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| Quick Links & Events |
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Heritage Farm - Explore our website and discover more about Heritage Farm and our alpacas
Getting Started Guide -Download our free guide full of information to help get you started with your own alpacas.
Newsletter Archive - Review past issues of Alpaca Works for information about alpacas and alpaca husbandry.
Starter Package - a great package of Alpacas and Services that will get your new herd off to a great start!
The Suri Network - The homepage of the Suri Network, an organization of Suri alpaca breeders dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Suri Alpaca.
National FFA Organization -
dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
Country Cabin Christmas - Our Log Cabin store will be decorated for Christmas and open on Saturday Nov. 3rd and Saturday Dec. 1st featuring fine alpaca clothing and accessories from the Heritage Alpaca Collection.
Indiana Alpaca Invitational - April 5-6, 2008 at the Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, IN. Heritage Farm is proud to be a Grand sponsor of Indiana's first AOBA sanctioned show.
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| Greetings! |
A couple weekends ago we hosted an open farm day as a part of the National Alpaca Farm Day celebration. The weather was  perfect and we were fortunate enough to have nearly 300 people tour the farm and see our alpacas. We were extremely pleased to be reminded that public interest in country living and raising a wonderful, eco-friendly animal like the alpaca is still extremely high.
But getting the curious to the farm is only the first step toward creating customers. Identifying and reaching the individuals and families that are truly interested and qualified to begin raising alpacas is quite another.
This is where many of us can use help. We fell in love with alpacas for the same reasons many of you did and decided to raise them for profit. With no marketing experience in our past careers, we continually seek out educational experiences to help us learn more about alpacas and how to market them more effectively. There are many educational opportunities available in the alpaca industry and we encourage all alpaca breeders and enthusiasts to take advantage of these.
One such opportunity came this past August at the Suri Network Summer Symposium in Estes Park, Colorado. The Suri Network staff and board of directors has dedicated a tremendous amount of time and resources in promoting the strategic growth of the Suri industry. The Summer Symposium was a reflection of all that work.
As first time attendees, we were really pleased with the organization and the quality of the entire symposium and especially the presentations. Since this was not a halter show that typically consumes a lot of time preparing and showing, we had plenty of time to network with other alpaca breeders and attend all the seminars which covered topics ranging from alpaca health to marketing. It was well worth the cost and time commitment of traveling to Colorado for a long weekend. All Suri Network members should consider attending next year (Aug. 14-17, 2008). We think you will be glad you did.
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| Ten Reasons to Raise Suri Alpacas |
When we started raising alpaca four years ago, we decided from the beginning to raise only Suri alpacas. We are often asked by potential customers why we chose Suri Alpacas. We usually respond by talking about the rarity and the elegance and unique fiber qualities of the suri, which are some of the best reasons. But, we never really spent much time verbalizing and putting down on paper the many other qualities and aspects that make owning the suri alpaca a unique and rewarding experience.
We finally decided to do this in the form of a one-page top ten list. While it certainly doesn't cover all reasons for raising Suri Alpacas, we think it positively reflects some of the great attributes of the breed and of the people involved in the suri industry.
(Feel free to distribute the sheet or link to the web page as you wish, but please leave our farm contact information intact.) |
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| Introducing Ameripaca's Jericho - Our Newest Herdsire |
.jpg) Jericho is the newest addition to our Herdsire line-up. His fleece is jet black to the tips and extremely lustrous. He has uniform pencil locks right to the skin. His sire is the award winning herdsire from Ameripaca, AABC Zeplin. See a large photo of Jericho by clicking here.
He has performed well in the show ring, despite his limited exposure. Jericho took 2nd at the 2007 Buckeye Show and 1st and Reserve Champion at the 2007 AOBA National Show!
This year's 2007 AOBA show consisted of 51 Black Suri males and 14 in the Championship class. Despite the stiff competition, Jericho brought home Reserve Color Champion at one of the largest shows of the year!.
Jericho is co-owned with Ravada Hills Alpaca Farm who have confirmed a pregnancy via ultrasound. This was a maiden female and she became pregnant after only one breeding.
If you're looking for a True Black herdsire with rare genetics, consider Jericho for your female. Call or email for more information.
 Awards Received
- 1st Place - 2005 Northern IL Extravaganza
- 4th Place - 2006 Futurity
- 3rd Place - 2006 Northern IL Extravaganza
- 2nd Place - 2007 Buckeye
- 1st & Reserve Champ - 2007 AOBA Nationals
Stud Fee: $3000 |
| Suri Youth Program |
One of the topics at the Suri Network Summer Symposium was marketing Suri Alpacas to the traditional livestock industry. A dynamic and very well qualified speaker by the name of Bret Kaysen presented a very interesting and provocative talk. Bret is a hog farmer, livestock judge and Colorado State University extension educator that has been immersed in all aspects of livestock since childhood.
