With the first signs of Spring comes MOPACA's Midwest Alpaca Invitational Show.  Of course, it wouldn't be the MOPACA show if there wasn't snow... so of course, after a freakishly warm early March, it snowed like crazy the Friday and Saturday of the show (anyone remember the 6 inches we got Saturday night in 2009!?!?)  Osage Alpacas attended with close friends such as Diane Peckham of The Alpaca Company and Erin & Carson Lepper of Cornerstone Alpacas.  We had a great time.  Did have a liiiitttle trouble on the way home... Special thanks to Mary & Gary Licklider of Curly Eye Alpacas who stopped to gather up Diane and our animals when the transmission on my truck went blamo.  And thanks to Dan & Mike Wertzberger of Mirror Lake Alpacas who then picked me up after I got my truck to a town.  Almost more excitement than I could handle!

 

Over the weekend of January 16th & 17th, reknown camelid theriologist Dr. Ahmed Tibary of Oregon State University's Vet School spoke to a group of alpaca producers, their vets, veterinary students and faculty at the University of Missouri's Vet School.  This event was co-hosted by the MOPACA & MU VMTH, with the assistance of the newly formed Small Ruminent & Camelid Club.  Thanks to all those who participated!
 

We had a great showing with our three boys. Nate took 2nd place to the eventual Brown Color Champion in a field of approximately 40 huacayas. Turbo took 2^nd place in his juvenile class to the eventual Grey Reserve Color Champion. Being 6 months of age, both were the youngest in their classes! Purple Murray was in the same class with Turbo and captured the 4_th place ribbon.

Carson and Erin Lepper showing Purple Murray and Turbo on behalf of Rob

 

Turbo took a blue ribbon as a Modern Dark Silver Grey Juvenile! Murray took 3rd in the Classic Silver Grey Juvenile class. Nate was yanked out of browns into a really tough, very large fawn class in which he took 6th as the darkest animal to ribbon. Big thanks to Sierra and her lovely assistant Cori, for showing Turbo and Murray, and to Mike for showing Nate. Saw many friends; good times were had by all; this goes on the must do again list!