2010 Alpacas In The News

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December 2010

Local couple makes its mark with alpaca farm
Illinois Valley News - Cave Junction, Oregon
By Darcy Wallace
December 22, 2010

"Sustainability" might be the buzzword of the last few years. But John and Christine Gardiner aren't just taking it at face value. On their alpaca farm, Suri Futures on River Road in Cave Junction, the Gardiners are testing sustainability limits by harvesting alpaca fiber for energy-saving warm clothing, selling alpaca to Illinois Valley residents and creating natural compost, to name a few.

"It’s a great time to be thinking about how much carbon each one of us is consuming," said Christine Gardiner. "It’s not just about making sales, but we like to think of it as creating a new [economy] to help people reduce their carbon footprints." Open day at Suri Futures farm usually gets a fair amount of visitors. But a downpour on Saturday, Dec. 18, and snow on Sunday, Dec. 19, kept most people indoors on this year’s opening day.

Christine and John Gardiner didn’t seem to mind. They still brave the elements each day to feed the alpaca, clean the barn and take the alpaca on quick walks outside.

About four times per year, the Gardiners open their farm to people in the area to see the alpaca and get an idea of how the farm is run.

Alpaca fiber products are becoming more popular and draw many local residents to the farm. After four years in Cave Junction, Christine is hopeful that the alpaca farm could inspire other residents to think about staying local to boost their own economy.

"Lots of messages I’ve been hearing around the Valley this month is that they want to buy things made locally," Christine said. "I want to buy something from a local artist. I’m not buying cheap bunk from Walmart anymore."

Alpaca fiber socks are some of the most popular products, especially in winter, with durable yet surprisingly soft material. The higher-end socks can run at $26, but since warm feet means warmer bodies for many people, Christine says the possible money saved on the heating bill makes up the difference.

"People spend that much on heat each month, and more, and much more," she said. Fiber products are not yet made on site, which is one thing the Gardiners are hoping to change in the future. They hope to soon travel to New Zealand to study fiber mills there and research how a local fiber mill could work in the area.

"This could provide family wage jobs [in the Valley]," John said.

The Sock Brigade
The Gazette-Virginian - South Boston, Virginia
By Paula I. Bryant
December 15, 2010

In her spare time now, our GV advertising manager and all-around animal lover, Donna Guthrie, has taken up raising Alpacas on her Nathalie farm. Although the furry animals are proving to be quite a bit of work, they also are providing hours of enjoyment for the Guthrie clan that has grown in recent years to include three precious grandchildren who will get a kick out of helping feed, scoop poop and tend to grandma’s nine alpacas.

Some may wonder what alpacas are good for.

The following release gave us a good idea how U.S. troops are keeping warm and dry thanks to alpacas back here in the states.

Alpacas provide ideal fiber for harsh conditions, and when Barbara Coleman asked her son, Army Sgt. Micheal L. Coleman, what he would like in his next care package to Iraq in January 2007, his request was simple: alpaca socks.

Barbara and Randy Coleman own Wings & A Prayer Alpacas in Amity, Ore., so the request was one she could easily fulfill.

Troops warmed by sock brigade
The Grant Tribune Sentinel – Grant, Nebraska
December 10, 2010

Alpaca provides ideal fiber for harsh conditions.

When Barbara Coleman asked her son, Army Sergeant Micheal L. Coleman, what he would like in his next care package to Iraq in January 2007, his request was simple: alpaca socks.

Barbara and Randy Coleman own Wings & A Prayer Alpacas in Amity, Ore., so the request was one she could easily fulfill. Their son went on to explain that since the troops were on their feet all day and had to withstand freezing temperatures at night, he would appreciate as many pairs of socks as she could send so that he could share the comfort of alpaca socks with his platoon.

Why Alpaca?

Because of its soft texture, alpaca fiber is sometimes compared to cashmere. Making the fiber even more coveted, it has the luster of silk.

Alpaca is one-third the weight of wool, yet just as warm, ensuring warm feet for the soldiers during the cold desert nights.

Containing no lanolin, alpaca fiber is also naturally hypoallergenic. Most people who are sensitive to wool find that they can wear alpaca without the itching or irritation they feel from wool because alpaca fiber is smooth.

Additional performance characteristics include: stretch, water repellency, and odor reduction. For travelers, clothing made from alpaca is desirable because it is wrinkle-resistant.

These characteristics are what made alpaca socks ideal for troops in harsh climates. The Colemans sent out a plea to alpaca farms across the country for the 24 necessary pairs of socks to provide a pair for each member of Micheal’s platoon. In a short time, over 1,000 socks were donated.

This began the Sock Brigade.

Through the BentStar Project Ltd, a California non-profit corporation formed to further the education of the public to the efforts of recovering POW/MIAs, the Sock Brigade has shipped over 9,000 pairs of alpaca socks to our deployed troops, and that number continues to grow.

The Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association (AOBA) has partnered with the Sock Brigade to help give soldiers warm feet, and more importantly, the reminder that they are not forgotten.

Local alpaca farms are encouraging customers to donate a pair of socks to our soldiers during this holiday season.

To further promote this wonderful cause, Lamb Chop now serves as the official "spoke sock."

Lamb Chop and Mallory Lewis, daughter of the late Shari Lewis, are helping spread the word that everyone can send socks–and comfort–to our troops!

For more information about how you can help, visit www.alpacainfo.com

11-year-old girl and her alpaca, Jasper, play Wildomar mayor for a day
South West Riverside News Network – San Diego, CA
By Rocky Salmon
December 5, 2010

Wildomar’s city hall got a little wild and wooly on Friday.

As part of the city’s Mayor for the Day program, 11-year-old Kalynn Turner and Jasper worked in City Hall then took a tour of the city. Those who met Jasper considered him sweet and adorable – and shaggy.

Jasper is a one-year-old brown alpaca. Kaylnn is her handler. Together the duo visit area hospitals, hospices and events to help those who are sick or sad. Jasper is an alpaca therapist and Kalynn is certified as his handler.

"To see an 11-year-old show so much compassion is such an amazing story," said Wildomar Mayor Bridgette Moore. "People see these two and they immediately change. You can’t help but smile."

Kalynn lives on an acre in the rural community. Her family has nine alpacas, four dogs, two pot-bellied pigs, two tortoises, a chicken, a bunny, and reptiles.

