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

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