Today is the first meeting in the New Year for our local alpaca association SOJAA.

We are a group of about 50 farms in Oregon and California all committed to making a viable long term business out of alpaca ranching and supporting each other along the way.

The first meeting of the year is always a social event and sees the appointment of the new board.

It really does signal the end of the winter in so many ways and its great to see everyone and start planning events for the New Year. We have our annual alpaca show in October and this year we will be having a fibre event in the spring. Plus a series of regular bi-monthly meetings.

If you aren't already a member of an AOBA affiliate I suggest you join one. Even if you don't have alpacas it costs about $ 100 a year and you will get to learn so much before eventually taking the plunge ...so to speak.

Adrian Stewart