In 2009, Kalynn learned a friend and fellow alpaca rancher Dennis Miller was sick from cancer. She created a team for the Susan G. Komen Relay for Life and raised almost $5,000 for the American Cancer Society.

Miller passed away, but he left a lasting impression on Kalynn.

"He taught me all about alpacas," she said. "He told me that when he had cancer his alpaca was his best medicine. When I met Jasper I knew he was meant to be a therapy alpaca."

Kalynn said she noticed most alpacas are shy but Jasper loves people and is sweet. Sharon Turner, Kalynn’s mom, said Jasper is small by alpaca standards but does not spit or shies away from strangers.

"These two are perfect for each other," Turner said. "They are both quite different and it’s a wonderful thing."

 

November 2010

Make Way for the Alpacas
KFDA NewsChannel 10 (CBS) – Amarillo, TX
By Diana Crawford
November 26, 2010

Amarillo, Texas - A new type of ranching in the Texas Panhandle is bringing new opportunities to some people.

Terri Faver started out with only two alpacas, but she now has an entire heard. 21 of them to be exact. Raising these animals was supposed to be just a past time as she nears retirement, but it's turned into more of a business and a lifestyle.

The alpaca industry is all about breeding, and selling the fleece is up and coming. Faver says, "It doesn't look like there is going to be any downward trend. It is going up and up and its just on the beginning of the upward slide, so its really a great industry to kind of get involved in at this time."

Faver sheers her alpacas only once a year and sells the fleece through a co-op. These animals look similar to llamas, but there is one thing Faver wants to clear up. Faver says, "They do spit at each other but it's over food issues, but I've never had them spit at me. They don't spit at people. They would have to be provoked."

Faver says alpacas are very easy to care for, and they are shy, curious creatures. But they are good for more than just their coats.

Alpaca business booming across region
Norwich Bulletin – Norwich, CT
By Francesca Kefalas
November 06, 2010

At the first sounds of a visitor the herd starts to stir. Necks crane. Ears stand up straight and eyes focus.

Approach with a smile and a ginger pace and often the alpacas will come and take a much closer look.

Alpacas are taking up residence all across Eastern Connecticut. They are not just for hobby farmers, they are part of a growing industry in the region.

“When I started, there were 42 alpaca farms in the state,” said Linda Adelman, owner of Six Paca Farm in Bozrah. “Now there are well over 100.”

With 58 alpacas, two born just in the last week, Adelman has one of the bigger alpaca farms in the state. Dragon Fly Farm in Canterbury is close behind with 51 alpacas and five ready to be born this month. The largest alpaca farm in the state, Safe Haven Farm in Hampton, has more than 130.

Charlene Perkins Cutler, executive director of The Last Green Valley, said alpaca farms are springing up all across the region. There are at least 13 in the 35-town National Heritage Corridor known as The Last Green Valley, Cutler said.

‘Great demand’
“The fiber is in great demand,” she said. “It seems like every where you look there are alpacas.”

Alpacas prove easy to raise on Redding ranch
The Record Searchlight – Redding, CA
By Marc Dadigan
November 1, 2010

Karen Kelly stepped outside on her sun-soaked property northeast of Redding, carrying a bucket of feed in one hand and cooing, “Come here, girls. Time to eat.”

A number of blinking alpaca heads popped up from the grass they were nibbling and eyed her shyly. Slowly, the fluffy and swan-necked creatures approached her with a timid curiosity before greedily ducking their head into the bucket or nibbling the pellets from Kelly’s hand.

‘They’re very gentle, beautiful and peaceful animals,” said Kelly. “Someone once told me spending the day here watching them was like a day at the spa because they’re so relaxing.”

Kelly once raised cattle with her husband on their sprawling, undulating land, but after she retired as a manager of a local DMV she was looking for a change.

She now has about 70 alpacas that graze and meander her Arapaho Rose Alpaca Farms where she sells products, such as sweaters, blankets and yarn made from the alpacas’ famously soft wool. The main thrust of her farm’s business, however, is in breeding. She works to produce genetic stock with a high-quality wool that other would-be farmers will want to use to jumpstart their own alpaca businesses.

“I’m looking to breed the best of the best,” she said. “You want to develop a fabric that’s very soft and luxurious and not scratchy. Alpaca wool isn’t itchy like wool, and that’s why it’s popular.”

Alpaca wool is also warmer than sheep’s wool, she said, and doesn’t contain the high levels of the oily lanolin found in wool and which must be removed using harsh chemicals. Alpacas have very few teeth and rarely tear grass from its roots when they eat. This makes alpaca farms far easier on the environment than cattle, Kelly said.

October 2010

Family praises alpaca experience
SWVA Today – Saltville, VA
By Stephanie Porter-Nichols
October 15, 2010

Sheri Bansemer says she’s intimidated by large livestock, but as she pulled on her brightly striped muck boots and headed through the barn, guiding a group of alpacas into a field, it became apparent she feels differently about these creatures. Her young sons showed no hesitation either, easily allowing the alpacas to eat from their hands.

The Bansemers brought the herd of eight to their small Marion farm from Ohio this spring. Already, each one has its own name, and Sheri can describe their individual personality traits.

She lauds their collective gentleness and curiosity. She’s learned when their ears are back, the alpacas are concerned and cautious. When the ears come forward, they’re curious. Sheri confirms that alpacas will spit, but she says usually at each other, not people. Occasionally, she said, they will kick, but because their two-toed feet aren’t hooves and are covered with a soft pad, the contact isn’t especially painful.

Sheri appreciates that alpacas are low-maintenance, requiring only about 30 minutes a day of care. One acre can sustain up to 10 alpacas. There’s not even much of a mucking issue. The highly social herd members who do most activities together all use the same spot, and the pellet-shaped manure can be applied directly to a garden.

They do have to vaccinate the herd regularly to protect them from a worm spread by whitetail deer and secure them with fencing to guard against coyotes and foxes.

To provide the farm experience that Sheri and her husband, Andrew, wanted for their boys, 6-year-old Micah and 2˝-year-old Nathan, she believes alpacas were the best choice. She talked about the importance of the learning experiences as Nathan called out to share a discovery he’d made in the field, and Micah was anxious to let chickens out of their coop. The children helped raise the chickens and are now getting to gather the first of their eggs. Micah experienced the peck of a chicken’s beak Monday, but easily laughed in response.

