Peoria, as well as the Peoria Civic Center, quickly rose to the top by exceeding all of our expectations. We are certain our members will enjoy all the city has to offer."

Hours are:

Friday, March 23 - 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 24 - 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 25 - 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Alpacas from across the country will be featured in the show ring competition. The show will be comprised of classes judging conformation and fleece quality in many categories for both Suri and Huacaya alpacas.

Dozens of vendors and farm displays will sell the latest alpaca fashions and hand-crafted items.

What better way to learn more about the growing North American alpaca industry than to talk to breeders from throughout North America and beyond, and meet hundreds of alpacas face-to-face in one location? Now you can. And it's FREE!

Alpaca Selfie Booth

This year the public can take a selfie with an alpaca at the Alpaca Selfie Booth. Haven't perfected your selfie taking skills quite yet? No worries. Show volunteers can take your photo for you. The Alpaca Selfie Booth is is FREE!

Alpaca Costume Contest

On Saturday, March 24 at approximately 2:00 p.m. participants of all ages will take to the ring to compete alongside their alpacas in a costume contest. Costumes will be judged on the comfort of the animal with foreign objects on their head, legs and feet, and how imaginative the costume is as well as the story each participant must write telling about the costume.

For more information about the Alpaca Owners Association or the AOA National Show sponsored by Fun in the Country Alpacas, visit http://www.alpacanationals.com.

Additional Information

About Alpacas
Alpacas, cousins to the llama, are beautiful, intelligent animals native to the Andean Mountain range of South America, particularly Peru, Bolivia and Chile.

Today, the United States boasts two types of alpacas. Although almost physically identical, the two types of alpacas are distinguished by their fleece. The huacaya (wa-Ki'-ah) is the more common of the two and has a fluffy, extremely fine coat. On the other hand, the suri (SUR-ee) is more rare and has fleece that is silky and resembles pencil-locks.

Adult alpacas stand at approximately 36 inches at the withers and generally weigh between 150 and 200 pounds. They do not have horns, hooves, claws or incisors. Alpacas are alert, intelligent, curious and predictable. Social animals that seek companionship, they communicate most commonly by softly humming.

About Alpaca Fleece
Alpacas are shorn, without harm, every twelve to eighteen months. Each alpaca can produce five to ten pounds of luxurious fleece. Long ago, this fleece was reserved for royalty. Today, it is purchased in its raw fleece form by hand-spinners and fiber artists, while knitters buy it as yarn.

Because of its soft texture, alpaca fleece is sometimes compared to cashmere. The fleece also has the luster of silk, making it even more coveted. Alpaca is just as warm as wool, yet it is a mere 1/3 the weight. It comes in 16 natural colors and can be dyed any desired shade.

Containing no lanolin, alpaca fleece is also naturally hypoallergenic. Most people who are sensitive to wool find that they can wear alpaca without the itching or irritation they feel from wool because alpaca fleece is smooth. Additional performance characteristics include: stretch, water repellency and odor reduction. For travelers, clothing made from alpaca is desirable because it is wrinkle-resistant.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Lincoln, NE -- (ReleaseWire) -- 11/17/2016 -- The Alpaca Owners Association, Inc. Board of Directors is pleased to announce Robert "Bud" Synhorst as its new executive director.

Bud is a highly energetic and motivated individual with a great track record of creating excitement in member-based organizations through strong networking and relationship management activities. He is very excited to be joining the AOA organization and working with the staff, association members and the board of directors to influence the future of the North American alpaca industry.

Bud brings a diverse background of nonprofit and for-profit experience to the Association. His resume includes nearly 20 years of executive management, planning, administration and communications experience. He has a proven history of playing an integral role in developing successful fundraising campaigns.

Most recently, Bud served as executive director for the Nebraska Republican Party from 2013 – 2016 where he developed and executed a political strategic plan for Legislative races, electing Republicans up and down the ballot. He enhanced the Party brand statewide, led a finance committee raising over $2,000,000 to support candidates running for Congress, statewide office and the Nebraska Legislature and engaged in an audit and change of financial oversight procedures, implementing a debt reduction plan. Bud developed key messaging and served as the primary representative and point of contact for the Party.

For 2 years prior, Bud was executive director for Mary Lanning Healthcare Foundation in Hastings, NE. Here, he coordinated a fund drive and raised more than $225,000. He also established a $25,000 endowed scholarship for nursing students.

