Greetings from Suri Network Board

In February we had our educational online seminar series, "STRATEGICALLY SURI".

We learned about the following

• S.H.I.P, Don’t Let S.H.I.P. Sail Without You” from Arturo Pena and Cheryl Gehly. This gave background on what happens during our classification program.
• “Color Genetics – What Color is Your Alpaca” from Dr. Andrew Merriwether
• “Using Technology to Diagnose Female Alpaca Infertility” by Dr. Michelle Kutzler.
• To finish the series, we had Amanda VandenBosch present “Strategic Suri Improvement – Focus on Uniformity.” 

Thank you so much for all our speakers who took the time to share their knowledge with us and thank you to our sponsors for making the series possible.

Suri Network & Spring Alpaca Show Rallies

Spring has sprung with the 2022 show season. It has been wonderful to see old friends, meet new friends and new Suri breeders who are beginning their adventure into the wonderful world of Suris. The Suri Network held rallies at several spring shows. We had a great turnout, and excitement was in the air. Thanks to everyone who participated even though it was often extremely late in the day. At the National and MOPACA shows we had drawing for Purely Suri ad discounts.

Congratulations to our drawing winners: 

• Bob Figular and Lisa Collura of Memory M Acres who very graciously donated theirs to new breeders, Cassie and Alan Siktberg, Abundent Joy Alpacas
• Jackie King, Suri and Company
• Paula Clegg, Suri Alpacas of Indiana

PurelySuri Winter 2022

PurelySuri 2022 magazines have been mailed. Have you received your copy? If not, please contact the Suri Network office. It was so exciting to sit down and read all the interesting articles. We want to thank our sponsors that help us to produce such a great magazine.

Are you interested in writing article for PurelySuri, or do you have an idea for an article? Please contact the office or email Laurel Shouvlin with your ideas at laurelshouvlin@gmail.com.

 

Shearing & S.H.I.P.

Shearing is just around the corner for many farms if it has not already occurred. Are you ready?
We have educational tools on shearing, go to https://surinetwork.wildapricot.org/SN-Resources and prepare for your shearing experience.

• Shearing Quick Check Guide
• Harvest Code of Ethics
• Skirting a Suri Fleece for Uniformity
• Shearing and Skirting a Fleece for Competition

If you have not sheared yet, we encourage you to have your herd classified in the SHIP program before you shear. Have you signed up for your S.H.I.P classification prior to shearing? To schedule your classification, begin online with the application form: https://surinetwork.org/Application-Procedure-Steps.

Here is the highlight of the steps you will need to follow:

Step 1   Complete an online S.H.I.P. Application Form

Step 2   Request your classifier

Step 3   Create your herd list for your classification directly within the S.H.I.P. Database

Step 4   Prepare for the classification event

If you have already sheared this year, plan your SHIP classification now for the fall or winter.

The Suri Network All Suri Fleece Show

The animals are sheared, and the next question is “What to do with all those fleeces? “.
Remember The Suri Network All Suri Fleece Show is just around the corner!

Registration is now open for our annual fleece show and we are excited that Arturo Pena and Stephanie Glyptis, our new S.H.I.P. Classifiers will be our judges. This is a mail in fleece show that immediately follows the AOA National Fleece Show and is occurring in the same facility. Dawn Browning has kindly agreed to serve as our Show Superintendent so with this great lineup, we anticipate another great competition.

Karen Champion will once again be judging the Spin Off, Skeins, and Fiber Arts competition and once again, your fleeces, Fiber Art and Skein entries can compete in the AOA Show and then fleeces or products can be forwarded on to our show at no charge to you! Spin Off entries can be 2021 or 2022 fleeces.

We are extremely excited that The Woolery has agreed to donate gift certificates to the winners in the Fiber Arts and Spin Off competitions and once again those fleeces winning championships and special awards in the Fleece Show will have photographs of those fleeces.

Sponsorships are still available, and more volunteers as well. Please contact Laurel Shouvlin at laurelshouvlin@gmail.com if you have any questions or would like to volunteer.

Registration closes for all competitions on July 7th. Entries must be received in the mail by July 15th or July 17th if hand delivered to the show.

WHAT’S HAPPENING NEXT?

• In the next few weeks we will be voting for two new trustees for the Suri Network Board. Look for more information coming soon about our nominees and the timing for the ballot in a separate email. This is your opportunity to help define the direction of Suri Network. Please be active and vote!
• Do not forget to renew your membership by June 1st. Also think about other Suri breeders who have are not members and encourage them to join.
• Suri Network will be working to create new educational and marketing tools. We want to take a moment to thank Bob Figular and Lisa Collura of Memory M-Acres for a wonderful donation that will help this effort.
• Online auction will be happening later this year. If you have any ideas for unique items to be included in the auction, please contact the office.

DID YOU KNOW:

The small size of the average alpaca farm lends itself to features of sustainability:

• Personalized care for the animals.
• Selling your products off the farm, thereby eliminating all the additional transportation (carbon emissions) of the commercial textile products.
• ‘Slow fashion’ (high quality, long lasting) products for sale.

And much more. Look for sustainability talking points coming from the SN Fiber Committee in 2022!