News
When visitors ask us about raising alpacas, the one essential message we try to impress upon them is that it is not a get rich scheme and making money in the alpaca business does not happen overnight. Alpaca rearing takes time and patience and work, but it is so worth it. The old saying "Rome wasn't built in a day" definitely applies here.
We just returned from a trip to Alberta where we attended the Futurity (CNASF). One of my biggest observations was that people there had been in the alpaca business for years. They suffered the bumps and bruises of the industry's growth and hung in there. In so doing, they have developed some of Canada's finest looking alpacas. We hope to emulate them. Having been in the business ourselves for nearly 4 years, our patience and careful breeding practices have begun to pay off. Please see our results so far for 2008:
We are so happy to report that we did very well in the recently held 2008 Alpaca Ontario Show.
Our beautiful ribbon winners are:
*H = huacaya
Sterling Silver... Champion H. Grey Male
Split Rock's Ringo Starr... Reserve Champ. H. Black Male
Sterling Silver... 1st Sr. H. Grey Male
Split Rock's Ringo Starr... 1st Juvenile H. Black Male
Dickson's Cayenne SRF... 1st Yearling H. Grey Female
RavenChild... 1st Sr. H. Black Male
High Plains Calico Sky... 2nd Juvenile H. Grey Female
Little Willow... 2nd Juvenile H. Brown Female
Imagine... 2nd Yearling H. Brown Male
Rain... 2nd Yearling H. Black Male
High Plains Clarabella... 3rd Juvenile H. Grey Female
Dickson's Hey Jude... 3rd Intermediate H. Grey Male
Salsa DLA... 3rd Sr. H. Grey Male
2008 A.O.'s Spin-Off winners out of 4 fleece submissions (3 out of 4):
Splitrock's Magicalmysterytour... 1st A.O. Spin Off Dk. 6-12 mo.
BeBop STAR... 1st A.O. Spin Off Grey 12-24 mo.
Sterling Silver ... 1st A.O. Spin Off Grey 24+ mo.
2008 winning results from the Empire Alpaca Association (NY) Spin-Off's out of 5 fleece submissions (4 out of 5):
Chiclet ... 1st Huacaya Fawn Female
Sexy Sadie PRFA... 2nd Huacaya White Female
Dickson's Hey Jude ... 2nd Huacaya Grey Male
Splitrock's Magicalmysterytour... 3rd Huacaya Brown Male
2008 Northlands Winner:
VLA Comanche ... 1st Juvenile Grey Male
2008 Futurity (CNASF) winner:
VLA Comanche ... 2nd Juvenile Grey Male
From the above listing, we can say without any exaggeration that we are thrilled with our guys and gals and the deep herd quality they represent. The message here is that most of these winners were born here at Split Rock and created from thoughtful breeding practices. All of this takes planning. Is it worth it to show your animals? Answer: absolutely. We think our animals are all simply great, but when they're in the showring to compete, their merit is decided by others, not just us. It means a lot to get the positive results shown above.
We are very excited about our cria crop for 2008. Have all of those decisions almost a year ago paid off? Hmmmm, all we can do is wait........ Please stop by to check us out for yourselves. You'll love everything about our animals. Most of all, you'll love their quality and their character. It is so easy to see and sets them apart!
|
|
Upcoming Events
Weavers & Spinners of Ontario North
Inspiration 2008 - The Path to Creativity
May 23/24/25, 2008
100 College Drive
North Bay, Ontario
www.ohs.on.ca
Shearing & Sorting
SPLIT ROCK FARMS ALPACAS
May 31 and June 1, 2008
"All Welcome"
Ridgeway, Ontario
www.splitrockfarmsbb.com
Cria Season
SPLIT ROCK FARMS ALPACAS
May - September, 2008
Ridgeway, Ontario
www.splitrockfarmsbb.com
NAVAN FAIR ALPACA SHOW
Composite Halter & Fleece Show
August 7-8, 2008
Ottawa, Ontario
www.navanfairalpacashow.ca
ALPACA ONTARIO
EDUCATION WEEKEND
August 30-31, 2008
O.V.C. Guelph University
Dr. A. Tibary
info@www.alpacaontario.ca
MARSHFIELD FESTIVAL
August 29/30/31, 2008
Wainfleet, Ontario
IPM
September 16-20, 2008
Bruce County, Teeswater, ON
www.ipm2008.ca
PACAFIESTA & THE ATLANTIC
INTERNATIONAL FIBRE FIESTA
Full Fleece Halter Show
September 26/27/28, 2008
Halifax, Nova Scotia
www.pacafiesta.com
VISIT A FARM
Open Barn Tours
SPLIT ROCK FARMS ALPACAS
Ridgeway, Ontario
Sales of alpaca clothing...hayrides...tours
Saturday & Sunday, September 27 & 28, 2008
10am to 4pm
"ALL WELCOME"
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL
WINTER FAIR
November 7-15, 2008
Exhibition Place, Toronto
ALPACA CANADA FUTURITY
AND SELECT SALE
November 8-9, 2008
Orangeville, Ontario
www.alpacainfo.ca
ALPACA ONTARIO SPRING SHOW
April 17/18/19, 2009
Orangeville, Ontario
www.alpacaontario.ca
|