| Suri Network News |
January 2016
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President's Letter The beginning of a new year holds so much promise. It's a blank slate that we can use to create the future we desire. We can choose our priorities, our activities, our attitudes, and put it all down in a written plan...if we choose. As you plan your year, consider incorporating just a few of the benefits that your Suri Network membership offers, including:
Check out the rest of the Suri Network membership benefits and use them to your advantage. Wishing all a happy and productive 2016! Patty Hasselbring President, Suri Network 2016 Suri Network Summer Symposium - mark your calendar! Mark your calendar now for the 2016 Suri Network Summer Symposium and Fleece Show, themed "Weaving the Fabric of Our Industry". As always, the Symposium will bring together topics of interest in all areas of alpaca farming, from health and nutrition to fiber and product. . If you attended the 2015 Symposium, you know that the venue is top-notch. And of course, the Symposium  was packed with first rate education in a wide range of topics.We have a great committee chaired by Andrew Reed working on planning our Symposium this year. OpenHerd Changes You may have heard about the changes that OpenHerd made as of January 1, 2016. Where farms could previously register for a free site and list all their animals at no charge on OpenHerd, now farms may only select five animals for public display. The good news is this: if you are a Suri Network member, ALL your animals will continue to be displayed on the Suri Network site, even if you do not sign up for a paid site on OpenHerd. Yes, this membership benefit just got even better!!! If you are not on OpenHerd yet, and you are a Suri Network member, we hope this will be encouragement to you to start your farm page on OpenHerd and list your animals. They will ALL show up on Suri Network's Find a Farm page. And, if you are not a Suri Network member, there is no better time to join! You just simply cannot beat this benefit. Remember, when people google Suri Alpacas, the Suri Network is the #1 choice! Suri Breed Standard Review
Many will remember when the Suri Network developed the Suri Breed Standard seven years ago. This was a ground-breaking accomplishment! Breed standards need to be reviewed and updated periodically, and we are set to do that in 2016.
Tim Sheets and Linda Kondris will co-chair a committee to review the Suri Breed Standard. They have developed a process that involves input from members. More detail will be coming to you soon! Suri Network Live! We know that it is not always geographically or financially feasible to attend a conference or training session in person. So, last year we developed a series of webinars - one hour sessions on various topics of interest to members. In 2015 we had webinars on fleece, fleece shows, and water quality. First up in 2016: "Tax Time - Preparation Happens All Year Round" Suri Network member and Certified Public Accountant Brion Smoker will present this one hour session on preparing for tax season, record keeping, and maximizing benefits as a livestock business. Start 2016 right! January 14, 2016, at 7:30 pm central time. Cost is $35 for non-members and $25 for members. Register here! Most webinars are recorded, so if you are unable to participate in person, check back in after the webinar to catch the recording. You can see them here. SHIP - Time to schedule SHIP at your farm! The ideal time for your SHIP herd classification is spring prior to shearing. For often less than the cost of attending a show, you can gain invaluable information on every Suri in your herd who are one year of age and older. You will have the opportunity to observe the hands-on, rating of eight key conformation traits and eight essential fleece characteristics for each animal. Your SHIP classification scores will allow you to make important breeding decisions that will lead to your herd’s rapid advancement in positive quality traits.
Go to SuriSHiP.org for more information and the SHIP application form. Submit your application now to assure scheduling for this spring. Dates are filling. |
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