Ian and Jennifer Lutz own and operate Cas-Cad-Nac Farm in Weathersfield, VT. They believe in a hands-on, common sense approach to herd management that emphasizes knowing your alpacas and their individual tendencies. With a herd that currently births out 70+ crias per year and more than a decade in the alpaca business they have seen just about any scenario one could imagine (and some others you probably couldn’t). Ian is the day to day breeding facilitator of the CCNF herd and as a result has had the rather dubious distinction of having personally managed 300+ breedings in the last two years alone. Needless to say, he’s had some time to think about the subject! In this seminar he will take you from the conception to the birth of your new cria. The seminar will cover basic reproductive theories and strategies, how to get your alpacas breeding with minimal fuss, what you need to know BEFORE your new crias arrive, and what to look for in that first 24 hours after the arrival of your little bundle of alpaca joy!

Whether it is the blossoming alpaca population or the fact that we’re learning how to better identify parasite issues, the control of parasites in alpacas is paramount to breeders large and small. Be they intestinal, stomach or skin, these unwelcome parasites can be the bane of our existence. This presentation will discuss worming protocols, herd management (including pasture rotation) and observations from a practitioner’s standpoint.

Dale Ottosen, DVM. A graduate of the University of Illinois (both undergraduate and veterinary degrees), Dr. Ottosen came to New York and after a series of large and small animal adventures has come to be a very busy and sought-after alpaca practitioner. Central New York has a fairly large alpaca population and many of the breeders have chosen Dr. Ottosen as their primary veterinarian. He also consults with other vets on alpaca-related issues. Cayuga Veterinary Services in Auburn hosts a clinic that can house alpacas, state-of-the art surgery as well as reproductive services. A dedicated veterinarian with a solid support group of veterinarians, technicians and staff, Dr. Ottosen is a wonderful resource for his clients (both two- and four-legged). Dr. Ottosen is also an alpaca owner – he and his wife Marilyn have a small herd of eight alpacas.

This seminar will include a wide rage of hot and timely topics that include hobby versus for profit business, business entity selection, record keeping, year end tax reporting, employees versus subcontractors, required identification numbers, business expenses/expenditures, office in the home, renting your property to your business, depreciation, retirement plans, and surviving an IRS audit.

Jim was raised on a dairy farm in upstate New York. Graduated from Binghamton University in 1976 with a BS in Accounting. While being the managing partner of Davidson, Fox & Company, LLP he specializes in small business tax and accounting matters. His practice areas include manufacturing, retail, health care, professional service corporations, engineering and agriculture. Jim serves on boards and committees of Chenango County Habitat for Humanities, Binghamton Rotary Club, JHI International, The Chenango River Theatre and the UHS Foundation. Jim is also a 1996 Leadership Broome graduate. He is married with two children and resides in Greene, New York.

Is it time for your first construction or are you busting at the seams and need to add some new efficient space? This session will include all aspects of barn construction from building designs and space utilization to all aspects of construction. Come and listen to Scott’s experiences and feel free to share yours.

Scott Young and his family own and operate Hilltop Alpacas in the Western Catskills in Hancock, NY. In their 9th year of operation Hilltop is home to just under 100 alpacas. Although not a building contractor, Scott has had many opportunities and experiences in planning and constructing facilities in his “other life” as a Children’s Summer Camp Director. Hilltop Alpacas just completed construction on a new state of the art 18 acre farm so Scott has lots of do’s and don’ts to share.

Marketing your alpacas takes a lot more than putting a list into cyberspace and expecting people to flood your farm with offers for your most prized alpaca. It is the integration of many different marketing tools all working to convey your farm’s marketing message to as many targeted customers as possible.

In this seminar, we will discuss the tools (both free and for fee) that work best for the majority of alpaca breeders including online databases, lead lists, email marketing, and print marketing. In addition, we will discuss how to use the resources provided by your national, regional, and local organizations to your advantage. Because we are talking tools and not message in this seminar, this information is helpful to remember in all aspects of the alpaca business.

Tacha has over 7 years of experience in developing integrated marketing solutions for clients. She and her partner John Gennarino, own Sandy Creek Alpacas and ‘Paca Print Design Services in Kendall, NY. Tacha is active in AOBA and EAA, where she is currently serving as the Marketing Committee Chairperson for both organizations. In addition, she is very active in Alpaca Breeders of Western New York (ABWNY), her local organization, where she helps to maintain the organization’s web site. Tacha brings her educational background as well as her work and life experiences to her teaching in order to tailor educational opportunities to the needs of alpaca owners.

Join Steve McCarthy for an "Introduction to Alpacas" in which he shares his experiences and recommendations for new and potential alpaca owners/breeders. Steve's topics will include an overview of the industry, recommendations & requirements for getting started, animal husbandry issues, helpful hints, suggested books and web sites, and other topics relevant to new owners/breeders.

Steve McCarthy has an undergraduate degree in accounting from Suffolk University and an MBA from Penn State. His successful career in financial management included 8 years in public accounting with KPMG-Chicago and 11 years with Citibank in Tokyo and New York City. When Steve retired from the business world in 1997 he got his first exposure to llamas and alpacas when he started visiting a local farm to obtain manure for his garden. Steve spent many days learning how to care for alpacas and working with the animals: trimming toenails and halter training. Today, Steve owns and operates a 70+ animal farm in Old Chatham NY with his partner Jeff Lick.