tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448898489368252440.post3993626064681238410..comments2021-02-23T07:10:50.152-05:00Comments on Alma Park Alpacas LLC & The Yarn Shop at Alma Park™: Synopsis of the Build A Tent AOBA Meeting - 11/19/2010Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448898489368252440.post-44011273695098806892010-11-21T15:26:12.252-05:002010-11-21T15:26:12.252-05:00Rose,
One clarification within your excellent syno...Rose,<br />One clarification within your excellent synopsis: The North American Alpaca Fiber Producers Cooperative IS registered as a true agricultural cooperative as per IRS guidelines.<br />Pam<br /><br />Pamela Harwood<br />Longwoods Alpaca Farm, LLC<br />Cumberland, MEPamela Harwoodhttp://www.naafp.usnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448898489368252440.post-25952970737296537652010-11-21T15:16:52.377-05:002010-11-21T15:16:52.377-05:00Rose
Thank you for writing an overview so quickly ...Rose<br />Thank you for writing an overview so quickly and getting it out. Key to this effort will be using our collaborative resources to keep the communication flowing in a constructive and thoughtful manner. Your blog comments have certainly helped get us off on the right foot. <br />There will be a preliminary e-mail out on Monday to thank everyone who participated - both in Nashville and on the web. I have also looked at all the web comments and understand the points raised including "how to improve the management of web participant input". At this point I would like people to have a little time to talk to their various organizations and among themselves with a definitive statement as to "next steps" posted the week following Thanksgiving. <br />Again, thank you for blogging.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448898489368252440.post-52923252544701423312010-11-21T14:32:11.431-05:002010-11-21T14:32:11.431-05:00Yeah, Rose!
Very well summarized for those who wan...Yeah, Rose!<br />Very well summarized for those who wanted to attend but could not because of the dreaded, but very thankful to have in this economy 'day job'!!<br />Vickie Parker<br />Parker's Alpacas<br />4139 Highland Rd.<br />Melissa, TX. 75454<br />214-803-0420Parker's Alpacasnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448898489368252440.post-30873187122037002932010-11-20T23:19:07.190-05:002010-11-20T23:19:07.190-05:00Hi Rose,
I also want to thank you for taking the t...Hi Rose,<br />I also want to thank you for taking the time to write your synopsis and offer your comments. <br /><br />I've been in the alpaca business since 2003. I've thought from the very beginning that the alpaca industry needs an end product to survive. There's a finite number of people who want to raise alpacas and if all you're doing is selling animals at some point you're going to saturate the market. I think that day isn't far in the future even though those who still believe in only selling animals would argue. I equate the alpaca business with raising emu's. (most alpaca people will cringe when they read that!) The emu breeders didn't have an end product that the public wanted so their business died. I don't want to see that for the alpaca business.<br /><br />I agree that we are not in competition with other natural fibers, such as wool, mohair, cashmere, etc. Alpaca fiber is great but it does have it's limitations. Mixed with other natural fibers enhances alpaca and makes it more versatile. <br /><br />I think the biggest hurdle in developing a fiber industry is getting the majority of alpaca breeders "bought in". Convincing those who are in a "sell animal" mentality that they need to participate in a fiber industry will be difficult. I'm not sure how that can be done. <br /><br />It would be interesting to do a survey on why people didn't participate in the Build a Tent. I wonder how many breeders didn't participate because they aren't interested in a fiber industry. I didn't participate because I work full time to support the farm and unfortunately they chose a time during the day. <br /><br />Many alpaca owners don't trust AOBA for whatever reason so I believe that having someone outside the industry running the project would be beneficial. Plus if we could get someone with previous experience it would just save us lots of headaches. Why reinvent the wheel? <br /><br />Anyway I hope this is a turning point for the alpaca industry. It's needed, it's necessary and it needs to happen now. <br /><br />Thanks for keeping us updated and I look forward to future discussions about the fiber industry. <br /><br />Diane Creek<br />Meadowlark Alpacas<br />Topeka, KansasUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10018216438141657354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448898489368252440.post-71564780779606653032010-11-20T22:22:30.393-05:002010-11-20T22:22:30.393-05:00Rose
I appreciate the synopsis of the meeting- I ...Rose <br />I appreciate the synopsis of the meeting- I guess I did not understand that this meeting was an important meeting about the future of our fiber - I would love to be able to sell my fiber at my gate instead of spending a fortune on shearing, sorting and processing all of my fiber to get a very small amt of yarn that I have to sell at a high price because of the cost- <br /><br />Sherry Alpert <br />Awesome Acres Pacas & PrYrs<br />Oklahoma CitySherry Alperthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15085560065991144745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448898489368252440.post-37817581134611029362010-11-20T21:25:05.049-05:002010-11-20T21:25:05.049-05:00Rose,
Also, thank you for providing this overview...Rose, <br />Also, thank you for providing this overview. I also saw some of it on internet but had to miss the afternoon portion. I am really excited and I think other people are as well after reading and hearing all that is being said about what this industry really needs to be. I'm not a spinner, weaver, craft person or knitter, but I breed both suri and huacaya for the ultimate end result beautiful useable FIBER! I want to bag my clip, leave it at the gate and have it picked up and taken away. I want to know I am contributing to an industry that I am helping to build. Sure we too will keep some of our fleece for special projects. But what a feeling to be able to be a part of an industry that is growing more than we know it. I agree that they should hire a person that has been through the ups and downs of the fiber business and can educate and stear us in the right direction. Can't wait for more!<br />Laurie Findlay<br />Alpacas of El DoradoAnonymoushttp://www.alpacasofeldorado.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6448898489368252440.post-80059673637472896962010-11-20T13:41:37.942-05:002010-11-20T13:41:37.942-05:00Rose,
First, thank you for providing such a comple...Rose,<br />First, thank you for providing such a complete overview of yesterday's meeting. I also attended via internet invite. <br /><br />As a new farm and a lover of fiber I have to admit I'm totally surprised that the alpaca industry as a whole has not been and continues to fail in marketing the actual product which I also believe is FIBER!<br /><br />It seems to me that most people already in the business want to sell the animals themselves, speak on and on about the alpaca lifestyle, and fail to promote the benefits of the actual fiber. Many farms we visited prior to our purchase had little knowledge about the fiber aspects - microns, grades, what to do with it!<br /><br />I was further surprised to find on the list of attendees that I was the only one attending from Michigan! I believe as this necessary direction to promote the fiber industry is taken, we will have a long road to haul with getting the majority of the farms in the US on board as many that I have visited, facebooked with, met at shows and seminars etc are all geared to the "cottage industry" arena - that is IF they are selling their fiber, they are doing so at fiber festivals, on etsy, etc in an attempt to find immediate recooping of their monies to cover expenses.<br /><br />I'm not sure where the answer lies, but I certainly agree with you - I also would keep a small % for myself to use, but in the larger scheme of things, want to assist in driving the alpaca fiber movement forward.<br /><br />Thank you again for providing detailed information about the meeting and sharing your personal thoughts!<br /><br />Kathy Ainsworth<br />Clear Sky Alpacas<br />Carson City, MIKathy Ainsworth - Clear Sky Alpacasnoreply@blogger.com