In addition to the benefits for her children, Sheri is excited about the possibilities associated with the alpacas’ fiber. She hopes as the alpaca population grows in the United States, the fiber market will also grow and allow operations to become self-sustaining. Alpacas were introduced in the U.S. from Peru in 1984. The Alpaca Breeders and Owners Association estimates about 100,000 alpacas are registered in the U.S. They are two breeds, Huacaya and Suri. The Bansemers’ herd is made up of Huacaya alpacas, which produce a woolly fiber. The Suri yield a silky fiber.

Sheri explained that the fiber is stronger and seven times softer than sheep wool. Individuals, she said, who have a wool allergy can usually wear alpaca fiber. The Bansemers have been working with the closest fiber mill, one in Richmond, to process their fleece. The alpacas can be sheared once a year.

Sheri can look at her basket of alpaca fiber and name the animal that produced the individual skeins.

MotherEarthNews.com
Charlotte Kymer: My Experience at the MOTHER EARTH NEWS FAIR
By Charlotte Kymer
October 13, 2010

The FAIR was a ton of fun once you got over the initial shock of the crowds. There was plenty of livestock to be viewed as seen in my pictures. An animal that I have never considered raising, the alpaca, was present and actually very interesting. The fiber harvested from them is softer and warmer than that of a sheep. It is also an environmental choice for livestock because of their short tongues (which do not pull up plant roots while grazing) and their padded feet (not hooves that may tear up the grazing area). Also in my images, you will see a few of the displayed ways of pumping water without the use of non-renewable resources, such as gravity-fed and river-flow pumps. There was even a windmill present.

Teen a key member of alpaca farm operation
LaCrosse Tribune – LaCrosse, WI
By Autumn Grooms
October 02, 2010

TOWN OF GREENFIELD - Fourteen-year-old Grace Weber saw potential in the alpaca's high frequency, spongy, dense fleece.

Her mom, Brenda Weber, didn't consider the animal's coat an all-out winner. But the animal came through during judging at the Spring Bling in Neenah.

"I knew she would do well," Grace said of the alpaca known as Gracie's Girl. "She ended up getting a reserve champion."

Brenda said her daughter is the "fleece expert" at Blue Ridge Alpacas, in the town of Greenfield. Her knowledge has been helpful to bringing top alpacas to their farm. Each time a new alpaca is added, Brenda researches the animals, receives fleece samples and looks at bloodlines. And she gets Grace's input.

"There is a lot to it," Brenda said. "It's nice to have another set of eyes."

Blue Ridge Alpacas started with three animals - Mikayla, Marmalade and Oreo - three years ago after Brenda saw a newspaper article about alpacas. Grace figured it would be an unrealized idea, but their numbers have grown to 20 at the ridgetop site.

Each alpaca has its own personality, and Grace and Brenda have gotten to know them. Grace spends her evenings and weekends tending to the animals and she says the effort is worth it.


Living among the alpaca: Local ranchers share their love of the fuzzy creatures with young & old
Paso Robles Press – Paso Robles, CA
By Hayley Thomas
October 01, 2010

A few years back, Los Olivos-based Alpacas at West Ranch owner Hayley Jessup ushered a few male alpacas into her roomy Suburban and prepared for a routine trip to the Santa Maria Fairgrounds, where she planned to show off the animals. Then she stopped at her first red light – next to a local framer in a pickup truck, likely en route to the same destination.

“It wasn't a double-take or a triple-take; It was a quadruple-take,” said Jessup, who still marvels at the fact that the trio managed to stick their heads out of the SUV in unison.

According to local alpaca owners like Jessup, the fluffy herd animals deserve a double-take, and not just for their somewhat unusual looks (bushy head, long legs and expressive, camel-like face), but because the South American natives fill a niche on the Central Coast.

According to Jessup, although the animals are known to graze at an elevation of about 4 to 8,000 feet back home, the Central Coast's warmer days and cooler nights mimic the climate of their natural habitat in the Andes of southern Peru, northern Bolivia, Ecuador and northern Chile.

“We shear them in the spring so they loose the bulk of their coats during the true heat of the summer,” said Jessup, who calls her 12-year love affair with the animals “a wonderful journey.”

Last weekend, alpaca farms spanning the country honored National Alpaca Farm Days, a two-day event celebrating the animals' companionship, personality and super soft fiber. During the festivities, children were encouraged to get acquainted with the animals, and potential buyers were educated on their care and keeping. According to Jessup, the animals are low maintenance in terms of cost and care.


September 2010

Celebrate National Alpaca Farm Days at local farms
Siskiyou Daily News - CA
By Jamie Gentner
September 24, 2010

Siskiyou County, Calif. — After feeding him, Rick Shipley leaned over and received a kiss from Benji.

During National Alpaca Farm Days this weekend, you, too, can get a kiss from an alpaca. Alpacas, cousins to the llama, are native to the Andean Mountain range of South America, particularly Peru, Bolivia and Chile, according to a press release from the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association (AOBA). The United States first commercially imported alpacas in 1984.

There are now over 150,000 Alpaca Registry, Inc.-registered alpacas in North America, according to the AOBA.

Two types of alpacas – distinguishable by their fiber – can be found in the United States. The Huacaya – the more common of the two – has a fluffy, extremely fine coat. The Suri has fiber that is silky and resembles pencil-locks.

The soft fiber is often compared to cashmere and has the luster of silk, according to the AOBA. Usually shorn every 12-18 months, alpacas produce fiber that is hypoallergenic, water repellent and smooth.

Many local alpaca farmers are giving residents the opportunity to learn more about alpacas, their fiber and the industry during National Alpaca Farm Days, which will be celebrated Saturday and Sunday,?Sept. 25-26.

Lehigh Valley Girl Scouts and their alpacas to dance on 'Letterman' Thursday
The Morning Call – Allentown, PA
September 23, 2010

Six Lehigh Valley Girl Scouts and their alpacas will perform a song and dance routine on "Late Show With David Letterman," at 11:35 p.m. on CBS Thursday.

The group, all members of the PACA Patrol, a Girl Scout interest patrol that focuses on the care of alpacas, went to New York City Thursday for taping a short segment that will appear shortly after the show begins.

The girls and their alpacas will showcase their "Top Hat & Tails" dance routine which they performed in April at the MAPACA Jubilee in Harrisburg.

