Re: [AlpacaTalk] Re: I like cake
Hi all,
I'm only writing to comment on the small vs large with regards to show records and the ability to compete.
We are a tiny ranch and our budget is extremely limited to nonexistant. Still we have managed to take some fabulous ribbons over much larger better capitalized farms. Even the really big guys. It can be done. Yes it takes more effort to do it with less money but it can be done. Add some creativity into the blood sweat and tears. And luck. But then the harder I work the luckier I get...
What makes these victories so very special is in every case the "big farm" in second seemed as thrilled with our win as we were. Maybe because I've not been shy in asking for their thoughts and advice as we have designed our breeding program. Our wins have come from their efforts as well.
Play to your own strengths, learn from the mistakes of others and celebrate in their victories. There are many maps to success. Here is hoping you find yours!
Bluest Skies
and
Purple banners
Jennifer Powers
Aero Ranch Suri Alpacas
Browns Valley CA
530-741-2376
--- On Tue, 11/11/08, libby@alpacafarm.
From: libby@alpacafarm.
Subject: Re: [AlpacaTalk] Re: Let them eat cake.Mary responds to Libby
To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogro
Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 12:56 PM
Hello Mary and Robin,
When we started out 15 years ago, we were a very small farm and we spent
the next 15 years borrowing and I couldn't "buy" a ribbon for years so I
think I do recall what it's like although after 15 years and lots of hard
work, we've made progress. When we started, we didn't realize that the
quality of the female is as important as the quality of the male and for
years I didn't know what a "great" alpaca was nor how to create one. Yes,
you are absolutely correct that it's easier to choose with more animals to
choose from but there are many, many, many classes we lose each year, most
to small farms, often our customers! We're bought from over 120 small
farms so look to big farms as customers and not as competitors. I don't
know what the answer is but destroying all farms over 30 alpacas is
probably not a solution. (I know you didn't say that...just a comment.).
If you ever want to visit our farm, Jerry loves to talk to small farms
about marketing for small farms and I love to discuss breeding programs
and ways to improve them, so there are farms out here to help if you are
so inclined and have an interest. I do not mean this as condescending but
rather an offer of assistance if you think we have anything to offer
which, of course, you might not think we do.
Best wishes,
Libby
Libby Forstner
Magical Farms, Inc.
Litchfield Ohio
(330)667-3233
Robin Buettenback <jardbuet74@
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11/11/2008 03:17 PM
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Re: [AlpacaTalk] Re: Let them eat cake.Mary responds to Libby
Mary, Very well said...you expressed the feelings of many small farms. We
were happy to attend MAAS in Topeka a few weekends ago and I totally could
relate to your description of sitting in 3rd (6th place for me) as the
"big" farms got the ribbons. However, I would like to add one more
thing... Their financial advantage aside, I am even more envious of the
years they have had in the business to develop such an incredible breeding
program. Keep in mind here, I am talking about those old, big farms who
have had years in the business, not those who were able to buy themself
into a breeding program. I aspire to a breeding program that would
produce such an animal. But as you stated, I have 4-6 crias to choose
from every year as opposed to hundreds so at those odds (and I am not a
math expert) I may get such an animal once every 20 yrs and by then, they
will be 100 years ahead of me.
Our business plan for 2009 includes keeping the $'s on the farm; local
marketing, maybe one good outside breeding (to a small farm), taking good
care of my animals and their needs and developing their incredible
product. No AOBA, no shows (unless we get that 1 in 100 cria this Spring),
no AN, no glitzy ads in the big-time magazines, no sponsorships of
big-time events. We will hang in there because we got into this business
for the love of the animal and it's incredible product...I will gladly
spend those AOBA $'s on product research and development and that is one
reason I will stay with the Suri Network. Thanks again, Mary, you said it
well. Robin
Ace & Robin Buettenback
B4 Alpacas LLC
3742 S Locust
Grand Island Ne 68801
--- On Tue, 11/11/08, Mary Meacher <memeacher@yahoo. com> wrote:
From: Mary Meacher <memeacher@yahoo. com>
Subject: [AlpacaTalk] Re: Let them eat cake.Mary responds to Libby
To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogro ups.com
Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2008, 11:33 AM
Actually, Libby, while I don't agree with Heather's terminology
because I find it inflammatory, I agree with her concepts. When I
started out six years ago with alpacas, I too was interested in I
Love Alpacas. However, as most small farmers who ventured into
alpacas with their small fortune in hand, I can attest that the
price was considerably out of reach once I'd made my initial
purchase and it has not become any more reachable now. And while the
larger farms can state that advertising is "good for everyone," I
have yet to benefit from ANY advertising -- mine, the rancher's
guide, yours, or anyone else's and it certainly isn't for a lack of
trying. It is incredibly difficult for farmer's like myself to even
begin to make a sale when we're competing with farms and ranches the
size and likes of yours, Greg Mecklam's, etc., etc.
I wish you could understand the frustration involved in those of us
who can NEVER achieve the size and status of your farm. It is beyond
frustrating to stand in a show ring at the Empire or the north
american, being a very small farm in upstate New York and know that
my one and only lovely light fawn female will never take first
because you have the ability to choose from your 1500 hundred
animals several lovely light fawn females -- I, because of my farm
size, have only one to choose and there she is, standing third to
Magical who comes all the way up from Ohio and/or Maplebrook Farms
who while more regional to the area also can choose from several
hundred alpacas their MANY best, or even worse for those in the
Northeast, Some large ranch from out west like Crescent Moon, or
Hummingherd.
I consider myself fortunate to have created a lovely SMALL herd who
does, on many ocassions place second or third to the larger farms
out there. But as many of us small farmers grouse about together, a
second or third place ribbon -- not even speaking of the fifth or
sixth place ribbons -- mean nothing to the novice alpaca researcher.
They want the best and biggest. It means nothing to them that I can
compete in a ring with breeders who schlepp their animals across the
entire continent or at the very least several hundred miles. It's
the breeder that can offer them in their minds those blue ribbon
winners or their offspring twice removed and can offer a larger
choice because of their bankroll or farm size.
Over the past six years, I have seen many good smaller breeders dive
out of the business simply because they can't compete. Breeders who
knew they could never either afford money or space for more than 10
or 12 animals but had high hopes they could at least sell animals
because, "advertising is good for all of us."
I've grown quite jaundiced over the past several years standing in
that second or third spot. Having potential breeders who have
contacted me apologize because they thought they could get a better
selection at ____________ fill in the name of the large ranch or
farm here.
I know you and Heather have had a history for contentious arguments
on this board. Personally, I don't like the confrontational attacks
or counter attacks and find them very unprofessional. However, I do
feel compelled here to comment on what I believe is the underlying
cause of this particular incendiary remark. I don't think you have a
good idea of the frustration and sometimes outright resentment of
the small farmer who seeks to do well but can only do SO well
because of farms like Magical. At some point, the larger farms will
win out. It's happening right now actually. More and more farms are
bowing out, they spent their equity on animals with $$ in their eyes
and the advertising singing in their ears about how they too could
earn a fortune in alpacas. Well, as a small farmer, I, and many
others can tell them and you, unless you do it for the fiber or the
fun, or have an abundance of space and a large bankroll -- or in
some cases a husband or wife with a bankroll it just isn't so.
Mary Meacher
Walnut Valley Alpacas
Ballston Lake, NY
518.878.1061
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