2/8/2008 CLINICS!!
Winter is in full swing and we have two great Clinics scheduled: The first is February 16th, 4-8 pm in Bingen, WA, at the Los Reyes Restaurant Banquet Room. Three guest speakers are scheduled: Bob Cosgrove from Country Insurance will address the differences between Farm and Ranch Coverage verses Homeowners; Matt Bannon from Kershaw & Associates will give a detailed talk on Taxes specific to Alpacas and Ranching; and Wendy Tyler
from Black Wolf Alpacas will cover the process of procurring free
funding/grant money from the US Department of Agriculture for building
fences, barns, automatic watering systems. This is a very packed
evening, no charge (contact Carol Thayer @ 5090-493-2811 to attend)
The second clinic will be held March 1st, 9 am to 4 pm on Birthing, Pregnancy and Reproduction, and Cria care at Blonde Velvet & Me Ranch. Dr. Amanda Luell DVM will be assisting Carol Thayer with this Clinic, there is a $50 charge per person to attend (lunch is provided).
Then Show Season, Shearing and Birthing Season come and we will resume Clinics again in July. We are shearing on April 30th all day here at the farm, contact Carol (509-493-2811) if you would like to observe some of this event.
1/1/2008: January 1 2008! Sightings in Goldendale!
The
New Year is here and we have some great Clinics scheduled beginning
with January 12th on Gearing Up for and Navigating the Show Season! We
will also include information on scheduling shearing since that needs
to be done early in the year. this is your opportunity to hear about
all the show dates, types of show and details about them from prior
years, how to get animals ready for them, how to market your farm at
them with or without taking animals. It is an especially exciting
season this year since the AOBA National Convention is being held in
Salt Lake City Utah - very close to home (Usually held back east). IN
Feb we will host a Clinic on Taxes, Farm & Ranch Insurance and
Insuring your Herd. March will bring the Birthing?Neonatal Clinic, and
then the next few months of April, May & June will be totally
devoted to the shows. Clinics will resume in July! There is a rumor
that the group of alpaca breeders in the Gorge is growing . . . there
are reports of alpaca sightings all the way up in Goldendale!! Several
now in Stevenson and even Carson. And so many more getting ready to
take off this year! There is nothing quite like the high energy of new
breeders . . . . so contagious! Hopefully everyone will introduce
themselves to others at these clinics and begin building those
marketing bridges. Meanwhile the snow is deep and pretty, and made for
a beautiful holiday - but the days are already getting longer - can't
you feel summer just around the corner?? BABIES ARE COMING!!! YEAH!!!
Get out that catcher's mitt!!8/31/2007: Summer Events and National Alpaca Days!
Show
Season was far and wide this year with a string of offspring going to
The Futurity Show In Louisville KY under Prince William, McGwire and
Alexander the Great. . . . we were extremely pleased with the results –
no surprise from the ribbon–winners McGwire and Alex, but this was our
first showing of babies from William and all of his placed well! Our
little Sierra Summit sold at the National Auction – out of 90 lots she
was the third highest selling alpaca -- we will miss her!! Ken and
Laura Slye, co-owners on Accoyo Marlon Brando, took a string of 5-6
cria from Marlon to shows this year and every single one placed,
including a third in Get of Sire against competitive white Sires.
Next year we will return to the more local shows with Nationals being held in Salt Lake City.
At The Futurity, we were either crazy or lucky enough to purchase
Aussie Hills Imbroglio in partners with John and Shannon Ellis . .. .
he is the silver male we have been looking for to put over our dark and
silver McGwire daughters. . . . his fleece must be seen and felt to be
appreciated. Merino type crimp and organization, 5-time color champion
before age 2, 16 micron at one year, staple length to defy all myths
that finer fleeces bear shorter staple. Already settling females, his
introductory breeding fee is $3000.
Babies are coming now, a fairly large crop of Alexander cria – we are
knocked out by what he does over color females. We are getting our
McGwire/Alexander crosses now and loving it. We have our first 10
babies coming from Accoyo Phantom (El Nino son) and our first 12 cria
due from Accoyo Custer (Grand Master). Peruvian Incantation continues
to put gorgeous fleece on his offspring. Our Hemingway/El Nino son,
Rainman, seems to be settling his first females (pending confirmation –
stay tuned) and we are excited about his offspring into the 10’s and
12’s!!! How come you have to wait an entire year?!?!!??
We will be open with tea on for the National Alpaca Farm Days
throughout on September this year, so please stop by and enjoy the
farm, Mt Adams, the reindeer and all our little cria and Moms. It helps
us sit back and enjoy it when people stop in!
On Sept 29th & 30th, we will be co-hosting with other Snowden area
breeders an all weekend event with seminars being held at Miner Creek
Alpacas just off Snowden Rd, 232 Acme Rd. Seminars start at 11 am and
cover Getting Started, Alpacas as a Profitable Small Farming Endeavor,
Barn and Farm Set-up, and Earning Income form Fiber and End Products.
There will be end products for sale, snacks, hands on fun with the
alpacas, and a drawing for an alpaca sweater! 10 am - 5 pm both days! 