 One point Bret made was that the alpaca industry needs to do a better job influencing various livestock groups that alpacas are a legitimate and sustainable livestock industry in American agriculture. He stated that the establishment of the Suri Breed Standard is a step in the right direction but we also need more representation in various breed councils at National and state levels.
Bret also stated that another way to legitimize our industry is to influence the rural youth of today as the farmers and livestock breeders of the future. Although many areas of the country have had alpaca 4-H programs for a number of years, we have not done this well at the national level. Getting youth involved in educational and social events and showing and judging competitions as are done with other livestock breeds will go far in preparing future alpaca industry leaders. Many livestock breeds, such as the American Hereford Association, have very robust youth programs that encourage young people to develop breed loyalty through regional and national events and scholarships geared exclusively toward the kids involved in the breed.
Attendees of the symposium capitalized on the excitement surrounding this concept and raised over $8,000 to be used toward the creation of the Suri Network Youth Program. For its inaugural activity, The Suri Network Youth Committee will have a booth at the National FFA Convention to be held in Indianapolis the last weekend of October. This event attracts nearly 55,000 of the nation's future farmers, ranchers and livestock breeders and will present a great opportunity to introduce the qualities and benefits of raising suri alpacas to thousands of our nation's best and most talented young people. If we get just of few of those kids energized about raising Suri Alpacas, it will be worth the effort.
For more information about the Suri Network Youth program, contact committee chair, Sandy Morden (info@pineriveralpacas.com).
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| Fall Show Season Alpacas and Spring Prospects |
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Fall show season is here and we have made plans to attend two shows with Carmelita and Evie, two young females that showed very well last spring. Look us up if you attend either of these shows. We would be happy to talk alpacas with you!
Northern Illinois Extravaganza - Oct. 27th-28th at Grayslake, IL.
Alpaca Fest - Nov. 10th-11th at Columbus, OH.
- HFS Carmelita -- 1st and Color Champion at the Southern Select Show; 2nd at the Kentucky Classic, 3rd place OABA, 2 place AOBA Nationals.
- Princess Evelyn -- 1st at the Southern Select, 3rd at the Kentucky Classic, 2nd OABA, 4th Futurity, 5th AOBA Nationals.
We are proud to introduce two cria born within the past couple months. Look for them in the show ring next spring, beginning with the Indiana Alpaca Invitational in April.
- HFS Argonaut's Telemon - Born in August, Telemon is a great looking beige male out of Argonaut. He is developing good lock structure and the luster his sire is known for.
- HFS Sweet as Heaven- Born in September, Sweetie is the first cria sired by Macgyver's Hotazel and from one of our best females, HFS Lovely Lady (Uribe and Mahogany Prince lines). She is a fantastic dark brown girl with incredible luster and density. We really look forward to showing her in the spring!
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| Our Heritage Cornerstones |
Heritage Cornerstones is a selection of powerful quotes centered around a theme appropriate for the season. This issue focuses on...
Freedom isn't free.
UNKNOWN
The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave.
PATRICK HENRY
Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have every made a difference in the world, but the Marines don't have that problem.
RONALD REAGAN
Soldiers, when committed to a task, can't compromise. It's unrelenting devotion to the standards of duty and courage, absolute loyalty to others, not letting the task go until it's been done.
JOHN KEEGAN
As long as we have faith in our own cause and an unconquerable will to win, victory will not be denied us.
WINSTON CHURCHHILL
I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
This conflict in one thing I've been waiting for. I'm well and strong and young -- young enough to go the the front. If I can't be a soldier, I'll help soldiers.
CLARA BARTON
A young man who does not have what it takes to perform military service is not likely to have what it takes to make a living.
JOHN F. KENNEDY |
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As we close this issue of Alpaca Works, we are encouraged about the future of the alpaca industry. Through various boards, committees and affiliates, we see many people working diligently on our behalf trying to ensure the sustainability of the alpaca industry in America. We join them in their vision of alpaca farms flourishing across the country, traditional producers diversifying their livestock operations by including alpacas and young people being trained and groomed for any number of alpaca-related careers!
As always, you are welcome to stop by for a visit. Best wishes for an enjoyable fall season!
Until next time,
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Tim & Beth Sheets
Heritage Farm Suri Alpacas |
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