Year End Tax and Business Plan Seminar

Mark your calendars for Saturday, December 5th as Peggy & Fred Kraft from Northwest Alpacas will be presenting their tax and business plan seminar just in time for year end tax planning.

Ideally, people who are considering purchasing their first alpacas will take this class before they spend their money. Most successful businesses start with a plan and we will help you create one for the alpaca business. But this is also a great class for anyone wanting an update on alpaca tax issues.

This class is being presented at Northwest Alpacas in Hillsboro, OR. There is a special year end rate of $25.00 so be sure to call or email Peggy or Fred directly to take advantage of this offer. Here is our contact info.

Peggy Stevens
Alpacas at Tucker Creek
peggy@alpacadigest.com
www.alpacadigest.com
877-915-0522 Toll Free

Fred Kraft
Northwest Alpacas
fred@alpacas.com
www.alpacas.com
877-788-3627

Look forward to seeing you on the 5th and feel free to send us any of your tax or business plan questions before or after the seminar

Seminar & Shearing Weekend Update

The last weekend of June is shearing weekend at Alpacas at Tucker Creek. It will start out with a seminar presented by Carrie Hull from Coarse Broads entitled "A Good Yarn--Essential Yarn Basics That Every Alpaca Breeder Should Know" on Saturday, June 27th starting at 9:30 am. Click on the title to get more details on the seminar. A continental breakfast (being served at 8:30 am and lunch (being served immediately following the seminar) are included with your seminar registration. Serendipity Caffe of Warrenton will be catering our weekend again this year. Please let us know if you have any special dietary requirements. The cost of the seminar is $50 per person paid via check or credit card. Click here to register. As always, seminars are free to client farms.

Following the seminar from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm will be an "Open Barn" for seminar participants, family and friends only. (The public will be welcome to attend the shearing activities on Sunday and Monday.) This will be a great opportunity for you to see Carrie in action as she sorts fiber from area alpaca farms being brought to Tucker Creek for her expertise. Also available will be spinning and other fiber demonstrations along with tours of the barns and pastures and a great chance to check out the new cria.

Then shearing begins on Sunday afternoon, June 28th. Armando Victoria and his crew are scheduled to be here mid-day as they will be shearing for Pat and Rhonda Green at Alpacas at Bear Creek in the morning.

Carrie Hull will be our resident certified sorter again this year. Several of the individuals who attended her seminar last year have started the two year apprenticeship program and will be sorting beside her.

If you wish to help on either day please contact us no later than Friday, June 26th, so we can finalize our duty roster in advance of the event. Shearing on Sunday will begin at 1:00 pm (or whenever Armando arrives). Shearing on Monday will begin at 8:00 am and will be over whenever Armando is. Note the overriding theme here--it all begins and ends with Armando Victoria.

If you wish to watch the event but not get dirty (and we do tend to get dirty) the cost of admission is a nonperishable food item for the Clatsop Community Action Regional Food Bank or the Clatsop County Animal Control Shelter.

Look forward to seeing you there. It is a lot of work but it is our harvest and it is the culmination of all our year long efforts. And from the alpacas' point of view--they are just thrilled to get rid of all that fiber. Even little ones get shorn--here is a shot of Candy and her mom, Queen Amidala, after her tips were shorn at six days of age--you should come back this year just to see what she looks like now.

It is absolutely gorgeous on the Oregon Coast this time of year. Why not make it a nice long weekend--check out some of the hotels listed below and the link to the Chamber website to participate in some of the other wonderful activities available in our little part of the world.

Cannery Pier Hotel - right on the Columbia River, incredible views, day spa available by reservation. Be sure to ask for Ally Stevens when you check availability. ally@cannerypierhotel.com - email

Hotel Elliott - in the center of downtown Astoria--recently restored, beautifully historic.

Holiday Inn Express - also located right on the Columbia River-a little less expensive but still breathtaking views.

Check out the website of the Astoria Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce for a more detailed list of hotels and other activities happening on the coast.

If you are coming in via Portland International Airport, you will be happy to know there is now an air shuttle service available. It is called Seaport Airlines and their service cuts a two hour drive down to a 25 minute flight. To further simplify your weekend planning there is a Hertz Car Rental office at Astoria Regional Airport. Click here for directions to Alpacas at Tucker Creek.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us--we would love to visit with you. Hope you are enjoying the wonderful spring weather and will be able to join us for the seminar, or shearing or both. Enjoy!

The Ohio State University Camelid Neonatal Conference

If you have never attended a neonatal seminar now is the time to attend this one. For those of you who have participated before you might be like me and want to go to one every year. They are incredibly informative and repeat attendance is very reinforcing.

