2018 November GLAA Newsletter

Thanks to a generous donation by one of our members, we were able to make a donation to the Farm Wisconsin Discovery Center in Manitowoc, WI.  GLAA made the donation and will be featured on a plaque on the permanent tower. We will be exploring alpaca marketing and promotional opportunities with the center to see what we can accomplish as a result of the donation.

UPCOMING ELECTION  There will be an open seat on the Board in this coming election. Please consider running for this open seat.  More information will be forthcoming, closer to the election.

FUTURE EVENTS

2019 GLAA WINTER SEMINAR

Great Lakes Alpaca Association is pleased to announce our next winter seminar on January 26th featuring Cheryl Gehly featuring Fiber 101 in the morning and Breeding Decisions in the afternoon.  Primary focus will be furthering every alpaca breeder’s understanding of the importance and identification of uniformity of micron!  It is all about fiber this year!

Seminar will again be held at UW-Madison in the Veterinary Science Building.

Cheryl GehlyOUR SPEAKER/INSTRUCTOR   Cheryl Gehly is a Senior AOA Fleece Judge, Judge Trainer and Instructor in the United States. She completed the International Alpaca Fleece Judging School in Peru in 2001. Cheryl is co-author of the AOBA judging and training book The Art & Science of Alpaca Judging. She is also co-author of the Suri Network Suri Herd Improvement Program (S.H.I.P.) Classification Form and is a certified classifier, evaluating conformation and fleece characteristics on suri alpacas throughout the United States. With 25 years as a teacher in her background, Cheryl has been an innovator for alpaca judge training since 2003 as chairperson of and liaison to the AOBA/AOA Judge Training and Certification Committee, responsible for establishing clinics for halter, fleece and oral reasons instruction. She is also a member and former chairperson of the AOA Judge Advisory Committee as well as being a judge liaison to the AOA Show Rules Committee. In addition to judging fleece shows throughout the US and in Canada, Cheryl teaches at breeder seminars throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

ATTENTION ALL SURI BREEDERS IN THE SOUTH/CENTRAL WISCONSIN AREA!!  Consider working together with fellow Suri Network Members to share lower costs by scheduling SHIP (Suri Herd Improvement Program) classifications at your farm(s) around the GLAA Seminar date.  Save on costs normally associated with having a certified classification of your herd such as travel, lodging and meals, and share classification fees.  Contact treasurer@greatlakesalpaca.com for scheduling information.

Cheryl Gehly is Lead Classifier/Trainer for Suri Network SHIP.  The primary goal of SHIP is to provide a variety of tools for herd improvement and management of Suri Phenotype and Fiber Qualities.  SHIP provides concrete, objective data about individual herds and the opportunity to advance the national herd using that data for breeding and purchasing decisions.  Detailed information at www.surinetwork.org/SHIP.

SEMINAR TOPICS

Fiber Characteristics 101    –     Morning Session
This seminar will focus on the fundamentals of fiber morphology.  Where does it come from?  Why does it matter?  Alpaca fiber components will be explored from the inside out in order to create a clearer understanding of how they contribute to general fleece characteristics.  Particular attention will be paid to fineness, density, crimp/lock, uniformity, and brightness/luster.

Breeding Decisions:  Selecting For Improvement  –  Afternoon Session
Knowing what you have, in order to select for improvement, is the key to making generational advancements in your herd.  Participants in this seminar will learn how to critically evaluate the fleece characteristics of a variety of female alpacas and make decisions on what needs improvement.  Many herdsire fleeces will also be available for assessment and matched to each female based on the potential for producing a positive gain in the offspring.   Bring your herdsire fleece with you to the seminar.

Host Hotel: Best Western Plus InnTowner, 2424 University Avenue, Madison, WI  53726, 608-233-8778, http://www.inntowner.com

Room rate will be $120 for Friday, 01/25/19.  This rate is only good until January 3, 2019.  When making your reservation, you must use the group code ALPACA to receive the discounted rate.  The hotel offers a shuttle service to the seminar, and there is also free ramp parking at UW.  Check in time is 3 pm and check out is 12 pm.  There are only 10 rooms in this block at this price.  Registration information will be available on the website with all the details near the end of November.

WISCONSIN ALPACA & FIBER FEST SPIN-OFF

Register for the WisAFF Handcrafters’ Spin-Off online at http://www.wisconsinalpacafiberfest.com beginning November 10, 2018.  Specific submission requirements will be available on the registration page and include a carefully-weighed 2 oz. sample, color photograph of the alpaca and a copy of the ARI Certificate.  Registration ends January 2, 2019.  The 2019 Handcrafters’ Spin-Off will be judged by AOA Certified Judge and excellent fiber artist Wini Labrecque.

If you have any questions or need help preparing your fleece for the spin-off competition, contact Chris Rogers at 920.337.0646 or send an email to secretary@greatlakesalpaca.com.

Spin-Off entries must be prepared and mailed by January 5 to:

Whisper Meadows Alpacas

C/O Christine Rogers

4451 Whisper Lane

De Pere, WI 54115