Alpaca among lush, luxurious fibers for fall
Herald Times Reporter News - Wisconsin
By Deanne Schultz
September 19, 2010

Known for a touch that whispers against the body, luxury fibers like alpaca and cashmere open a whole new dimension in elegant, indulgent dressing.

Toss an alpaca ruana around your shoulders and, instantly, your look is elevated from ordinary to sublime.

A silken cashmere sweater offers endless versatility. Whether it's paired with jeans or refined dress pants, it lends a special, polished feel.

Although items made from these fibers often command a higher price, that expense is offset when warmth, durability and heirloom-quality are taken into account.

Wade Gease, of LondonDairy Alpacas in Two Rivers, is one of the nation's leading alpaca judges and an industry consultant and speaker. He said that two types of alpacas — Huacaya and Suri — produce the fibers famous for their durability and insulating qualities.

Under his watchful eye, fibers are sorted based on uniformity, degree of fineness and length, and each type of fiber can result in vastly different products.

"A blanket fleece that is the most fine is from the midsection," he said. "That would go into yarn made into sweaters or scarves, something that's right next to your skin."

Gease said neck or leg fibers, while not as fine but still of excellent quality due to their strength and thickness, can be spun into thicker yarn for use in socks or rugs.

Under its Alpaca Threads website, LondonDairy offers a wide selection of alpaca products. From yarns to slippers to fabric for customers to make their own special pieces, Gease said alpaca's versatility lends itself well to many projects.

"The warmth is one of the most talked-about benefits," Gease said. "It's the strongest natural fiber, which results in longer-lasting items."


August 2010

Brown County Ranch Finds Unusual Way to Help Soldiers Overseas
WGBA-TV – Green Bay, WI
August 17, 2010

It began as a soldier's simple request, a pair of socks from home. Now, it has spun into a nationwide campaign to help troops overseas. It's called socks for soldiers and its four-legged members are turning out supplies by the thousands. .

Olivia the Alpaca is reporting for duty. One of 27 animals on the Sabamba Ranch south of De Pere, that contributes to the Socks for Soldiers campaign.

Sally Schmidt says, in extreme weather conditions, alpaca fiber is best. "It's a hollow core fiber, so it insulates using air, and air will insulate against the heat or the cold."

Sally takes her alpacas on the road, promoting her products and her cause at county fairs. "We have a little box we set out. People put in money, and we use that money and send it to a group called the sock brigade."

The Sock Brigade has already shipped six thousand pairs overseas People like Tim Laux of Appleton say they're glad to help. "Anything we can do to help the soldiers across, in Afghanistan and Iraq is a good thing. Socks are good."

The alpacas are sheered once a year, and can contribute to the cause in the Spring. And with a goal of three pairs of socks for every soldier, even the youngest alpacas are training to do their part.

Alpaca farmers aim to introduce the finest fleece
An alpaca farmer in Palisade is working to make his fleece the next fabric of your life.
KKCO-TV - Grand Junction, CO
By Kelly Asmuth
August 14, 2010

PALISADE, Colo. (KKCO) - The South American alpacas at SunCrest Orchard in Palisade are on a permanent vacation, munching and sunbathing the day away. Their only job is to grow some of the finest fleece in the world.

"It's eight times warmer than wool. It's hypoallergenic and naturally fire retardant. It's half the weight of wool, and it's also stronger than wool," says SunCrest Orchard owner Mike McDermott.

Less than two years ago, McDermott traded a career in construction and land surveying, for a herd of gentle coworkers. "With the economy, when it started going south, they laid me off. Then this became full time business," he says.

McDermott says his family thought raising exotic animals was... an exotic idea. "At first they thought I was nuts," says McDermott.

But now SunCrest Orchard is stretching out the fiber. "He just looked forward and kept trudging on and this is what came about," says Diana McDermott, Mike's mother. She says she enjoys helping her son work in the mill.

McDermott even invented a tumbler to rid dust from the fleece. The fiber is then washed, blown, stretched and spun.

Veg Love & Alpaca Adoration For Nicole Kidman On Her Family Farm
ecorazzi
By Elizah Leigh
August 06, 2010

In her recent Interview Magazine conversation with Nine co-star Marion Cotillard, Nicole Kidman revealed her earthy side and appreciation for the simple things in life, saying: “Where we live now, in Nashville, we support the little local farm up the road. We get them to give us vegetables and fruits that are in season and that’s what we eat.” In addition to supporting locally grown eats, Nicole and her husband — chart-topping country musician Keith Urban – split their time between a 36 acre farm located on the outskirts of Nashville and a 100 acre Australian cattle ranch.

Depending on what part of the hemisphere they’re living in at the time, the Oscar winner finds farm life a thoroughly joyful experience, often savoring the fruits of her labor alongside her daughter Sunday Rose who is a huge fan of “eat(ing) out of the garden.” Although she gets a thrill out of noshing fresh picked corn, Kidman gets even more ecstatic about her new additions to the family – quirky looking alpacas, which are curious, gentle and highly social “cousins of llamas” with long necks and even longer eyelashes.


July 2010

Outstanding in their field
Farms welcome visitors to their pastures on Open Farm Day
The Portland Press Herald – Portland, Maine
By Melanie Creamer
July 26, 2010

POWNAL - Four-year-old J.T. Pound and his brother Drew, 2, peeked over a fence at Upper Farm Alpacas on Sunday to get a closer look at the inquisitive animals.

"We came here to learn a little more about alpacas and to entertain the kids," said their father, Kris Pound, who raises geese and chickens at their home in Durham. "It's good for the kids to be around animals and farms."

The alpaca farm was one of dozens of farms across Maine that opened their barns and pastures to the public, promoting agriculture as part of the annual Open Farm Day.

Greg and Nicole Carter, owners of Upper Farm Alpacas, said they began their business in 2005 with the intention of getting only a few alpacas for the fiber they yield. She said the more research they did, the quicker they fell in love with alpacas

The Carters wound up with nine alpacas and started breeding them. They now have 36 alpacas on their 125-acre farm.

They breed, buy and sell alpacas, and also turn their fur into a fiber product that is spun in local mills and sold by the Carters at local farmers markets.

"We fell in love with these guys," Nicole Carter said. "They get into your heart and just seize you. They are very intelligent and curious. You can see a lot by looking into their eyes."

Alpacas debut on stage at Fayette County Fair
Record Herald – Washington CH, OH
By Debra Gaskill
July 22, 2010

For the first time in Fayette County Fair history, alpacas were on display as a 4H project Wednesday.