Date & Time:

4/25/2009 8:00 AM

Location:

The Ohio State University

College of Veterinary Medicine

601 Vernon Tharp Street

Columbus, OH 43210

Contact: Office of Veterinary Continuing Education: (614) 292-8727

Course is intended for camelid owners and breeders. This course focuses on the pregnant female camelid and their care. Discussion will include the needs of the pregnant female as they get close to the birthing process. The birthing process (normal) and common problems observed during the later part of pregnancy, during the birthing process and for the first months of the crias life will also be covered along with the care and management of the newborn and its dam, as well as management factors which play a role in raising healthy camelids.

This is my alma mater--so go and enjoy the beauty of one great old university.

GO BUCKS!

As soon as the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Oregon State University schedules their neonatal seminar the announcement will be posted here. Check back often so you don't miss out.

3rd Annual Alpaca Woods Ranch Open House

Mark March 28th on your calendars as the 3rd Annual Open House at Alpaca Woods Ranch.

This event is our chance to share these wonderful animals with those of you who have been pondering your interest in this growing industry as well as those of you who have stopped by before. Plenty of changes have occurred in the last year—we have added more pastures, new shelters and, of course, the best part—new crias. Refreshments will be served. There is no charge but we would appreciate an RSVP just for planning purposes.

Again this year, Peggy Stevens from Alpacas at Tucker Creek (http://www.alpacadigest.com/) in Astoria, OR will be our featured speaker addressing the tax consequences of alpaca ownership. Peggy is a retired CPA with many years of small business experience. She and her husband, Dave, have been raising alpacas since 2003. She will be discussing the great opportunities this industry has to offer as well as some of the pitfalls to avoid. Time will also be allotted for your personal alpaca tax questions. Among her topics will be the criteria applied by the IRS to classify an operation as a business instead of a hobby; how to leverage the purchase price of alpacas by using funds which might otherwise pay current taxes; the importance of a business plan and other topics of interest at a time when tax code revision is again under serious consideration. She has been a featured speaker at the 2008 Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association National Conference; the Alpaca Institute at Northwest Alpacas as well as regional affiliate meetings.

The Open House will be from Noon to 5:00 p.m. The tax presentation will be held from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Please advise if you will be able to join us on March 28th by phoning Ronnie at (770) 972-1247 when we will also provide you with driving directions.

Taxes, Audits and Business Plans at National Conference

WOW, less than five years ago when we started raising alpacas I never would have expected that I would be speaking at the National Conference--but I am. Check out the list of talented speakers--there is a an impressive schedule of timely and productive topics to be shared at the conference.

Workshops and Seminars at the 2008 AOBA National Conference

The workshops are scheduled for Wednesday and each of the seminars are scheduled to be presented twice on either Thursday or Saturday--so you should be able to catch all the topics that interest you.

Look forward to seeing you there.

Oregon State University 2008 Camelid Neonatal Conference

This is one of my two favorite seminars of the year. This event and the Camelid Symposium presented at the University of California at Davis in January of each year are the premier opportunities for us to get current information presented by the best camelid specialists in the country.

The 2008 Camelid Neonatal Conference will be presented at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, on Saturday, April 26th. This conference is a hands-on opportunity to learn how to give shots, tube feed a cria, body score your animals, correct a dystocia and a great opportunity to ask questions--and those are just the highlights. A portion of the day will include classroom presentations by Dr. Christopher Cebra and Dr. Pat Long and the text for the conference will be the most used book on our farm "Llama and Alpaca Neonatal Care" written by Drs. Smith, Timm and Long. This book is the first place we go if we have a question regarding a cria or mom. We have a copy in the barn, in the store, in our office, upstairs and downstairs and have even been known to travel with one during birthing season.

You get all the above and lunch too! Here is the registration form. Feel free to copy and paste it into an email and send it to bernadette.stang@oregonstate.edu or fax it to 541-737-6879. Don't miss this opportunity as it may not happen again until next year--though I keep trying to encourage them to schedule them more often.

Crias #5 and #6 – This is not a perfect science

As I write this I struggle with whether there is a productive purpose to this blog entry. Oh my goodness—the readers might think our program is flawed. Or, it may discourage some from becoming alpaca breeders. Bottom line—the purpose is to demonstrate that this industry is not an exact science. Things don’t always happen according to plan. But doesn’t that also happen in any other business or profession?

Any one who has been involved in the breeding process of any species for any length of time can tell you stories about the one who didn’t make it. Sami D was cria #5 and unfortunately she never got to take a single breath. She would have been the seventh female cria born to Ominaca’s Bo Jangles—she has never had a male cria. Little Sami died in utero most likely from a premature placenta detachment. There were no outward signs. She appeared to be delivering on a timely basis—Saturday, June 9th was right at the 345 day mark. Unfortunately, she and the placenta came out at the same time. She probably died a day or two before delivery. It is very sad—that never changes. Do you get hardened to it? Losing a cria is never an easy thing. But it makes you enjoy the successful deliveries all that much more—and most of them are successful.

