Alpaca Breeders of the Rockies
'Paca Parade
July 2010
In This Issue
Quarterly Meeting
President's Message
Vice President Committee Updates
Marketing Update
ABR Shows
Fiber Committee Update
Tax Tips
Member Tip
Benefit Comparison
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What a

Alpaca Breeders of the Rockies

Quarterly Membership Meeting

August 8, 2010 (Sunday)

Embassy Suites

4444 Havana Street

9:30 AM to 1:00 PM

 

General Meeting

9:30am Start

 

Welcome                         Kim Sawyer

 

Introduction of New Members/Guests            Ron Hinds

 

What's happening at ABR?

Kim Sawyer/BOD

 

Nominating Committee      

Carl McGill

 

 

Member forum for bulletins

   Events not sales - please submit your events to Kim Sawyer before the meeting    

 

CSU Emergency Visit -

What to expect

10:00am

Dr. Robert Callan, CSU, will discuss what to expect when you need to make an emergency trip to CSU. How can they make it easier on us? What can we do to help them when we arrive.


Networking Brunch

10:30am to 11:30 am

Join us for a tasty brunch with mimosas and network with your fellow alpaca breeders.

 

Physical Exams by Dr. Robert Callan

Dr. Robert Callan from CSU will discuss how to do your own physical exams at your farm.  More information to come.

n, if any, do you want your members to take? Add a "Find out more" link to additional information that you may have hosted on your website.
 
Social Networking
ABR is going social on Facebook and LinkedIn. Social sites are fast becoming a mainstream communication platform.  Social networking provides the ideal platform for associations to communicate, share information and discuss real issues affecting their shared interest.  Social networking expedites exchange of ideas literally in just a few seconds.  Social network sites can easily share videos and images, adding value to members.  Using this communication tool will allow us to have a central site to store images of past events and share video interviews and educational material.     ABR will be able to receive 'real time' member feedback on meetings, events, shows and education. 

Help ABR take the next step in member communication.  Inquire about volunteering to  managing our social network sites.  Contact Julie Averch at [email protected]
 
Member Tips
Do you have a farm or alpaca tip that will help other ABR members?  Send your article to Julie Averch at [email protected] for consideration for publishing in the 'Paca Parade

 Good Idea
Find us on Facebook
Greetings!

We hope you are enjoying the new format of the 'Paca Parade.  ABR is working hard to stay on top of current information and trends.  A benefit comparison is included in the July 'Paca Parade which shows you the many areas ABR brings value to your membership. 

There are also new opportunities for ABR members to advertise in the Newsletter and on the ABR website.  If you are interested in showcasing your farm or product contact Julie Averch at [email protected]
 
President's Message
Kim Head Shot

Hello ABR!

 

Okay, I can't believe I'm going to say it - I wish it would rain. My pasture, what there is of it, is already drying up, so let it rain, let it rain, let it rain!  I hope you're all enjoying your summer and for those of you expecting crias, that they're healthy and everything you anticipated. I'm still waiting for my first one of the season.

 

It's getting to be that time again where you may receive a phone call to see if you'd like to serve on the ABR Board of Directors.  ABR is looking for people interested in the continued growth of our organization. There are so many of you with a great breadth of talent and knowledge. Won't you consider bringing that expertise to ABR as one of our leaders? Please give it some consideration AND you don't have to wait for a call. If you're interested, contact someone on the board.

 

We have two exciting events occurring for ABR and our members:

 

Adams County Fair - August 4th - August 8th


This is the first time that alpacas will be at the Adams County Fair. ABR had hoped to have an alpaca performance show but not sure we have enough attendees for that. If you're looking for an opportunity to attend a performance show, this would be a great chance.  ABR will have space at the fair for animals, product and sponsorships.  

 

 Colorado State Fair - August 27th - September 6th


ABR continues our tradition of being at the Colorado State Fair. The space we receive at the State Fair is completely free to us and provides an excellent opportunity for our members to bring alpacas, sell product and speak to hundreds of potential customers. The buildings are locked at night so it's perfectly fine if you want to leave your alpacas overnight and spend a couple days at the fair! Let's show our support for our State Fair.

 

For both of the above events, contact Heather Cram for more information - [email protected].

 

And it's never too late to be thinking about ABR Fall Festival. Keep your eyes open for further information on when the Fall Fest website goes live.

 

ABR is committed to our Mission and Purpose and the support of our members in marketing, education and the future of alpacas. I hope you're as excited as me to get involved!