Eight 4H members brought their animals in the ring in a non-competitive show to learn showmanship techniques from judge Debbie Shellabarger, Xenia.

The alpaca and llama project is one of the newest 4H projects and one that is growing in popularity.

A uniform project and project book was approved in 2008 by Ohio State University Extension. While other counties, such as Clark, Warren Greene and Tuscawaras counties had llama and alpaca projects, each often had to use their own resources and design their own projects.

Most people make the mistake of thinking llamas and alpacas are the same animal. While they are cousins and share some similarities, there are differences.

Llamas can be up to 400 pounds and have banana-shaped ears; female alpacas weigh about 150 pounds full grown and the males will weigh about 200 pounds.

Alpacas are considered full grown once they are 2 years old. Females can begin breeding at around this time and, once they are pregnant, will carry the baby (called a cria) for around 11 months.

There are two kinds of alpacas - Huacayas (pronounced whu-KAY-uhs) and Suris (pronounced sir-EE). The 4H members showed Huacaya alpacas Wednesday.

Baby ‘McDreamy'
The Gazette-Virginian
By Paula I. Bryant
July 7, 2010

After years of plotting and planning, Gazette-Virginian Advertising Manager Donna Guthrie's dream has finally come true.

A few years ago Guthrie and her son, Clint, attended an open house at an alpaca farm, and ever since she has dreamed of owning her own small herd of alpacas.

Her dream finally came to fruition a few weeks ago when she and her husband, Lester, purchased three female alpacas, one of which was expecting in June.

The baby boy alpaca or cria, as they are called, was born on July 1, coincidentally on the Guthrie’s 32nd wedding anniversary.

The new cria has been named Piney Ridge's Dream Come True and will be called "McDreamy".

Baby McDreamy weighed in at a whopping 20 pounds, was standing and nursing within an hour or so of his birth, and is sure to be a real heartbreaker when he's grown, the new owners report.


June 2010

Furry friends from Peru
Timmins Daily Press – Ontario, Canada
By Chelsey Romain
June 28, 2010

At Dream Acres the livestock grazes lazily about, going about their day without a care in the world.

While you will find chickens, there are no cows and horses roaming the grounds, but an animal usually found deep in Peru.

Gary and Jo-Anne Burton started raising alpacas two summers ago, finally fulfilling Jo-Anne's dream of being a farmer. What started with nine of the llama-like creatures has grown to include 19.

The Burtons purchased their farm, just west of Matheson in 2006, and after fixing up the area to house the animals, purchased their first nine males in July 2008.

"We were living out of the country and I saw an ad in a magazine," Jo-Anne Burton said. "I can watch them all day, they are so calming.

"They are all different animals, with their different personalities."

While alpacas are known to be eaten in their native South America, the Burtons raise their herd strictly for fibre. They are only one of two area alpaca farms and were the first this far north in Ontario.

"They are from Peru, but they are found in the Andes Mountains, so the cold here doesn't really bother them," Burton said. "In the winter they have six to eight inches of fleece so they are very well insulated."

The males and females, two of which recently gave birth while another two are pregnant, are kept in different areas of the property because a female can become pregnant at any time. Once they do their gestation period can last more than a year.

A sweater on four hooves
Chapel Hill News
By Deborah R. Meyer
June 6, 2010

In 1995, animal lover McCarthy began thinking about leaving her job as a corporate marketing professional.

"I started doing research and tried to find livestock profitable enough to have a career with," McCarthy said.

McCarthy's main criterion was that the animals not have to be killed for that profit. "The llamas didn't do it for me, or the sheep. Then I found alpacas,"McCarthy said. She discovered them on the Internet on a Tuesday and three days later drove to Estes Park, Colo., from her home in Texas for an alpaca show.

"I loved them right away," she said. "They are cute, so there is an emotional appeal about them. Their fiber is excellent and comparable to cashmere."

Alpaca fiber wicks moisture away from the skin. It comes in 22 different shades, so it doesn't need to be dyed. It is soft and relatively hypoallergenic, low in oil content and easy to scour and clean.

"It is naturally flame retardant too," McCarthy said. "One of the things we are finding is that firemen love it since it doesn't melt against their skin and it insulates against heat."

Local Alpaca herd helps with oil spill
Providence Eyewitness News
By Melissa Sardelli
June 2, 2010

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (WPRI) - A local farm thousands of miles away from the Gulf Coast oil spill is doing its part to help contain the devastating disaster.

Once the owners of Glen Ridge Farms learned they could help, they immediately signed up and they're hoping that others will help as much as they can.

The Alpaca herd at Glen Ridge Farm has a higher calling. Their fleece or fiber will be used to help clean up the oil in the Gulf of Mexico.

Ann Fiore and her husband Kevin own the farm where Alpacas are bred and their fiber harvested. They received an email about how Alpaca fiber can help clean-up the oil in the Gulf.

"The minute we saw the email it was compelling that we knew we had to participate," said Ann Fiore.

Within 30 minutes they were committed to donating a good portion of their Alpaca fiber. "I know we have over a thousand pounds."

The Alpacas were all sheared last week and now Ann and Kevin are waiting to ship the fiber to the Gulf. The ultra soft fiber would normally be used to make a sweater or a pair of socks. But, this year most of it will be used to absorb oil.

"So often there's these incredible situations that occur and you feel helpless. You can't participate and the minute something comes in, and we feel useful. We felt like we could make a difference. It was a no-brainer."

May 2010

More older Americans start own business
USA Today
By Laura Petrecca
May 25, 2010

…The idea of starting a new business can also come after a chance meeting with someone who has an interesting job or pastime.

A customer who bought a slew of dock lines from boating store West Marine inadvertently steered Thomas and Connie Betts toward a new profession. Thomas, an operations manager for the retailer, asked about the large purchase — and the customer said he was using the rope for his alpaca ranch.

"I said, 'What's an alpaca?' " recounts Betts.

But the more he learned about the mild-mannered animal, and the value of its soft fleece, the more interested he became.

He and Connie, ages 55 and 56 respectively, researched the animals and took classes on raising alpacas. They moved to the Hood River, Ore., area, where they had yearned to live, and started Cascade Alpacas of Oregon.

"It's been a lot of fun," says Connie. "We love our alpacas."

