Alpaca showcase

The last weekend in April, members of the Pacific Northwest Alpaca Association will join other alpaca breeders from the Northwest to exhibit their animals at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. There will be 100 farms represented and more than 400 exquisite alpacas on display.

Though they are becoming more common in our country, alpacas are quite unique animals. There are currently about 15 Alpaca farms in the Kootenai County area.

There are two types of alpacas: Huacaya and Suri. Huacayas have a teddy-bear like appearance, unlike the Suri, which have long, wispy strands of fiber somewhat similar to dreadlocks.

Alpaca fleece is one of the world’s finest and most luxurious natural fibers. It is as soft as cashmere, but warmer. It is lighter and stronger than wool. Alpacas range in colors from true black to shades of brown and gray, up to a pure white.

Two of the ranches that will be showing at the PNAA Showcase are Janus Alpaca and Fiber Co. and Moose Meadows Alpaca Ranch.

Janus Alpaca and Fiber Co. has recently moved from the south of Spokane to its newly built ranch in Athol, Idaho. It is situated on a beautiful open pastoral setting overlooking Mount Spokane. The awesome view is second only to the variety of colored alpacas that they breed and raise for the luxurious fiber.

Janus Alpaca and Fiber Co. is co-owned by Phil Lasswell from Pullman, and Bob Shailer, who is originally from Maine. Shailer is retired from nursing and devotes his time solely to breeding, marketing, selling and showing alpacas. Although Lasswell currently works for the city of Spokane, he is very much involved with the alpacas. Both men say, “It is a working ranch.” They sell quality breeding stock and provide top breeding services from their champion herd sires to other ranches in the Pacific Northwest and California.

Under the Janus name since 1983, they have consistently bred award-winning animals. In 1994, Lasswell and Shailer turned their attention to selectively breeding, purchasing and showing colored Huacaya alpacas. They are dedicated to producing alpacas with full fiber coverage, bright fleeces that exhibit fineness and density in a variety of natural colors. These are the characteristics that breeders look for when shopping for a quality animal.

Though they have gray, brown and fawn colored alpacas, more than 50 percent of their alpacas are black. Black has become a favorite color for many of the breeders.

Lasswell and Shailer as alpaca breeders, are in for the “long haul.” They love to share their knowledge with new breeders and are proud of their reputation for excellent client support and quality breeding stock. “We want everyone to succeed,” they say.

Lasswell and Shailer welcome ranch visits by appointment. Send e-mail to alpacaphil@aol.com.

Moose Meadows Alpaca Ranch near Athol is owned by Margaret Stickney, and her daughter and son-in-law, Robin and Kevin Illies. The trio operate a 160-acre ranch with 30 outstanding, colorful alpacas. The Illies call their place a “slice of heaven.” Their beautiful herd sire, fawn and white alpaca named Catcha Super Star, has won many ribbons. Meadows and the Illies invite visitors to take a break and join them for a visit. They have picnic tables and offer walking tours of their ranch, and sell alpaca products including throws, mittens, hats, socks, yarn and rovings – fleece that is ready to spin.

If you have ever been around alpacas you know that they make a humming sound. You often hear the humming between a mother and her cria (baby).

After spending a few hours at the alpaca showcase at the fairgrounds, you might find something to hum about, too.