 

Till next time... Kim


Vice President

ABR By-laws Review Committee

The proposed changes of the ABR By-laws Review Committee will be sent to the members at the first of August.  The ABR By-laws are on the ABR website at http://www.alpacabreeders.org/bylaws.html.  There is still time for you to review the By-laws and offer any feedback or changes.  Send any suggestions to Becky Zierer, [email protected].  ABR is your organization so these are your by-laws!!  Get familiar with them and ensure they fit your organization!

ABR Government Regulations Committee

The Government Regulations Committee has a new Chairperson, Katie Mason.  Other committee members are needed so if you have any interests in this committee, please contact Becky Z
ierer, [email protected].  This is an important committee charged with keeping tabs on how government is impacting the alpaca community.  Also, if you have any government regulations or questions that pertain to your local area, please let us know.

ABR Long Range Planning Committee

ABR's BOD worked many hours on a strategy for ABR for the coming years.  This strategy can be found at http://www.alpacabreeders.org/docs/ABRStrategicPlan_041209.pdf .  Please review it and see where you would like ABR's emphasis to be.  And let me know, Becky Zierer, [email protected].  We need your help! 


Thanks,

Becky Zierer
ABR Vice President

 



Marketing Update
Peter Ziek

 

Well GWAS is now over, and it was the largest alpaca show in the country for the second straight year!  Congratulations ABR and a big thank you to all the wonderful ABR volunteers who made it a big success.  The next marketing events are the Pueblo State Fair where you have the opportunity to talk to hundreds of public in a single day if you volunteer to staff the ABR booth for a day, and the AOBA National Alpaca Farm Days where AOBA will advertise nationally for this event.  Join the Marketing Committee and help us prepare for our second big show, the 2010 Fall Festival Alpaca Show at the Ranch in Loveland.  Contact our committee chair, Andrew MacArthur ([email protected]) to join the Marketing Committee or send suggestions for marketing.

Peter Ziek

Marketing Director

 



ABR Shows
 
14th Annual Fall Festival
Fall Festival Logo
Emails w
ill be going out shortly for coordinators and volunteers for Fall Festival.  Mark your cale
ndars for November 6th and 7th so you don't miss attending this great show at The Ranch Event Center in Loveland, CO.  If you are new alpaca owners this is a wonderful opportunity to show your animals in a relaxed setting in a beautiful facility.  It's also a great show to try your hand at coordinating a segment of a smaller show with lots of friendly experienced past and present coordinators to help you out.  We look forward to see you all there.  

 
Great Western Alpaca Show 2010
 GWAS Logo
Once again the Great Western Alpaca Show was the largest in the nation!!!  Thank you to all the exhibitors and volunteers that join together to make this the best show!!
 
Make note now on your 2011 calendar, April 29 & 30 and May 1 are the dates for GWAS 2011.  Hope to see you there.  
 
We will be having the first coordinators meeting in August, so be thinking about what role you would like to volunteer for!!  Also, please send any feedback about the show or the Denver Fiber Fiesta to Becky Zierer, [email protected]
 
Alpacas at the National Western Stock Show 2011
 
Yes, it's only July and the stock show won't be until January but information for the Premium Book has to be to National Western by end of July!!  Anyone that would like to volunteer to be on the ABR Alpacas at the Stock Show Committee for stock show 2011, please contact Becky Zierer, [email protected], 303-644-4110.  It will be our third year and there are still some changes to be made to ensure that we showcase our alpacas to their best advantage.  Becky talked with many of you at the stock show about changes that you would like to see but if you have any other suggestions or want to be involved in the planning of the show, please let her know. 
Fiber Picture Spin Wheel

 

FIBER

 

Since the last newsletter went out,  ABR has run our product booth twice:  once at the Denver Fiber Fiesta at GWAS and once at Estes Park.  Both times we had energetic, involved volunteers and beautiful merchandise. 

 

Many hours were spent organizing this year's Fiber Fiesta.  Barb Dedecker lined up a dynamic group of instructors and classes, brought in a variety of top notch vendors, had a variety of fiber competitions.  Sue Lindt put together a colorful, informative flyer to advertise the event.  To target both the general public and people interested in fiber, ABR sent press kits to newspapers in towns and cities up and down the front range and advertised GWAS and Fiber Fiesta together via 500 cards that were sent to ABR's mailing list.  To specifically target a fiber-interested crowd, about 250 Fiber Fiesta flyers listing all the classes were hand delivered to yarn shops in Colorado Springs, Castle Rock, Denver, Boulder and Fort Collins.  TACtile published info about the Fiber Fiesta in its newsletter with a link to the Fiber Fiesta page.  The flyer was sent out to spinning, weaving, knitting guilds throughout the area; these guilds published information about it in their newsletters.  The flyer was also sent to Schacht Spinning Wheel company who sent it on to their list.  The Fiber Fiesta info, including the class list, was promoted on ravelry.com and it was also listed on the North American Felters' national online calendar.  ABR placed Fiber Fiesta adds in Interweave Magazines - Spin Off, etc.  And, of course, we sent the flyer to all ABR members and asked them to send it on to their mailing lists.  We would like to see attendance at next year's Fiber Fiesta improve over this year's turnout.  What ideas would you suggest to help bring more people out for this event?