Not always smooth sailing

The Bettses are enjoying their business — and making a profit — but it took extensive effort to get to that point. Tom and Connie continued to work at different jobs so they had funding as they got the ranch going, and Connie still holds down a separate full-time job so they have extra money coming in.

"It sounds really simple to say 'I'm going to start my own business, ' " says Deborah Russell, AARP director of workforce issues. "But it's a huge undertaking, and it needs to be taken seriously."

Russell says that making a vocation change at midlife comes with decision-making stress such as how to fund a venture without risking a retirement nest egg.

Entrepreneurs in their twenties and thirties have decades to make up lost money if a firm fails. But older owners simply have less time.

The Bettses said they mapped out several "worst-case scenario" situations when they decided to go ahead with the alpaca ranch. "With alpacas, it's not a get-rich-quick scheme. It can take years" to make a profit, says Connie. "We said, 'What's the worst that can happen, and can we live with that?' "

Fluffy alpacas to strut their stuff
1,200 animals expected at event at coliseum
Fort Wayne, IN
By Bridgett Hernandez
May 21, 2010

The Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association will hold its National Alpaca Show at Memorial Coliseum this weekend.

About 1,000 breeders, vendors and volunteers from all over the U.S. as well as Canada, Peru and Australia will participate in the show, according to association spokesman Jerry Miller. This is the group's 19th year for the event and the first time it will be held in Fort Wayne. The event will showcase more than 1,200 alpacas.

Events include an auction, show ring competitions, fleece competitions, and vendors offering alpaca fleece products and alpaca-themed items.

“An alpaca is a cousin of the llama and camel,” association spokeswoman Cindy Berman said. “They are raised in North America for their fiber. They come in 22 colors.”

Guests will also be able to talk to breeders and get a closer look at the animals.

Coliseum welcomes National Alpaca Show
WANE – CBS
Fort Wayne, IN
May 21, 2010

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum will showcase over 1,000 alpacas from breeders, both local and from around the country, May 21- 23.

The animals will be featured in the show ring competition. The show will be comprised of classes judging conformation and fleece quality in many categories for both Suri and Huacaya alpacas.

Artisans will showcase alpacas fiber and examples of: hand-spinning, weaving, shearing, felting, fiber arts, and more. Dozens of vendors and farm displays will sell the latest alpaca fashions and hand-crafted items.

April 2010

National alpaca show coming to Fort Wayne in May
Fort Wayne Daily News – Fort Wayne, IN
April 24, 2010

FORT WAYNE — The premiere alpaca show in North America, the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association (AOBA) National Alpaca Show is coming to Fort Wayne in May.

Alpacas and alpaca enthusiasts, as well as fiber art enthusiasts, will gather from across the country for the National Alpaca Show at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, from Friday, May 21 to Sunday, May 23.

Admission is free and open to the public. Parking is $4 per car. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

The event will showcase more 1,000 alpacas from breeders both local and from around the country. The animals will be featured in the show ring competition. The show will be comprised of classes judging conformation and fleece quality in many categories for both Suri and Huacaya alpacas. the two most common types of breeds found in the United States.

A Rural Reinvention
An Oregon ranch is a paradise found for Thomas and Connie Betts—and their alpacas.
AARP.org
By: Melissa Stanton

People from crowded cities or suburbs often imagine how nice it would be to live in "the country"—to have open space, beautiful views, a bountiful garden, or maybe even farm animals. Six years ago, when Thomas and Connie Betts left their life in a Portland Ore., suburb behind, they made that dream about country living come true.    

Although the couple had an idea of how and where they wanted to live, the key to realizing that dream—which they have achieved as the owners ofCascade Alpacas of Oregon—came entirely by chance. In January 2004, while Thomas was working as an operations manager for the boating retailer West Marine, a customer came into the store and purchased several dozen dock lines. When Thomas asked the man how many boats he had, the customer explained that he was using the rope for his alpacas.  

"What are alpacas?" Thomas asked.    

After relaying to Connie the man's story about alpaca ranching in Hood River, a rural community 70 miles east of Portland in the Cascade Mountain Range, she asked, "Does he make any money doing it?"   

"He says he does," replied Thomas.  

Intrigued, the Bettses started researching alpacas, which are llama-like farm animals native to the mountains of Peru. They searched the Internet, talked to alpaca owners, and attended a weekend seminar about alpacas.

After feeling that they had done their homework, Thomas, then 50, and Connie, 51, took the leap. In July, barely six months after becoming aware of alpacas, the Bettses sold the house they had lived in for a dozen years and used the proceeds to buy a 6 ˝-acre property and house in Hood River. That investment—and the purchase of seven alpacas, which were paid for by selling Thomas' beloved 41-foot racing sailboat—became a down payment on a new career and lifestyle. By year's end, Thomas quit his job in Portland, and Connie, a technical writer who could work from home, went part-time in hers.

Idea for autism help isn’t wild but woolly
Corpus Christi Caller-Times - Corpus Christi, Texas
By Elaine Marsilio
April 10, 2010

MATHIS — Tex was bred for his wool.

But it turns out the 10-month-old alpaca works well with youths.

Tex is one of a handful of alpacas at the Gulf Breeze Alpaca Ranch that are being considered for use in therapy for autistic patients at Driscoll Children’s Hospital, said Joan Bell, the hospital’s occupational therapy manager.

Brian Williams, 12, who has an autism spectrum disorder, led Tex on a halter and lead rope last week through a zigzag course, which Tex has been trained to use with autistic children.

Brian automatically was curious about the animal, and the two hit it off.

His mother, Lucy, said that sort of connection rarely happens for Brian, especially with people.

But as Lyn Christoph, who owns the ranch and trains the alpacas, showed Brian how Tex was haltered and how to lead him, Brian asked what the halter and rope were for.

He soon found out, taking the rope and walking Tex to the start of the course. Christoph yelled out to him that he was doing well. She pointed out to Brian’s mother that her son seemed to naturally lead the animal without thinking much about it.

“He felt this trust with the alpacas,” Brian’s mother said.

Christoph, who also is a member of Coastal Bend Autism Advocacy Inc., said she plans to bring a few of her alpacas to the fourth annual Autism Awareness Walk on Sunday to show how the animals can work with autistic children. The autism advocacy is sponsoring the walk.

