AlpacaFarmgirl: Is this event the same as the AOBA new Cottage Fiber Show going to be? The guidelines/rules made it look like it was….but then if you don’t have to be an AOBA member or have the alpaca’s ARI…then it seems like no. So that confused me.

Robin of CIABA: Our event is not an AOBA event.  AOBA put out their new cottage classes after CIABA sent them a complete outline with rationale for our event.  You do not have to be a member of either organization to participate nor does the animal need to be registered.

AFG: What is the purpose of this show for exhibitors? Do they win anything? Are there prizes? I see that they will get evaluations…Are there different classes/divisions like a real show or is this mainly for people to send in and get a judges’ opinion on their fleece for end product use?

CIABA: The purpose of the event is to educate alpaca owners about their fiber and give them a place to sell their fleece.   We did divide fleeces into classes for clerical purposes, but fleeces will not be competing against each other.  They will be competing with a standard.  The prize is the information they will receive about their fleece and the chance to sell it.

AFG: What is the purpose of this show – for CIABA? What is their goal? Short term and long term?

CIABA: The purpose of CIABA has been and probably will be to educate alpaca owners about their fiber, introduce them to venues for adding value to their fleece, and helping owners to connect with manufacturers.  We are a nonprofit organization and try to keep costs low enough for people to be able to participate.

AFG: I love what CIABA is doing, and I would really love to help you get your message out there. I don’t think people across the country really understand what this is all about. Some alpaca breeders have had the benefit of hearing people talk about your mission, but there are a LOT of them who haven’t heard the word yet.

CIABA: This event is introducing a totally new way to think about alpaca fleece.  People are bound to be confused.  That is why we loosened the instruction for presenting the fleece.  We want people to learn what they are producing so they can make better breeding decisions.  CIABA wants to be the place people go to find out what is going on in the world of natural product manufacturing.  We started CIABA to help the whole industry.  Our “staff” is all volunteer.  People have put aside their personal interests for the good of the whole industry.  None of us expects to personally profit from the organization any more than all the other members.  I think that’s what makes it work so well.

AFG: One more thing. So for people who send in their fiber, what happens to the fleece after it is judged? I think I saw somewhere there was a discount for processing…? Also you said that you were trying to help them sell? Will there be people buying fleece there?

CIABA: There will be people there who are interested in buying fleece if the person wants to sell it.  Otherwise, the sorted, graded fleece will be sent back to the owner.  The best use part is to let people know what they can do with their fleece — what products are best made from it.  The participating mills area giving a coupon for 5% off on processing.

AFG: So CIABA is trying to give alpaca breeders another way of looking at their fiber. Send your fiber in, UNSKIRTED, (saving you the work & worry if you are new & nervous about how to do it), and their judges will evaluate your fiber and tell you all about it. From the perspective of the fiber industry. Forget the ribbons and the hoop-la of the traditional showring. This is a real-world, livestock production, “how are you going to make the best end-product” perspective.

Thank you, Robin, for answering my questions, and for all the hard work you do for our alpaca industry.

I love it! It is very practical, and a much needed point of view. And I love these ladies who give their time and tons of hours volunteering to CIABA for the love of our industry and alpaca fiber. If you have more questions please ask them below and Robin or Val will answer them. Find out more about the CIABA Unskirted Fleece Event. Entry Forms are here, and I strongly recommend that you consider joining CIABA. Visit their website http://www.ciaba.org

First, Bounce asked people to make a choice between sheets or bar, and now Bounce is offering a chance to have millions of Facebook users help you decide on a choice of your own.  Trying to decide between two baby names? Need advice on whether to move to Houston or Hoboken? How would you like to have millions help you with your decision?

Go to facebook.com/bounce , click on “Bounce It Off Millions” and submit a choice or decision that you are making in your life. Your question will be turned into a poll and tens of thousands of Bounce fans can give you their opinion!

Bounce will pick 4 of the most interesting polls to be featured in a facebook ad. So your question could go out to the entire Facebook World, inviting 150 million + people to help you make your choice! Imagine having that much input when making a decision.

Bounce fans can also enter in sweepstakes for a chance to win two Bounce Dryer Bars – one to keep, and one for a friend of your choice. 5,000 winners will be chosen.

Disclosure: I participated in this campaign as a member of One2One Network and am eligible for a prize drawing for sharing this information.  However, all opinions stated in the post are my own.

Apparently this alpaca male (in Peru) had an issue with this ESPN reporter. LOL! Most alpacas don’t act this way, but for some reason the alpaca macho didn’t want this guy in his field. I’m wondering why this alpaca was on a soccer field…

Anyway, whenever alpacas make the news – I gotta share it with you guys! And this one has been making it around the internet…

What do you think?