Bud served as vice president of resource development at Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation in Cedar Rapids, IA. Bud raised $14 million in donations supporting thousands of people, nonprofits and businesses affected by the Cedar Rapids flood of 2008. He also generated more than $10 million in permanently endowed funds to support community organizations.

Bud's experience includes several leadership positions at schools and universities including executive director of development at Mount Michael Benedictine School in Elkhorn, NE and executive director at Metropolitan Community College Foundation in Omaha, NE. Throughout his career, Bud built strong communication skills, showed commitment and focus on team building, proved himself as a devoted servant to his constituents and succeeded in fiscal and operational management.

Bud holds a Masters of Education from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and his Bachelor of Arts in Business Education from the University of Nebraska – Kearney. He also earned his Certificate of Fundraising Management from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

"It is an honor to represent the Alpaca Owners Association as executive director," said Bud. "This is an exciting time for the industry. The Association's mission, talented staff, dedicated board and enthusiastic membership provide countless opportunities for the alpaca industry to evolve and grow. I am eager to get started!"

Board President Norm Johnson adds, "We look forward to Bud's leadership to assist in increasing membership, continuing our superb show division and expanding our EPD program."

As executive director, Bud will be responsible for the operational management of the Association.

Bud, his wife Nikki and their three daughters: Grace (15), Allyson (12) and Chloe (5) reside in Lincoln, NE. After a visit to a local alpaca farm on national farm days, his youngest daughter is pursuing a 4H program working with alpacas.

Bud will be officially starting his executive director responsibilities on December 5, 2016. He will be attending the A-OK Alpaca Blastoff November 18-20 in Guthrie, OK where members in attendance will have the opportunity to meet him face-to-face. Members of the public and media are invited to meet Bud at the AOA National Alpaca Show in Denver, CO at the National Western Complex on Thursday, March 16, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. MST.

About Alpaca Owners Association, Inc. (AOA)
With headquarters in Lincoln, Alpaca Owners Association, Inc. (AOA) is a non-profit corporation that provides the world's largest, internationally recognized alpaca pedigree registry, alpaca show system, judge training program, and an alpaca Expected Progeny Difference (EPD) program. AOA facilitates alpaca education and marketing support to current and prospective alpaca owners throughout the world. AOA's primary purpose is to maintain an official DNA validated genealogical registry system, administer an alpaca show system, provide education about the operation of sustainable alpaca businesses, promote alpaca ownership and alpaca related products and encourage scientific research to the benefit of the alpaca industry. AOA is governed by its nine-member Board of Directors, with three positions annually elected by AOA's voting membership.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Premiere alpaca event of the year to take place in Fort Wayne March 18-20

Fort Wayne, IN -- (ReleaseWire) -- 02/04/2016 -- Alpacas have coexisted with humankind for thousands of years. The Incan civilization of the Andes Mountains in Peru elevated the alpaca to a central place in their society. The imperial Incas clothed themselves in garments made from alpaca and many religious ceremonies involved the animal.

Alpacas are, however, relatively new to the United States when compared to other livestock. First commercially imported in 1984, there are now more than 230,000 registered alpacas in North America.

What better way to learn more about the growing North American alpaca industry than to talk to breeders from throughout North America and beyond, and meet hundreds of alpacas face-to-face in one location? Now you can. And it's FREE!

The Alpaca Owners Association, Inc. (AOA) National Alpaca Show & Auction, which draws hundreds of alpaca enthusiasts and fiber artists from across the country, is held in a new geographic location nearly every year.

This year AOA selected the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne as its host city.

Hours are:

Friday, March 18 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 19 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 20 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Alpacas from across the country will also be featured in the show ring competition. The show will be comprised of classes judging conformation and fleece quality in many categories for both Suri and Huacaya alpacas.

Dozens of vendors and farm displays will sell the latest alpaca fashions and hand-crafted items.

On Friday, March 18, the AOA National Alpaca Auction begins at 4:30 p.m. Admission is free and a cash bar will be available. The National Auction is the premiere event of the year for the North American alpaca industry.

For more information about the Alpaca Owners Association or the AOA National Show & Auction, visit http://www.alpacanationals.com.

About the Alpaca Owners Association, Inc.
The AOA Headquarters Office is located in Lincoln, Nebraska and serves as the national livestock association for alpacas in North America. As the largest alpaca association in the world with more than 10,000 members and 230,000 registered alpacas, AOA facilitates the expansion of a strong and sustainable alpaca industry through the tracking of bloodlines, registration and transfer of alpacas, genetic testing, national educational outreach, the national show system, alpaca and alpaca product marketing, public relations and its highly respected judges training program.