Christoph taught her son, Andrew, 13, who has Asperger’s syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder, to work with alpacas as a form of therapy and self-esteem builder. Andrew, who has difficulty in one-on-one social situations and with some motor skills, has gained enough confidence to show his 2-year-old alpaca, Bubba, at livestock shows and win ribbons.

Bell said people with autism often have trouble with coordination, communication and sensation skills.

“This could be the technique to be the breakthrough for a certain child,” she said.

In the past, the hospital used horses and dogs as motivators for patients.

With alpacas, she said a child can benefit from activities such as gripping a halter or feeling the animal’s coat. In many cases, an animal works well in therapy, she said.

“An animal can be helpful because it is fun,” she said. “They are enjoying what they are doing.”

Meanwhile back at the ranch, Brian and Tex were halfway through the obstacle course when three or four other alpacas came to check out what was going on. Tex stopped in his tracks and Brian pulled lightly on the rope.

“He’s being defiant!” Brian yelled.

“They do that,” Christoph said, before showing him how to nudge Tex into moving again.

Tex and Brian went through the remaining cones.

“There we go. I did it,” he said, laughing and looking at Tex, Christoph and his mom.

Fiber student wins first place at National Alpaca Competition
Smokey Mountain News – North Carolina
April 7, 2010

Haywood Community College Professional Crafts Fiber student Angie Jenkins won first place in the textile category at the 7th Annual North American Student Design Competition of the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association. The awards ceremony was held in February in Nashville, Tenn. Jenkins was awarded a $1,000 scholarship and will be spotlighted in Alpacas Magazine.

In addition, two other HCC fiber students finished in the top ten out of over 40 entries. Yvonne Engler placed sixth and Deb Bartz placed seventh. HCC competed with other schools such as the Fashion Institute in NYC, Philadelphia University and the San Francisco Art Institute.

According to the National Alpaca website, the student design competition is designed to expose college-level art, fashion and textile design students and professors to the wonders of designing with alpaca fiber. In return, the next generation of designers will be entering the workforce with a positive awareness of this amazing luxury fiber that can be utilized throughout their professional lives.

March 2010

Alpacas provide calming effect for Vernon couple
North Jersey Media Group – New Jersey
By Janet Redyke
March 19, 2010  

When Glen and Shirley Dean began thinking about using their 30-acre farm for agriculture, they decided to raise some type of livestock, but exactly what type was at first unclear.

They toyed with the idea of sheep, goats, and even cattle, but all of these possibilities fell by the wayside when they encountered a pair of alpacas at the Sussex County Farm and Horse Show one year.

After researching this South American native, Glen and Shirley realized the alpaca was the best animal to raise on the property, which has been in Glen’s family since 1957. The farm was christened "Oasis Alpaca farm."

The definition of "Oasis," which is the original name of a video game created and designed by Glen years earlier, is a place that provides refuge and relief.

"The alpaca is a shy, docile animal, who is non-aggressive to people," Glen said. "They’re wonderful animals that can calm you right down after a hectic day."

Campbell family raises alpacas, educates others in Sherwood
Beaverton Valley times - Portland, OR
By Kristen Forbes
March 18, 2010  

Doug Campbell grew up in Lake Oswego and rarely had interaction with animals other than dogs and cats.

Suzanne Campbell (who was born in Maryland, grew up in Minneapolis, then moved to Oregon for high school and college) always loved animals. She received her bachelor’s degree in marketing and business management from the University of Oregon and became a human resources executive for Web MD, but her passion for animals led her to want to learn more about breeding. She visited farms and festivals with a quest to learn everything.

She began with angora goats on 1˝ acres of land in the mid-’80s. For the past 20 years or so, she’s been raising alpacas, which is what she had by the time Doug met her. Though Doug thought the animals were cute, he didn’t think he’d get attached to the idea of raising and breeding them.

When Suzanne started letting Doug name the alpacas, there was no turning back. An avid “Star Wars” fan, his first name selection was Chewbacca.

Today, the couple owns Alpacas of Oregon, a farm and barn store in Sherwood that specializes in the boarding, brokering, breeding and consulting of alpacas.

“I got involved because of the lifestyle,” Suzanne says. “Being in corporate America and having the opportunity to come home and interact with animals and relax and be calm is phenomenal. Not too many people get to do that. It’s much better than sitting and watching TV every night.”

Suzanne says that in addition to being a stress reducer, alpacas are also one of the greenest animals to raise. Unlike hoofed animals, alpacas have padded feet that are gentle on the land. They only have lower teeth and don’t pull grass by the roots. Alpacas are raised for their fiber, a renewable resource that grows yearly. Even alpaca manure has low emissions and can be used as a green fertilizer.

Visitors get a feel for alpacas at fair
Arizona Daily Star - AZ
By Jeffry Scott
March 11, 2010  

What started as a simple idea - an alpaca to keep a deer company - has, eight years and 29 alpacas later, turned into a business and a passion.

Sue Livingston, who with husband Peter owns Bosque Ranch, took a pair of 18-month-old alpacas, named Nephy and Ziggy to the Tucson Green Art and Farmers Market at the northwest corner of East Tanque Verde Road North Catalina Highway.

"We had an orphan deer, an Asian sika, that needed a companion," she said. "Well, they didn't like each other, so we got a companion for the companion (alpaca)."

Alpacas are herd animals and need companionship, and once the couple learned more about the animals, Livingston said, they bought others.

"They are such gentle, amazing animals," she said.

Ashley and Mary Schneider agreed as they walked around the pen with Nephy and Ziggy.

The two said they went to the farmers market primarily to see the alpacas.

"They are so cool," Ashley said as her mother took some photos.

February 2010

Slices of life: Brecknock family enjoys raising alpacas
Reading Eagle - Reading, PA
By Courtney H. Diener-Stokes
February 19, 2010  

When Bonnie and Paul Kerr and their five children moved to Brecknock Township in 2006, they decided they would like to make the most of their farm by raising animals that would be a good fit.
Previously, the Kerrs lived in West Grove, Chester County, in a home with a quarter of an acre.

"This is all new for us - a new adventure," Bonnie said of living on a farm.

Initially, this new adventure included deciding on what type of animals to raise. After contemplating horses, they realized they weren't the ideal match.

"The choice was narrowed down upon visiting the Pennsylvania Farm Show. "We went to the Farm Show in Harrisburg and saw alpacas and learned about them," Bonnie said.

They did their homework prior to acquiring any alpacas.