Cria #6 appeared at 4:05 pm on June 11th. Jasmine follows the tradition of her dam, Queen Amidala, by having a very text book delivery. Keeping with our musical theme his name is Tucker Creek’s Sinatra. He weighed in at 14.6 pounds and had no problem zeroing in on mom’s milk. By the next morning he was rough and ready for cria races. In case you wondered--we certainly did call him Sinatra for a reason--he has baby blues--though he is not deaf or blind.

There are differing opinions as to whether blue eyed alpacas belong in a breeding program. It would be difficult to establish how many blue eyed alpacas are actually in the US alpaca herd as many breeders may not register them (many non-breeders are not registered) and if they did would they note they had blue eyes. I certainly don't claim to have the answers. Breeders and doctors with endlessly more experience than I don't have a consensus of opinion. But you can find some very good articles which address blue eyed alpacas at the links appearing below and you can form your own opinion:

http://www.alpacagenetics.com/AndyMBlueEyedWhites%20sent.pdf

authored by D. Andrew Merriwether, Ph.D.,

and Ann M. Merriwether, Ph.D

http://www.shagbarkridge.com/info/deaf.html
authored by Philip A March, DVM, MS and David E Anderson, DVM, MS

and Philip Sponenberg mentions blue eyed alpacas in his article http://www.alpacas.com/AlpacaLibrary/Articles/JigglingGenes.aspx.

If you have any comments, opinions or questions, please feel free to let us know.

Herd Health Seminar and Directions to OSU Veterinary Hospital

Oregon State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital has added another seminar on Sunday, March 18th, which will concentrate on herd health. Topics will include nutrition, parasite control, vaccinations, herd monitoring, “red flags” signs of disease.

Cost for the Herd Health Seminar:

$100 per person for people already signed up for the Neonatal Seminar

If only attending the Herd Health Seminar:

$225 Standard (includes conference, book and boxed lunch)

$195 Discounted cost for members of WVLF, SWAA, CABA, WABA, EVAA, SOJAA ─ in recognition of those organizations’ past support of the CVM (includes conference, book and boxed lunch)

$145 Additional companion at same address (includes conference and boxed lunch)

Directions:

From I-5 take exit 228 and go west on Route 34 and go 10 miles to Corvallis.

Turn left at 30th street and follow signs to OSU Vet Med.

Or From Route 34, go left at signs for "Eugene and Ocean Beaches."

Get off at first exit for "Philomath and Ocean Beaches."

Take right at 15th street, a left on Western and a right at 30th.

We would like to thank OSU for providing us with such quality education and being there for all of us when we need it the most.

Oregon State University CVM Camelid Neonatal Seminar

Just click on the title above for the online details and registration form for the upcoming Camelid Neonatal Seminar being offered by Oregon State University. Please share this info with your friends. This is one of the best seminars I have attended since we started breeding alpacas.

Look forward to seeing you there.

Oregon State University CVM Camelid Neonatal Seminar

Just received the email we have been waiting for from Oregon State University . . . they have scheduled the neonatal seminar for Saturday, March 17th . . . here are the details.

From: Hutson, Pat [mailto:Pat.Hutson@oregonstate.edu]
Sent: Friday, January 12, 2007 3:48
Subject: Oregon State University CVM Camelid Neonatal Seminar

Hello all,

Thank you for your patience! I hope you are still interested in attending the camelid neonatal seminar, because the date has finally been set.

Please feel free to share the information with others you think might be interested.

Thank you!
Pat

Pat Hutson
Office of the Dean
College of Veterinary Medicine
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331
541-737-2268
Fax 541-737-4245

Camelid Neonatal Seminar
Saturday, March 17, 2007
8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Magruder Hall
College of Veterinary Medicine
Oregon State University
presented by Dr. Christopher Cebra and others

In South America, up to half of the newborn camelids

die before they reach weaning age. To prevent that from happening

in your herd, the Oregon State University

College of Veterinary Medicine is proud to announce the

resumption of its neonatal clinics for camelid owners.

• State-of-the-Art Lectures
• Hands-on Work
• New Information
• Llama and Alpaca Neonatal Care ─ book by

Drs. Karen Timm and Brad Smith

included in the seminar price

Please contact either Pat or AATC for a registration form (I haven't figured out how to post a form on a blog . . . maybe you can't).

Submit the registration form by fax, email or mail

by February 15, 2007.