“They say practice makes perfect, but persistence gets you an alpaca”
At the 2026 MOPACA Dual Show, Logan Youngblood had done what he often does at alpaca shows: cleaned stalls, asked questions, cared for animals, and looked for ways to be useful. For Logan, helping at shows is part of how he learns.
But this time, the day held a surprise.
Marc and Sharon Milligan, along with Cadence Rarden, owners of Red Granite Ranch, had something special planned for Logan. They were gifting him an alpaca named Persistence, affectionately known as Patchy.
At first, Logan did not realize what was happening. Patchy walked up to him before Logan knew the alpaca was his.
“He just walked right up to Logan and was like, ‘Hey, you’re my person,’” Logan's mom, Lisa, remembered.
When Logan finally understood, his reaction was simple.
“Crazy and excited,” he said.
For Logan, his family, and Red Granite Ranch, the moment was about much more than one alpaca. It was about encouragement, mentorship, and the kind of support that helps young people find their place in the alpaca community.
A youth member who kept showing up
Logan and his parents, Lisa and Joseph Youngblood, own Salt Creek Alpacas. Their family is in its second full year of owning alpacas, but Logan’s interest started before that.
At a county fair, Logan kept returning to an alpaca pen throughout the weekend. That interest did not fade when the fair ended.
“I bribed my parents into showing,” Logan said.
Lisa laughed as she described how alpacas entered their family’s life. “Owning alpacas was definitely not on my life bingo card,” she said.
But Logan was persistent. He had started showing before the family owned alpacas of their own, and his dedication eventually brought the whole family into the industry. Lisa said they would not have started this journey without Logan’s interest and commitment.
That commitment is exactly what others began to notice.
According to Cadence, Logan first started assisting Red Granite Ranch at shows a couple of years ago. He pitched in at the A-OK Dual Show in Oklahoma, TXOLAN, and the AOA National Show, while also supporting many other breeders. What stood out was the way he showed up: curious, attentive, and eager to learn.
“He has a genuine enthusiasm for alpacas, and his willingness to help others even if he is not getting anything in return,” Cadence shared. “He asks questions, pays attention, and truly wants to understand the animals and the industry.”
That made Patchy feel like the right fit.
Meet Patchy
Persistence, known around the barn as Patchy, was previously part of Red Granite Ranch’s show team. Cadence described him as one of the first alpacas to greet people and said his personality made him a special match for Logan.
“His personality makes him one very special alpaca,” Cadence shared. “He matches Logan’s enthusiasm and is something he could grow with as he continues learning.”
Patchy represents opportunity, perseverance, and a strong starting point for Logan’s journey as an alpaca owner. Red Granite Ranch hopes Logan learns not only how to care for Patchy, but how to evaluate quality, understand fleece characteristics, and make thoughtful breeding decisions in the future.
More than a gift
Lisa had known about the surprise since February. Keeping it quiet was not easy. By the time the gift happened, she said the moment still felt overwhelming — in the best possible way.
“It’s really encouraging to see that people see his worth outside the show ring and that they believe in him as much as I do,” Lisa said.
The gift was not based on one win, one class, or one banner. It came from the quieter things Logan had been doing all along.
Lisa said that kind of support means a lot, especially for youth who are trying to learn. “When our youth come and ask if they can clean your stalls or ask you questions or hold your animals, it’s not that they want anything from you except to learn from you,” she said.
For Lisa, the value of mentorship is clear. A lesson from an experienced owner can make a lasting impression. She shared one example from Red Granite Ranch, where Logan learned why the farm uses its own rakes and pans to help avoid cross-contamination. Suddenly, he was thinking more deeply about parasites, cleanliness, and animal health. Those everyday lessons matter.
Why mentorship matters
For Red Granite Ranch, supporting youth is part of giving back to an industry that has given them opportunities, mentors, and experiences.
“The alpaca industry has given me incredible opportunities, mentors, and experiences,” Cadence shared. “I would not be where I am today without the people who believed in me and invested in my success.”
This is why supporting Logan felt like a way to pay that forward.
Cadence emphasized that supporting youth does not have to mean gifting an alpaca or making a large financial commitment. Often, the most valuable gifts are time, knowledge, and encouragement. Established farms can invite youth to visit, answer questions, involve them in daily chores, explain breeding decisions, help evaluate fleece, or encourage them at their first show.
“Even a few hours of mentorship can have a greater impact than people may truly realize,” Cadence shared. The responsibility, they said, is not only to teach young people how things have always been done, but to help them find their own place in the industry.
Looking ahead
“Maybe end up AOA president,” he said.
It may have been a lighthearted answer, but it also says something important. Logan sees a future for himself in this community.
He also understands that learning begins with questions. When asked what alpacas have taught him, Logan said they have taught him to ask more questions—questions about why stalls need to stay clean, why certain practices matter, and why animals are judged the way they are.
That curiosity is exactly what Red Granite Ranch noticed. After receiving Patchy, Logan showed him for the first time in Youth Halter at the 2026 GWAS Dual Show, where they earned Reserve Color Champion. He also found success in Youth Performance. But Red Granite Ranch said the most memorable part was not the awards. It was Logan’s smile afterward.
He came back to their booth eager to share what he had done, proud of what he and Patchy had accomplished together.
“Moments like that remind us why opportunities like this matter,” Cadence shared.
When asked what he hoped people would remember from his story, Logan offered an answer that captured the whole moment.
“Sometimes little things like scooping poop can become very big things, like gaining animals,” he said. “Persistence pays off.”
In this case, it certainly did. Patchy may now belong to Logan, but the story reaches far beyond that moment. It is a reminder of what can happen when young people are welcomed, encouraged, and given room to grow.
For Logan, the gift is just the beginning. For Red Granite Ranch, it is a way to invest in the next generation. And for the alpaca community, it is a reminder that the future is shaped one question, one helping hand, and one mentor at a time.