The nice gals over at One2One Network were lovely enough to let me review Norah Jones newest release, Featuring…, which is compiled of all duets. I found it to be different from her other work, but I still liked it. My favorite was the first track, Love Me with the Little Willies. I think I like her version of Baby It’s Cold Outside with Willie Nelson, but it is hard to get used to. Overall, Norah is adorable, sexy, and charming with a fabulous voice. I recommend this CD for yourself or someone else’s Christmas stocking this holiday season. Buy it HERE!

On Saturday, November 6th, undefeated Zenyatta will go for her 20th win in the Breeder’s Cup at Churchill Downs. She arrived this week with a police escort and a chopper following her every move.

Called the Queen in the sport of Kings,  she has been on Oprah and 60 minutes. If you haven’t met this beautiful lady yet, here she is – Zenyatta.

Check out her webpage for more videos and more scoop. If you are like me – you never get enough Zenyatta.

Water. Argueably the most essential element. Something most of us take for granted.

Who doesn’t have clean water, right? Apparently 1 in 8 people.

Who knew?

I didn’t. And did you know that 4,000 children die every day from diarrhea? And that 2/5th’s of the world’s population do not have access to adequate sanitation? Watch this video to learn how Water Aid helps impoverished people in Asia and Africa receive clean drinking water. They also work for decent sanitation conditions, and improved hygiene among the people in those areas. Join me in making a donation below with the Chip In widget. An easy way to help with a few clicks of a button.

Spread the Word!

Seven years ago, I received a call from the Peace Corps asking me if I’d be ready to jet off to Peru for 2.5 years.  Sure, I had completed the long application process but the thought of packing up and heading to South America still seemed distant. I knew nothing about Peru and started frantically researching the country; Peace Corps told me that I’d be leaving in three short weeks. Of course I would go, there was no question in my mind but suddenly, my world turned upside down as I prepared myself to join the Peace Corps!

A few months later, I found myself in the heart of the Andes Mountains in a small community.  The weather was COLD, but the sun shined bright and the snow-capped peaks in the distance were absolutely beautiful. I began working with a group of women who were talented knitters. In my mind, they were like machines; they practically knit with their eyes closed.  I wasn’t a knitter so I found their abilities fascinating. As knitting is a large part of Andean culture, the women had learned to knit at young ages and were accustomed to knitting scarves, hats, sweaters and blankets for themselves and their children.  It was amazing to see the women multi-tasking – babies on back, knitting, shopping, cooking.  And, they never made mistakes!  The products they knit were flawless and the alpaca fiber they used was beautiful. Alpaca is native to the Andes Mountains of South America so the knitters were able to go straight to the source, just a few miles away…

After discovering the small knitting cooperative, I started helping them develop their business and market the lovely alpaca items they created. As a result, they were able to increase their income and better provide for their families in the form of higher education, better health care and more nutritious food.  Falling in love with the whole project, I created Mayu, a small social enterprise that imports and sells the 100% alpaca accessories that we created during my Peace Corps experience.

My next post on Alpaca Farm Girl will profile two of Mayu’s Peruvian artisans. And, stay tuned for a special giveaway this Fall, just for Alpaca Farm Girl’s readers!

For Mayu’s short video on alpaca fiber, click here. And, to learn more about the intensive process of creating hand-knit alpaca accessories, read here.

You can visit Kate at www.shopmayu.com.

Online Degrees recently published their list of the top 50 Best Farm and Agriculture Blogs of 2010.

This list includes blogs on ag news and information, sustainable farming, and farming big and small. They also list blogs about agricultural science, ag politics, and ag policies.

I was tickled that our Alpaca Farmgirl Blog was included in the Livestock and Ranching section. And I love that they even have a section for International farm blogs!

Check out the list of the 50 Best Farm and Agriculture Blogs here.

This picture has been circling the internet. So perfect for this freezing day.  Here in L.A. (Lower Alabama) we only dream of having snow. *Sigh*

Participating in Wordless Wednesdays.

I met them on Twitter. Then had a chance to meet them in person at SAFF. “Sheep Incognito” is an art company comprised of the wonderful and funny artist Conni Togel and her husband, Peter, who takes care of the marketing side of things. They are both delightful, and it comes through in the artwork.

This cute painting hangs sideways for a reason. It reflects its caption. Yes, I did try to straighten it before I realized this. (how embarrassing. lol)

Visit their website to see more fabulous, humorous sheep artwork. They even have a great calendar for 2010. Hear that, Santa? And you can become a Fan on Facebook if you like. This artwork is sure to make you smile.