Here we are again after so long.  There have been lots of things happening in the meantime, of course.  Here’s the newest:  At the Portland, Oregon Columbia Alpaca Breeders Association show in April, our beautiful jr. herdsire “NAAC’s Hemiccoyo Bronz Reflection” (son of fawn full Accoyo UltraBronz) won a blue ribbon in the medium fawn jr. herdsire class.

The judge extolled how extraordinary he is in crimp, thickness, density, shine, you name it.  He said Bronz Jr. was far and away the best in that entire group that he had just judged.  He is from Canada and judges all over the globe, so this was not just an important event.

We are so proud!  Here is a recent picture.  The model is our dear friend Natalie Graham who has a lot of experience with alpacas.  She is from NGG Alpacas mentioned in a previous posting

Natalie Graham showing Blue Ribbon winner NAAC

.  The judge also noted that she handled Bronz Jr. very well when he decided to “act up” just before he was judged.  We think he is a very nice judge–obviously.

Thank you and congratulations to Columbia River Alpacas on the purchase of their alpacas and the

Hemiccoyo Ann and Hemiccoyo Andy

birth of their new cria, Hemiccoyo Fernando.  He’s a beautiful white Huacaya.  His mother is Hemiccoyo Friski and his sire is North American Alpaca Company’s fawn full Accoyo UltraBronz.  Fernando joins herdmates Hemiccoyo Ann and her cria Hemiccoyo Andrew (better known as Andy), Hemiccoyo Janelle, Hemiccoyo Jenny.  Janelle and Jenny are due to deliver any day also.

Columbia River Alpacas is a newly formed alpaca business by Julie and Marty Martin in Woodland, Washington.  Marty and Julie also own a window and door business.

Here at North American Alpaca Company we welcomed cool new Hemiccoyo Harley.  Harley was born October 21, is pure white just like mom, Hemiccoyo Hattie, and can’t quit chasing his buddy NAAC’s Amarillo, a true black male born on October 1, 2008.  The two of them terrorize the other animals wanting them to play, and Harley even goes around as if he’s saying “are you my Mom?” 

Harley’s sire was fawn full Accoyo UltraBonz.  UltraBronz has been siring some of the most beautifully fleeced animals.  We have been amazed at the curl, curve, crimp and shine of his progeny.  And, he fathered one we named Bronz Reflection that is a carbon copy in beautiful fawn.  His crimp, curl and shine are very impressive.

Sadly, we lost a lovely UltraBronz cria this past weekend.  We named him BraveHeart.  His dam was Hemiccoyo Hazel, both white Huacayas.  BraveHeart fought a good fight.  He was on oxygen at the veterinarian’s office.  As an artist, it made me think of the little fellow walking around with an oxygen tank.  We have to be light-hearted about these things.  They don’t happen often, but when they do, we must do our best not to dwell on the loss.

There was help from a dear friend, Nola Graham of NGG Alpacas and Castle Hill Farm.  She and her team also helped us try to save our little BraveHeart. Nola has a wonderful natural touch with the Alpacas.  She was able to milk the dam with no argument.  When the men tried, they didn’t have the touch.  Nola is a wealth of information for practical handling of the animals.  She has been in the Alpaca business for many years.  She is one of the first group to greet Don Julio Barreda when he visited the USA from the Accoyo Ranch in Peru in 1990 or 1991 at Mike Safley’s Northwest Alpaca Ranch.

All of our ladies have delivered their cria for this year except Tiffany. She is a beautiful brown Chilean with a “necklace.”  The necklace is the reason for the name.