 

A Fiber Committee meeting is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, July 28 at 6:00.  Watch for an email from Mary Madison regarding specifics including the place. 

 

It's time to start thinking about the Holiday Bazaar at Fall Fest.   Is there anyone who would like to be in charge of this event?  Online sign-up, which simplifies enlisting volunteers, will be available.  We have guidelines, templates for letters and procedures available for you to use if you'd like to run this.

 

Barbara Ziek

Fiber Director

719 495-6693


          Member Tips

 


Tax Tips
Lynn Boak

 

Alpaca breeders should be aware of some aspects of the IRC Section 179 deduction for investment in alpacas and farm equipment. First, the Section 179 deduction is cut in half for 2010, meaning that it has dropped from a maximum of $250,000 in 2009 to a maximum of $125,000 (indexed for inflation) in 2010. It is slated to drop to a maximum of $25,000 in 2011. This deduction enables a taxpayer to take all of his depreciation on a business asset in the first year, rather than spreading it out over a period of time.

 

          Another thing to be aware of is that the amount of the Section 179 deduction is limited to the excess of actively earned income over expenses (computed without the Section 179 deduction.) In other words, retirement income, investment income, income from rental property, royalties from oil or gas, etc., does not count.  If you have a prospective customer who wants to retire and raise alpacas, he  should be encouraged to buy the alpacas and as many business assets as he can before retiring in order to take full advantage of the deduction. If you have a prospective customer who has already retired, she will not be able to take the Section 179 deduction unless she has some active income, i.e. income from wages, salaries, or other businesses. The other businesses can be sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited partnerships, or Subchapter S corporations. If the actively earned income is not enough to offset the full Section 179 deduction desired, the excess can be carried over to the next year, provided there is some actively earned income anticipated in the next year.

 

          Also be aware that land, property placed in service and disposed of in the same year, equipment used to build capital improvements, intangible property, and property that has been retired from service, as well as certain term interests, cannot be depreciated. Immature animals cannot be depreciated until they reach maturity. 

 

          When talking to prospective customers, be sure to caution them that each tax situation is unique and that there are both dollar limitations and income limitations involved in taking a Section 179 deduction. They should be encouraged to talk to a tax professional knowledgeable about agriculture before buying, to prevent a nasty surprise at tax time.

 

Lynn Boak, Esq.

Arroyo Seco Alpacas

Inexpensive Space Saving Feeders

Are you contemplating a new barn or do you want to recover some space being taken up by bulk hay feeders? Want to eliminate hay being thrown out of the bunk feeders or buckets onto the floor?  At Wild Hair Alpacas we have come up with cheap, space saving hay feeders using no climb horse fence and our existing pole barn structure.  For inside feeders we use the pole barn structure and the wall of the barn, and nail the four foot no-climb horse fence between the supporting poles to create a  vertical feeder that are 4-6 inches deep (depending on your pole barn pole size), four feet high, and as wide as we decide, based on the existing barn structure.  The space between the barn wall and the fencing will hold a flake, and you can stack up to four feet of hay which provides a lot of flexibility as to how much you want to feed at one time.  We feel this has reduced the spitting contests as the animals seem to have fewer issues with access to the hay. Putting the hay along the wall in the space between pole barn posts takes up only the space of the pole width giving us back the floor space originally taken up by hay bunks and hay buckets.  We also put these kinds of feeders outside the barn under the overhang out to the poles supporting the overhang.  This gave us 8 foot long two-sided feeders that the alpacas love, and they only take up 4 inches! These were built by nailing a 2x4 to the barn wall and then nailing no-climb fence two both sides of the 2x4 and the support pole.

The is a photo below is an inside feeder along a 10 foot wall in the barn and the other is an inside feeder between two runs. 
Feeder 2Feeder 1


Peter Ziek
Wld Hair Alpacas

Association Benefit Comparison
Benifit Comparison


Sincerely,
 Julie Averch
'Paca Parade Editor





ABR Board of Directors
Kim SawyerPresident
Becky Zierer Vice President
Ann Danielson  Treasurer
Lynn BoakSecretary
Barb Ziek Fiber Director
Peter Ziek Director Marketing Director   
Julie AverchCommunications Director    
Jerry KuziorEducation Director
Heather CramProgram Director   
Carl McGillPast President