Additional Information:

About Alpacas
Alpacas, cousins to the llama, are beautiful, intelligent animals native to the Andean Mountain range of South America, particularly Peru, Bolivia and Chile.

Today, the United States boasts two types of alpacas. Although almost physically identical, the two types of alpacas are distinguished by their fleece. The huacaya (wa-Ki'-ah) is the more common of the two and has a fluffy, extremely fine coat. On the other hand, the suri (SUR-ee) is more rare and has fleece that is silky and resembles pencil-locks.

Adult alpacas stand at approximately 36 inches at the withers and generally weigh between 150 and 200 pounds. They do not have horns, hooves, claws or incisors. Alpacas are alert, intelligent, curious and predictable. Social animals that seek companionship, they communicate most commonly by softly humming.

About Alpaca Fleece
Alpacas are shorn, without harm, every twelve to eighteen months. Each alpaca can produce five to ten pounds of luxurious fleece. Long ago, this fleece was reserved for royalty. Today, it is purchased in its raw fleece form by hand-spinners and fiber artists, while knitters buy it as yarn.

Because of its soft texture, alpaca fleece is sometimes compared to cashmere. The fleece also has the luster of silk, making it even more coveted. Alpaca is just as warm as wool, yet it is a mere 1/3 the weight. It comes in 22 natural colors and can be dyed any desired shade.

Containing no lanolin, alpaca fleece is also naturally hypoallergenic. Most people who are sensitive to wool find that they can wear alpaca without the itching or irritation they feel from wool because alpaca fleece is smooth. Additional performance characteristics include: stretch, water repellency and odor reduction. For travelers, clothing made from alpaca is desirable because it is wrinkle-resistant.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

North American Alpaca Industry continues to evolve and thrive

Lincoln, NE -- (ReleaseWire) -- 10/27/2015 -- Recently, alpacas have been featured on national television shows, in commercials for a variety of products and services and in numerous news stories around the country.

Why the sudden interest?

To those familiar with the nearly 30 year old North American alpaca industry, there is nothing sudden about it. Hard work has gone into developing a scientifically-based pedigree registry and a large national show system, while involving alpaca business owners in growing the industry.

While raising alpacas is family friendly, it is a serious business. No different than any other business, it requires hard work, planning and dedication to be successful. Those who put in the research and work can reap the benefits of a profitable business in an industry that is like no other.

Deciding to own alpacas

As with other livestock industries, failed businesses and even rescue situations unfortunately occur. Successful alpaca businesses exist, are attainable, and whether the focus is breeding stock or use of their fleece, alpaca business owners understand and embrace the work that goes into running their alpaca business. With the industry steadily growing in North American for more than 30 years, successful alpaca business owners did not go into this venture expecting to "get rich quick." Many have, indeed, made a successful living in this industry but, as with any business, research and hard work are necessary.

Research is the most important step when considering starting any livestock business, and a prospective owner must understand the basic information necessary to care for these animals. Every livestock species has its special requirements and visiting alpaca farms is an excellent place to begin the investigative process. Information about alpacas and a listing of local farms can be found at www.alpacainfo.com.

"Learn from someone with experience and integrity," said Lona Nelsen Frank, owner of ALPACAS of Tualatin Valley, LLC in Beaverton, Oregon. "And when you decide to purchase your first alpacas, buy from someone who will mentor you 24/7; not just at the point of purchase, but in the future."

Another great way to learn about the industry is to attend alpaca shows and events. These shows are national, regional and local. The alpaca industry features a world-class show system developed to promote positive public awareness of the unique qualities of alpacas. They provide owners the opportunity to learn how to improve the breed and enhance their marketability while promoting and protecting the health and well-being of alpacas. Attending these shows can prove to be a highly educational, exciting and enjoyable experience. These shows also offer unmatchable networking opportunities, where alpaca business owners and individuals interested in this livestock come together from across the country... and the globe... to discuss their alpaca business, experiences, successes and failures.

A calendar of upcoming educational and show events can be found at http://www.alpacainfo.com

Adequate planning

No endeavor will succeed without a plan. Thomas and Connie Betts of Cascade Alpacas of Oregon in Hood River, Oregon, attest to the fact that creating a well thought out, detailed business plan has helped them to succeed in the industry.

"People who expect to succeed in this livestock industry must run it like the business that it is," said Connie. "Keep focused on your goals and pay attention to cash flow and expenses. It is important to not go into debt in case things don't turn out. From the beginning, we were prepared for 'worst case scenarios.'"

