OABA Alpacafest Show

It was a great family weekend, one of the few times we all four travelled together to a show without the kids bringing friends. Paul and I were very proud of how much the kids helped this time (Mirian even showed in halter), and we were home and completely unpacked by 8 PM. Thanks to the Ohio Alpaca Breeders for another well-run show!

We did well, and achieved my goal of not missing any classes since it was hectic to get 13 animals into the ring. Nearly all ribboned, and here were the highlights:

Gallantry (above) took a 1st in the beige juvenile male class.

Jolly Mon won 2nd in dark fawn yearling males, the 2nd youngest out of 15 in the class!

Optimist and Triton (two Michelangelo sons), took 2nd and 3rd in a huge white yearling class (Magical's male won the class and went on to Color Champion).

It was certainly not our best showing ever, but it's always tough at a big show in Ohio. We'd like to congratulate Al and Dawn Fox of Chardon Alpaca Ranch, buyers of our SSF Peruvian Starbright, as she took the Res. White Female Championship!

We had such a good time going out to dinner on Saturday night with our Ohio friends, something we don't always get to fit in at a show. That's one of the biggest bonuses of the alpaca business- the great friends we have made all over.

And... we are still waiting on Eyecatcher's cria!

Getting ready for OABA AlpacaFest

Today the vet came out to do health certificates for this coming weekend's Ohio Alpaca Breeder's Association (OABA) AlpacaFest Show in Columbus, Ohio. We are taking the most alpacas we ever have to a show (13), so it should be a crazy weekend! We have lots of alpaca friends and clients in Ohio so it's always so fun to reconnect with everyone.

What do we have to do to prepare? Health certificates and generally making sure everyone looks healthy are high on the agenda. Shows are stressful for the alpacas, so we try to be sure they're all in top form so we don't layer multiple stressors on the young ones in particular. This show requires only a vet check within 30 days (a minimum for all AOBA shows) as well as a BVDV test. Some states require additional testing for tuberculosis, brucellosis, or blue tongue.

Because alpacas love to roll and our Kentucky soil leaves a dusty, grimy look and feel on the fleece, we try to bring them to the barn about 4-7 days before the show to stay clean. Because we have been in a drought the past two summers, our pastures are dusty and dry with many "roll holes" that the alpacas have established.

One of the beauties of showing alpacas is that there is NO grooming, bathing, brushing or trimming of any kind to do! Grooming products or sprays are forbidden. The judges require that the animals be in "paddock condition" so that the natural state of their fleece can be evaluated. Again, a clean environment and then we may pick any large bits of hay, straw, or poop off before taking them into the show ring.

Halter training the weanlings so that they'll willingly walk without fear with a halter and lead is a must. We do find that actually going to a show and walking around the facility is awesome "on the job" training but they have to be able to at least walk. We also try to desensitize them to having their fiber and teeth examined (at a minimum).

Later this week I'll talk about compiling necessary supplies and other preparations we make for show. In addition, I'll post pictures of yet another girl we just had today!!!! (Still not Eyecatcher!) Yeah, last time we had a boy streak it was followed by a girl streak, so two in a row just may be the beginning, right?