AlpacaGram 13.16 | 2026 AOA Board Election and Petition Nomination Process

2026 AOA Board Election
Petition Process Now Open

AOA’s annual election process is now underway. Board elections are an important part of how members guide the direction of the Association and support the long-term success of the alpaca industry.

Please help us thank the members of the 2026 Election Committee for their time and service: Beth Turner, Chair; Jim Head; Leslie Rebtoy; Brandon Sigler; and Bart Snyder. Their work supports a fair and transparent election process for the membership.

The terms expiring this year are Jennifer Hack, Sharon Milligan, and Mike Walsh.

Selected Candidates

The Election Committee has selected the following candidates for the 2026 AOA Board of Directors ballot:

• Rhonda Deschner, Tierra Prometida Alpacas • Texas
• Hillary J Devin, Shambalah Alpaca Ranch • Colorado
• Myndee Ebbers, Zinnia Fields Alpaca Farms, LLC • Oklahoma
• Tim Graber, North Plains Alpacas • Oregon
• Colette Peterson, Feather & Fur and Big Timber Alpacas • Washington
• Kristian Thordarson, Thordarson Farms, LLC • Oregon

Interested in Serving on the Board?

Additional candidates may be nominated through the petition process. A valid petition must include the signatures of at least 32 AOA members eligible to vote and must be delivered to the AOA Executive Director no later than 5:00 p.m. CDT on April 20, 2026.

Download the petition form on our website at www.alpacainfo.com/about/election.

Election Timeline

April 20, 2026 — Petition nominations close at 5:00 p.m. CDT
May 7, 2026 — Last day to become a paid member eligible to vote
May 13, 2026 — Online voting opens
June 3, 2026 — Online voting closes
July 2026 — New Board of Directors and officers introduced during the AOA Annual Meeting

Voting Eligibility

To vote in the upcoming election, you must:

• Be an AOA Primary, Business, or Industry Partner Member
• Be 18 years of age or older
• Own at least 25% of a live AOA-registered alpaca

Membership is held by individuals, not farms. Spouses or partners must maintain their own memberships to be eligible to vote.

If you have not renewed yet, log in to your member dashboard to renew your membership and confirm your voting eligibility.

Member participation keeps our organization strong. We encourage all eligible members to take part in the election process and help guide the future of AOA.