RE: [AlpacaTalk] Shows
Jen
I am a small farm and am really afraid to go to the shows just for that reason. If I attend shows and my animals bring home last place or not at all...how can I sell my animals to people who ask how well did they do or did you show? I have some really nice animals, but I can't justify paying the fees to show and then putting my animals in jeopardy of looking poorly to potential buyers because they showed poorly? I guess I am leaning more towards doing micron counts and using fiber samples more for selling my critters. Plus the stress they endure for the weekend? I will admit I enjoyed going to the shows and seeing these awesome alpacas! I just walked away thinking the shows are out of reach for my herd....UNLESS some large farm would lease one of their awesome males to my girls for a summer out of the goodness of their hearts??? LOL....maybe a TV series on "Champions for the underdog girls!!! Just a thought! Otherwise I too feel it is a show for the big boys. :) I do see many shows everywhere though and I am sure the big farms don't attend ALL the shows?? Maybe there could be shows designed for different categories relating to farm size? Like "Newbie Shows"!
We have to remember this is how the world works! The more you can put into something the more you get back.....hopefully!! There are some pretty awesome alpacas out there, but unfortunately most of us can't improve our herds due to the high breeding fees from these big boys. I would like to see all our alpacas eventually have these tremendous fiber stats just to improve our fiber production outlook! We all are striving for the best fiber for our industry? It's hard for small farms to sell their not so awesome fibered animals unless going to persons wanting two or three for pets. I am coming to the reality that not all my animals are top notch.....using humor.... and so am trying to find homes for the ones with out good fiber traits and saving up for replacing them with awesome fiber. Any hoo! Even though I think I have some great animals, I just don't want to make them look poorly and have them get a complex about themselves by taking them to the shows!! LOL
Take care!
Jody
Jody Ehler
Solon, IA 52333
J & J Alpacas
Check out our adorable alpacas!
www.jandjalpacas.com
To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com
From: jenford13@gmail.com
Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:15:25 +0000
Subject: [AlpacaTalk] Shows
I'd like to initiate a discussion on the subject of alpaca shows.
At the outset, let me state quite emphatically that I have all the admiration in the world for large farms. I acknowledge and celebrate their contributions to the alpaca industry, veterinary research, and the show system. I've bought alpacas from large farms and count those breeders among my friends. So, no vitriol against big farms, just some musings on the challenges of stepping into the ring with them.
I've just returned from yet another show at which two or three farms walked away with the lion's share of blue ribbons and purple banners. Their animals absolutely deserved hope to win, they were wonderful examples of the breed. But how in the world can the rest of us hope to compete against folks with the means to position themselves to win almost every time they enter the ring? The farm I came with won three 3rd place ribbons and the joke was "we actually took three 1st place ribbons amongst mere mortals." But how do you convey that to prospective customers without sounding like a ditz or launching into a dissertation on the realities of the showing? ("Third place is great, seriously!")
Does anyone think that the time has come for shows at which participation is limited to breeders who own, say, a dozen or fewer breeding females? Obviously AOBA can't sanction shows that limit participation, but I think many of us are almost at the point where we don't care. As long as a show is well-organized and uses certified judges, just how much does it really matter if there's an AOBA logo on the ribbons?
I've been showing for a decade, and remember when the playing field was pretty level, when you went to a show and could reasonably expect to walk away with a few wins. Not any more. One long-established breeder I spoke with summed it up this way: "I can no longer afford to spend $1,500 to compete for fourth place."
Thoughts, ideas, feedback? (Please, no rotten tomatoes; I just want to start a discussion, not start a war!)
Respectfully,
Jen Ford
Backstage Alpacas
Bedford, PA
www.backstagealapcas.com
posted by Chaddo at 11:55 AM
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