This is a shot of Evergreen Terrace Farm’s stall (with G.K. Willie) and farm display at the 2010 AFO show.

In this episode, we discuss our experience at a small, non-halter, fleece-only show in June 2010 in Eugene, Oregon. It was a unique experience partly because it was connected to the Black Sheep Gathering, a 30-year old event centered on sheep and fleece. It was a great draw for the public.

We heartily apologize for the sound quality of this episode. We are re-configuring our recording setup so we don’t have the same issues again.

Enjoy!

Music provided by Jim Soloway. Find him at http://www.jimsoloway.com/

Music provided by Jim Soloway. Find him at http://www.jimsoloway.com/

We continue the discussion of setting up alpaca pastures from bare land. This week, we talk about what we did, and what we should have done.

Highlights include:

• Old Smokey
• Our original time line
• Our cats knocking s*&t over while we’re recording

Music provided by Jim Soloway. Find him at http://www.jimsoloway.com/

Evergreen Terrace Farms circa 2003

Evergreen Terrace Farms circa 2009

In this episode, we explain our six steps to preparing bare land for an alpaca ranch.

1. Call your local extension agent
2. Prepare bare land for barn and pasture
3. Seed and fertilize pasture
4. Weed
5. Install fencing and barn
6. Graze animals on pasture once it is established.

We also promised links to our local extension office and soli and wter office to help you locate your own, local resources.

Link to Polk County Extension Office.

Link to Polk County Soil and Water office.

Music provided by Jim Soloway. Find him at http://www.jimsoloway.com/

In this podcast, we consider things like:

• fleece animal qualities (fiber boys)
• breeding stock qualities
• show stock qualities
• the importance of conformation and fleece
• the concept of “breeding up” a female
• why you don’t need a stud (but might want to buy one, anyway)

Here is a list of the alpacas we mentioned in the show with links to their pages on our website www.etfarms.com:

Consuella and her kids demonstrate the concept of “breeding up”:

Consuella

Milhouse

Consuella + Tocto

Lisa

Consuella + Peruvian Canadar

Manjula

Consuella + El Barto

Dr. Hibbert

Consuella + El Barto

How does a novice alpaca owner choose the right animals to buy?

In this podcast, we consider things like:

• general health of the animal
• disposition of the animals
• and why you need two alpacas

Then we begin discussing the different things to consider when buying animals for different purposes. We cover these kind of animals in this podcast:

1. Lawn/pasture ornaments or pets
2. Guard alpacas
3. 4-H animals

In part two of this topic (Paca Talk #24), we’ll discuss needs for fleece animals, breeding stock, and show animals.

Enjoy!

Today’s topic is our “problem child” Marge Simpson (Little Margie until she out grows the name). Her mom, Lisa, is a first-time mother, and so had a really tough time learning how to nurse her baby. The podcast lists our efforts.

More details can be found on our Evergreen Terrace Farm blog, at: http://et-farmsalpaca.blogspot.com/search/label/Lisa

Below are pictures and links to the alpacas we mentioned in the podcast.

Little Margie, One Day Old

Playing “Cuteness itself”

.

El Barto, Margie's Daddy

Playing the part of “The Stud.”

Lisa Simpson, Pregnant

Playing “The inexperienced mom”

Conclusion

This has been episode Number 22 of Paca Talk, the podcast for alpaca people by alpaca people. If you missed anything, check out our website at www.pacatalk.com. There are links to useful alpaca sites and good books for alpaca farmers of all experience levels.  Music provided by Jim Soloway. Find him at http://www.jimsoloway.com/

The New Format

Here’s the skinny: we could only produce our original 45-minute, multi-segmented behemoth of a podcast once every six weeks or so. We COULD produce a weekly 5-10 minute alpaca newscast weekly over the summer, but not now since school has started (Maren and Charles both teach at a university).

This has led us to change Paca Talk’s format. We aim to produce shorter episodes twice a month. The episodes will be comprised of the same segments, but not all at the same time.

Segments will include:

• Farm Basics
• Evergreen Terrace Farm Talk
• Alpacas in the News — though we’re limiting ourselves to the “quirky” items
• Main Topic — which will be split into “Interviews” and “Alpaca 101″

Our first new format episode should be on its way very soon! Thanks for listening, and keep on humming!

Check out our website at www.pacatalk.com. There are links to useful alpaca sites and good books for alpaca farmers of all experience levels. Music provided by Jim Soloway. Find him at http://www.jimsoloway.com/.

Alpaca Industry News

AOBA Member Death

It is with great sadness to let you know that Susan Ratti died after a brief illness. She had been sick for only a few weeks, and late last week Russell and Susan learned that she had metastatic cancer.

Susan and her husband Russell operate Affaire de Coeur Alpacas and have been members of AOBA since 2003. The Ratti’s are also members of Calpaca.

The family will be holding a  memorial for Susan at their farm in Oakdale, CA
Wednesday, 9/19.

Please keep Russell and their daughter, Micala in your thoughts and prayers.

AOBA Office

AOBA office welcomes Michael Trubee as Information Technology Manager

News from AOBA’s home office – Nashville, TN

We are pleased to announce Michael Trubee has accepted the position of Information Technology (IT) Manager for AOBA.  He officially started last week, though Mike has been with our staff here in Nashville since early June, when he was instrumental in getting our website up and operational along with securing our local and web-base database systems.  Mike has also outlined and documented our complete computer system allowing us to forecast strengths, weakness and future needs for IT.

Mike brings to the job over 16 years of direct technology management experience with a focus on team enhancing management, business, security, technology, computer operations and system administration.  His broad work experience includes, technical design and planning, managing operations and professional support teams, project management of network infrastructures, departmental budgets, disaster recovery, administration of customer and vendor systems, supervision of support, engineering, and technical staff nationally and internationally.

Mike’s extensive background fits perfectly in meeting the needs of our association’s information technology manager, supervising the overall growing needs and operations of our IT segment.  He will be responsible for all aspects of the association’s technical requirements including computer systems, websites, telecommunications and general association automation systems.

William A. Edmunds
Executive Director - AOBA

AOBA Fiber Committee Needs Volunteers

If someone asks you, “What do I do with this fleece,” and you know the answer, why not consider applying to join the AOBA Raw Fiber and Fiber Products Committee?

The Fiber Committee is a very dedicated bunch.  We share the mission to build public awareness and demand for alpaca fiber and products by encouraging members to improve the fiber they produce and by educating members on options for producing finished products.

We are looking for individuals who are enthusiastic and creative. We are currently working on the Alpaca Fiber Characteristics Study, Student Design Competition and creating protocols for spin off and fiber arts/skein competitions.

There are other ongoing projects that we feel will help our mission.  Committee members are assigned tasks that suit their background and abilities and all committee members are expected to participate.

The future of alpacas will definitely include the advancement of the fiber industry.  Our committee members are very passionate about this goal and all work very diligently to promote this part of the industry.

If you have a strong interest in fiber and are willing and committed to working toward promoting an alpaca fiber industry, then please log in to your AOBA account by clicking here and complete the membership application.

Thank you,
Raw Fiber & Finished Products Committee

Alpacas in Mainstream Media