"We did research for a year and a half, visiting other farms and studying what we could about them," Bonnie said. "We wanted to make the farm a viable option, and this fit with our philosophy of not raising animals for meat."

As they were doing their research, they discovered many pluses to having alpacas.

"They are very gentle and curious and are not aggressive at all," Bonnie said.

They hum, so they are pleasant to listen to, they go to the bathroom in one area so they are easier to clean up, and they don't eat a lot."

They learned alpacas are easy to care for, and that was a big advantage.

In October 2007, they decided to go ahead and purchase seven alpacas to start their herd.

"Now we have 14, including three llamas," she said.

They bought llamas to guard the alpacas.

Their newest addition was a cria, or baby alpaca, born on Jan. 2. Another cria is on the way. Bonnie referred to a portion of their bank barn as a nursery, with a cozy setup complete with heat lamps.

Their five children, ranging from ages 9 to 20, help care for the animals, particularly with the day-to-day chores.

Alpaca to take over groundhog's job today
Cadillac News - Michigan
By Kayla Kiley
February 2, 2010  

TUSTIN - It may sound like someone doesn’t have their ducks in a row, but today a local alpaca - not a groundhog - will determine whether Michigan will have an early spring.

Holli Meier of Wind Crest Alpaca Ranch in Tustin decided to ditch the idea of a groundhog in Punxsutawney, Pa. seeing its shadow as an indicator of Michigan weather.

"Why do we let a groundhog in Pennsylvania say what the Michigan weather will be like?" Meier questioned.

That’s why Meier is holding a weather-determining event of her own on her Tustin farm.

Meier will walk Leo the alpaca out of the barn and remove his halter. If he looks around and returns to the barn, Michigan is in for six more weeks of winter, according to Meier. However, Meier said, if Leo remains outside for more than 30 seconds after his halter is removed, spring is just around the corner.

Madison Twp. farm's resident mow the grass, handle the wool-making
Newark Advocate - Newark, OH
By L.B. Whyde
February 1, 2010  

MADISON TOWNSHIP -- After years of continually mowing half of their 45 acres on Swans Road, Tim and Mary Jane Andersen decided to invest in livestock to cut down that mowing time.

Mary Jane Andersen grew up on a farm in Coshocton, so she was familiar with livestock, their needs and requirements. That's why she chose alpacas for their farm.

The South American animals, which are smaller than llamas, do not tear up pasture, fences or barns and are small and easy to handle. For Andersen, the most important benefit is they produce wonderful fleece.

The couple started raising the animals in 2003 and now have 15 that range in colors, including white, light brown, gray and black.

Andersen, who has been crocheting and knitting since she was 8, uses the fiber to make sweaters, vests, hats, scarfs, shawl, purses and baby booties.

January 2010

Curiosity sparked couple's endeavor
Sulphur Springs Country World News - Texas
By Mindy Riffle
January 25, 2010  

Despite both having successful careers at the time, Amy and Arlin McCroskie, owners of A and A Alpacas in Hunt County, decided 13 years ago they wanted more out of life.

After reading a newspaper article about alpacas, Amy suggested she and Arlin visit an alpaca farm to see the creatures for themselves. The next day, they visited a local farm and fell head over heels in love with the animals.

"Two weeks later, on my birthday, we bought our first four alpacas," Amy said. "That was 13 years ago, and we are still going strong with our alpaca business."

Now, both in their early 50s, they own and manage 157 animals at A and A Alpacas in Greenville, with the help of one full-time employee and one part-time employee.

They have both Huacaya and Suri breed types.

"Most breeders will have one or the other, but we love the fleece style of both breed types," Amy said.

To celebrate the connection between humans and natural fibre, the United Nations declared 2009 the International Year of Natural Fibres.

The goal is raising awareness about the value of natural fibres for both consumers and farmers, many in undeveloped nations whose meagre livelihood come from fibre produced by animals or plants.

Alpacas at ranch provide couple with fleece, fun
News OK - Oklahoma
January 19, 2010  

FLETCHER — The buffalo don’t roam at the Circle of Dreams Ranch, and the deer and the antelope don’t play, but a transplant from the Andes is making itself at home on the range.

The ranch’s owners, Galen and Therease Dacus, have been raising alpacas since 2002 and say their experience with the kid-friendly beasts — which provide fleece that rivals wool — has been rewarding and fun.

"We were traveling through New Mexico back in 2001 and drove past an alpaca ranch,” Galen Dacus said. "We decided to stop and check it out. The ranch had 150 to 200 alpacas and the ranchers there gave us the whole tour. We got a lot of information and it really got us interested in raising alpacas.”

Galen and Therease began their ranch with two female alpacas they bought from a couple in Shawnee.

"Tom and Judy Kania have their own alpaca ranch in Shawnee,” Galen Dacus said. "Once we decided to move forward with raising our own alpacas, we contacted them and bought our first two females. They were already pregnant and we were able to get a free breeding for both of them, also.”

"We basically got six animals out of the deal,” Therease Dacus said. "Now we have 27 animals, 14 males and 13 females.”

Spinning a good yarn
Guelph Mercury - Guelph, Ontario
By Johanna Weidner
January 1, 2010  

Ann Clayburn knows all her alpacas by name with just a glance at their furry faces.

Each alpaca on the Stratford-area farm has its own look, own personality.

“They are irresistible,” Clayburn said. “They’re so cute.”

But, to really appreciate the animal, she said, “you have to touch alpaca.”

Alpacas are prized around the world for their luxuriously soft fleece, which comes in a range of natural colours from ivory to deep mocha.

That fleece is harvested every year as the herd is rounded up for shearing.

“That is our crop,” said Clayburn, who owns the alpaca farm with her husband, Dan.

After being clipped from the alpaca, the fibre is carefully sorted according to quality, the debris is picked out by hand, and then it’s sent off to the mill for processing into yarn or roving for spinning by hand.

Every ounce is precious.

Natural fibres are still a valued commodity for both people who harvest and craft with it.

Many natural fibres — from animals like alpacas to plants like cotton — are grown and gathered around the world, much as they have been for thousands of years.

To celebrate the connection between humans and natural fibre, the United Nations declared 2009 the International Year of Natural Fibres.

The goal is raising awareness about the value of natural fibres for both consumers and farmers, many in undeveloped nations whose meagre livelihood come from fibre produced by animals or plants.

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