If you’re interested in raising alpacas or you’ve just started an alpaca farm, joining an alpaca association might be a great option.
Associations can be national, regional, or localized at the state level. In the U.S. we have the national Alpaca Owners Association, then regional and state affiliates throughout the country. Other countries have similar organizational structures, although the terminology may vary from country to country.
Advantages and Disadvantages to Joining an Association
Alpaca associations are generally nonprofit organizations that provide their membership multiple benefits which may include:
- Community interaction and networking
- Mentoring
- In person educational opportunities like neonatal clinics, fiber grading, farm marketing
- Online training such as webinars and remote seminars
- Sanctioned alpaca shows
- Youth competitions
- Industry updates in the form of research or news
- Services such as DNA testing, alpaca registrations, and fiber testing
- Fiber pools
- Product creation
- Member marketing
- Scholarship and grant opportunities
- Discounts and promotional offers for industry services and goods
While there are many benefits to joining, there are some negatives. In the U.S. affiliates are run by wonderful people who have limited time, so things are not as organized as they should be. I’ve found everyone to be super helpful, highly focused on the good of the industry, but just scarce on availability since they also have farms to run and families to care for. This means association websites might not work properly, content might not be fully updated, events might get postponed, or you might join and not hear from anyone right away.
I present the negatives to set expectations so you understand the constraints the leadership faces. It isn’t by choice, but by necessity. The animals will always come first, and this is the way it should be. I want you to know this before joining, because the alpaca industry is full of amazing people. They just have a limit to what they can deliver each day.
We’ve Experienced Pure Goodness
Make no mistake, when needed, your community members will come to help. Regardless of limited time available, multiple people will step in to help if you or your alpacas need assistance. We’ve encountered this time and time again since joining the alpaca community.
From saving a cria or providing medical advice to teaching us about histograms or product production, the community has been eager to step in help our farm succeed.
When you look at the benefit list of joining an association you won’t see this mentioned, but know it exists, and it has for decades.
My husband and I both know we are successful because we’ve had a village helping us get here. That village includes local alpaca owners and new industry friends on the other side of the country.
And it’s the reason I wanted to create an article about the associations. I want future alpaca owners to know goodness awaits and it includes both tangible and intangible benefits.
Finding an Alpaca Association Near You
I’ve curated a list of alpaca associations around the world to help you start and grow your farm or ranch.
I hope you take the opportunity to reach out and get involved. I promise the more you put in, the more you’ll get back.
If you have an alpaca association that isn’t on my list, please email me or comment below so I can expand the list. Please include membership cost, the estimated number of members, and the website URL.
If you have an existing member of an association and have a story to share, drop it in the comments below. I’d like people to see the goodness the alpaca community can offfer.