The Betts have been running their alpaca business for almost 10 years. They earned their return on investment within two years, and now have increased their revenue every year except one during the recession when revenue was flat.

"From the beginning, we knew our focus would be on fleece and other revenue streams, such as boarding alpacas, and not as much on the selling of alpacas," said Connie, "and we focused our business plan on that. Because of our focus and ability to stay on track with our mission, we are now known for the fineness of our fleece and we often run out of yarn before our season ends in October!"

The alpacas, including alpacas boarded at their ranch by other individuals, and their yarn shop are Thomas's full-time job.

Be prepared for change

Beth Osborne of The Alpaca Hacienda in Temecula, California, originally entered the alpaca industry concentrating solely on the breeding of high-end breed stock. When compared to other livestock, the North American alpaca industry is still in its infancy and until recently, the focus of the industry was developing a national herd with high-quality fleece. Now, with more than 230,000 registered alpacas, alpaca business owners can shift their focus to other qualities of this livestock.

"The alpaca industry followed the natural progression of any livestock industry," said Osborne. "But the change in the business doesn't mean we throw the baby out with the bathwater!"

Osborne's focus today is to be an asset to her community by providing jobs, hosting community events and tours and providing community service hours to high school students. Osborne also concentrates on her farm store where she sells handcrafted alpaca fleece products. She also cares for alpacas other owners board at her ranch, which provides additional income. "I have built a family of boarders and we gather at the farm for felting days, where we create items to sell in the store," said Osborne. "We've begun making nuno scarves, which shoppers have come to expect. Around the holidays, they sell like hotcakes!"

Dr. Jeri Booher, owner of Timberland Alpacas in Forest Grove, Oregon, and co-president of CABA, also knows that as with any business, change can happen at any time, and can directly affect one's operation.

"When the economy took a hit, all businesses were affected," said Dr. Booher, "Successful business owners adjusted accordingly."

Becoming part of an agricultural community

Joining organizations focused on the alpaca and livestock industry offers countless resources to help ensure a successful alpaca ownership. Alpaca Owners Association, Inc. regional affiliates, FFA, 4H, State Farm Bureaus and County Agricultural Extension offices can provide access to local resources. Everything about the care of any livestock is easier with help, support and guidance.

Alpaca Owners Association, Inc. (AOA), headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska, serves as the national livestock association for alpacas in North America. As the largest alpaca association in the world, AOA facilitates the expansion of a strong and sustainable alpaca industry through the tracking of bloodlines, registration and transfer of alpacas, national educational outreach, the national show system, marketing, public relations and its highly respected judges training program.

The AOA affiliate organizations support ranches within geographical areas. For complete list of affiliates, and for more information on how to join AOA, visit http://www.alpacainfo.com

A labor of love

While many alpaca business owners do, indeed, enjoy their morning cup of coffee while watching their herd in the field, this is just a small portion of their day. Just like any livestock owner, alpaca owners put a lot of labor into their business.

Stacie and Skip Chavez, owners of Albuquerque Alpacas in the North Valley of Albuquerque, New Mexico, start each morning and end each day caring for their herd. They check on the well-being of each animal, feed and water them, and then go into the field and barn to clean manure.

Stacie arranged for Seed2Need, a local organization that grows food for people in need, to pick up manure every other week. Alpaca manure is a rich soil conditioner that improves soil quality and its ability to retain water. Now, Seed2Need sells composted alpaca manure to help fund their efforts.

Ensuring proper shelter, solid fencing, general health checks and regular vetting and assisting in the birth of crias (baby alpacas) are just some of the other day-to-day tasks a successful alpaca business owner faces.

The common element found with all successful alpaca business owners is that they enjoy what they do. And there are so many things about this livestock to enjoy. The alpaca industry is, in many cases, 100 percent American made from start to finish. Employees are being hired to work on farms, creating jobs for Americans. The alpaca industry receives no government subsidies or other similar support. Alpacas are environmentally friendly. When compared to other livestock, alpacas are a safe animal for children to work with, and the entire family can get involved.

"Alpacas are my 'glass of wine'", says Stacie. "I get out of my car after my marketing job and can sit in the middle of a field surrounded by these beautiful animals. It is the perfect end to a stressful day."

For more information about the alpaca industry, to locate a local farm, or to view a calendar of upcoming shows and events, visit http://www.alpacainfo.com

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm