Stop - Before You Buy Your First Alpaca
Ok, so you have fallen in love with your first alpaca and why not? They are really cute in a Martian kinda way.
Not to mention, that you have heard that you can save a bundle on taxes (enough to feed a small village in Africa), and you can make vast profits on the offspring and fleece.
All this while they practically care for themselves.
After you have picked yourself up off the floor from sticker shock you are ready to buy the farm right? WRONG! Stop...
Calm down..
..
Take a breath..
..
Hold it..
..
Exhale.
Now that you have gotten your head back on straight the first thing you want to do is RESEARCH.
The second thing to do is research.
The third thing to do is some more research.
Oh, and did I mention research.
Educate yourself, find out what makes a good alpaca and how to get the very best value for your money (you do remember that were talking five figures here).
If you have been to a farm in your area, visit the rest of the farms in the area.
Maybe even go to the next town over and check out their farms.
Heck! You might even consider the next state! The next thing you will want to do is get involved with your local affiliate of the international Alpaca Owners and breeders Association (AOBA).
This is a good way to get plugged into some great resources and support.
Often times these affiliates will host great educational seminars and events (like a fleece and halter show).
Volunteering for a fleece and halter show before you purchase can be an invaluable experience that could end up paying you dividends in the long run.
Seeing how these animals are judged is a great way to find out what standards the industry is striving for.
Not to mention, that you can view many farms under one roof in a day or two what would normally take you much time and money driving all over the country side visiting farms.
Many of these alpaca owners offer great deals at the shows as well.
Volunteering your help at a fleece show is a great way to look over a judge's shoulder and learn what makes a great fleece.
Many judges are happy to commentate and teach as they judge.
The first time I volunteered for a fleece show I expected all the volunteers to be alpaca owners.
I was surprised to find out that there was a woman there who did not own animals.
She had just moved into the area and had become acquainted with alpacas and decided to educate herself by volunteering before she purchased.
What a brilliant woman! I'm sure that woman will make an excellent and worth while purchase when she is ready to buy her first alpaca.
Not to mention, that you have heard that you can save a bundle on taxes (enough to feed a small village in Africa), and you can make vast profits on the offspring and fleece.
All this while they practically care for themselves.
After you have picked yourself up off the floor from sticker shock you are ready to buy the farm right? WRONG! Stop...
Calm down..
..
Take a breath..
..
Hold it..
..
Exhale.
Now that you have gotten your head back on straight the first thing you want to do is RESEARCH.
The second thing to do is research.
The third thing to do is some more research.
Oh, and did I mention research.
Educate yourself, find out what makes a good alpaca and how to get the very best value for your money (you do remember that were talking five figures here).
If you have been to a farm in your area, visit the rest of the farms in the area.
Maybe even go to the next town over and check out their farms.
Heck! You might even consider the next state! The next thing you will want to do is get involved with your local affiliate of the international Alpaca Owners and breeders Association (AOBA).
This is a good way to get plugged into some great resources and support.
Often times these affiliates will host great educational seminars and events (like a fleece and halter show).
Volunteering for a fleece and halter show before you purchase can be an invaluable experience that could end up paying you dividends in the long run.
Seeing how these animals are judged is a great way to find out what standards the industry is striving for.
Not to mention, that you can view many farms under one roof in a day or two what would normally take you much time and money driving all over the country side visiting farms.
Many of these alpaca owners offer great deals at the shows as well.
Volunteering your help at a fleece show is a great way to look over a judge's shoulder and learn what makes a great fleece.
Many judges are happy to commentate and teach as they judge.
The first time I volunteered for a fleece show I expected all the volunteers to be alpaca owners.
I was surprised to find out that there was a woman there who did not own animals.
She had just moved into the area and had become acquainted with alpacas and decided to educate herself by volunteering before she purchased.
What a brilliant woman! I'm sure that woman will make an excellent and worth while purchase when she is ready to buy her first alpaca.