Here at Sugarloaf Alpaca Company we believe that the best tool in the shed is knowledge. It will make your alpaca business safer, easier and much more profitable. We started our alpaca operation after attending a three-day seminar at Mike Safely’s North West Alpacas in Oregon. We also continue to attend seminars and hands-on training on a range of alpaca topics including fiber, medical, health, breeding and genetics. By attending seminars at shows, auctions and those conducted by specific farms and breeders you can learn from the best.
It is also important to pair your learning in these semi-formal settings with a local mentor who will be available to answer your everyday questions and assist you through those ‘firsts’ that eventually come to all livestock breeders. We pride ourselves in mentoring those new to alpacas. Nancy’s University of Maryland animal science degree coupled with our combined decade of experience breeding and caring for alpacas give us much to share. Still, we don’t know it all and won’t pretend to. That’s why we will, from time to time, bring in the very best to present seminars. Listed below are seminars and training opportunities we can offer. If you arrived at this page from a link on our calendar then we have a specific date for the seminar. If you don’t see a date that works for you then drop us an email or call and we’ll see if we have one in the works or can schedule one around your availability.
June 5th and June 19th. Alpacas A-100 & A-200 seminars 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Part of the joy of breeding alpacas for profit and fun is being able to share that joy with new folks. We believe that the best tool in the shed is knowledge. It will make your alpaca business safer, easier and much more profitable. We started our alpaca operation after attending a three-day seminar at Mike Safely’s North West Alpacas in Oregon. Mike and his father were one of the original alpaca importers in the 1980’s. We also continue to attend seminars and hands-on training on a range of alpaca topics including fiber, medical, health, breeding and genetics. By attending seminars at shows, auctions and those conducted by specific farms and breeders you can learn from the best. In fact, we were mentored by Alan Cousill and Jude Anderson of Pucara International Alpacas and continue to have a strong relationship with them. They are among the very best suri breeders in North America. Jude is a senior US alpaca judge and Al is Mr. Alpaca in all other aspects of the alpaca industry.
It is also important to pair your learning in these semi-formal settings with a local mentor who will be available to answer your everyday questions and assist you through those ‘firsts’ that eventually come to all livestock breeders. We pride ourselves in mentoring those new to alpacas. Nancy’s University of Maryland animal science degree coupled with our combined decade of experience breeding and caring for alpacas and setting up a farm from scratch give us a unique ability to share the many lessons we have learned.
This spring we are offering a pair of introductory seminars that are geared towards those exploring the alpaca business opportunity and the alpaca lifestyle. It’s geared towards those who know next to nothing about the alpaca industry as well as those who have been exploring the business or who have recently gotten into the business. Our half-day FREE seminars are based on the experience of and materials provided by Al and Jude. Feel free to ix and match schedules on four topics:
A-100: “What’s This Alpaca Thing All About” and The Alpaca Marketplace” A-200: “Understanding Alpaca Genetics” & “Fiber Evaluation”
While you won’t ‘know it all’ when you leave the seminar, you will have increased your knowledge of the full range of the most important topics related to profitable alpaca breeding. In between the two sessions we’ll provide a light lunch to prepare you for the afternoon seminars, and, since it’s all about the alpacas we will be spending time ‘hands on’ as we take the classroom to the barn.
We will offer these seminars on June 5th and repeated on June 19th on our farm. We will start at 10:00 AM on Saturday and conclude by 3:00 PM each day. In between you’ll learn heaps about the alpaca industry as well as begin building relationships with others who share you interest. We’ll also make time during and after the seminars to answer all of your questions and help you begin to develop a business plan for your specific goals. All you need to do is RSVP by the Tuesday before your preferred date for these free seminars and come with an eager and enthusiastic mind. If you choose to go forward this is only the first step in our mentorship in your success!
