DMAR Alpaca and Maremma Blog

DMAR Update for Week Ending 2/28/09:

Tom and I are super busy this week finalizing all aspects of the SouthWest Regional Alpaca Show that is being held next weekend at the Arizona State Fairgrounds in Phoenix. Over 400 alpacas will be attending and over 100 different ranches. Although this was a tremendous project for Tom and me as event managers I think we have covered all the necessary parts. We are super excited as usual and can’t wait to see what the judges think of our group of alpacas. As the owners I can tell you that we are quite biased to our own and almost always think our alpacas are better than everyone elses. Ha ha. We will be taking five of our young males and of course Dominique.

If you are interested in going to the show please feel free to visit the show website at http://www.swras.org for more information. It is free to the public except for the parking.

Ever since our article has come out in the papers we have been booking more visits and tours of our ranch. Tessa, the 8 wk old pup, is the overall biggest hit with the guests. She is so fluffy and loving towards the visitors. She allows them to hold her and she offers her little puppy kisses. Once they place her on the ground she is playing with their shoes and then rolling over on her back offering her belly to be petted. What a ham!

The other big hit is Magnum, the month old cria of Kaitlyn and Lock & Load. At two weeks of age he started chasing the other alpacas around trying to breed them. He makes the orgling noise and everything. Granted he doesn’t know exactly what to do since sometimes he is mounting the victim’s neck, but he’s trying. Anyway the poor little guy now has the nickname of being “the horny one”. It is quite amusing to see and if you come visit us it is very likely that you will see it as he puts on this performance everytime we have visitors.

That’s my update for now.

DMAR Update for Week Ending 2-21-09

Tom and I are working hard on finishing up the details for the 2009 SouthWest Regional Show that will be held on March 7-8th, at the Arizona State Fairgounds. This is the first time we are both the Event Managers and it has been a trying and exciting venture. Now we can’t wait for the day to arrive and then finally be over.

DMAR will be turning off the web cam for approx. 6 months. It is much more cost effective to have the web cam working during the birthing season vs. all year round. The camera should be turned off the 1st of March and then turning on again the 1st of October. Thank you for watching and we invite you to watch again in October.

Tessa, the maremma pup, will be going to her new home on March 1st. Tessa will be guarding goats in Maricopa, AZ. She will definitely be missed!

We are now up to 26 alpacas in total. Luckily all are doing well and we are very happy. Please call us to schedule your visit.  520-803-9569 or email at info@desertmtnalpacas.com.

DMAR Mercedes arrived on Friday, Feb. 6th. She is a true white, but true to form she is now turning an Arizona peach with each roll she takes on the ground. Mercedes mom, Carina, is doing well. She is a great mom who is attentive to her cria. Notice Mercedes top knot outline in the headshot photo above. It is identical to her sire, HRAZ Lock & Load. This female cria has a very impressive lineage including Peruvian Caligula, PPeruvian Victor, Peruvian Hemingway, and Bolivian Cheiftan.

Mercedes was born strong and vivacious. She was shaking her head as soon as it popped out of Carina and I was yelling at Tommy to check her out. I couldn’t believe it. Once out she was trying to stand immediately, but having a lot of problems. Tom tried to help her stand, but she was literally trying to run before even knowing how to walk. Mercedes is Lock & Load’s second cria. Magnum is his first and between Magnum and Mercedes I can honestly say these were the most vivacious, strong, and healthy crias we have had to date.

HRAZ Lock & Load is proving to be quite an impressive sire. Magnum’s fiber has tight, tight twisty locks whereas Mercedes has a very impressive staple length with bolder waves. This is due to Carina’s lineage. Last year’s cria, Armani, was born with the same fiber structure and after his first shearing the crimps came in beautifully. So much so that he is a reserve color champion. HRAZ Lock & Load is in the SWRAS Stimulus Male Sale this year. The auction starts at $500 for a breeding to this white, dense, crimpy, and beautiful lock structured male. Don’t miss your chance to get his genetics into your herd. For more information on Lock & Load visit our services page at http://www.desermtnalpacas.com/services.html.

DMAR Calendar for 2009:

February 2009
Feb. 5th-RV tour for the Saddlebrook Community.

Feb. 6th – 8th-Outdoor Arts and Crafts Festival at the Desert Diamond Casino located at I-19 and Pima Mine Rd.

Feb. 19th-RV tour starting at 11AM.

Feb. 26th-Exchange Student Tour starting at 9 AM. The students are from Germany and this will be their first time meeting alpacas and visiting an alpaca ranch.

March 2009
March 6th – 8th-11th Annual SouthWest Regional Alpaca Show held at the Arizona State Fairgrounds in Phoenix. We will be bringing 5 alpacas to compete. Tom and I are the show event managers and to date we have over 350 alpacas attending. The show is free to the public. If you are interested in getting into the alpaca business this is a great opportunity to meet alpaca breeders and learn what it takes to get into the business. Feel free to peruse our show website at www.swras.org for more information.

March 19th-3rd Annual Sierra Vista’s Moms Club Tour. These moms and kids love to come and spend time at our ranch. We have a few alpacas that love to provide all the children with alpaca kisses.

March 21st-Club Scout Tour. This will be the first time we are priviledged to host a tour for the club scouts. We are looking forward to it.

March 28thAlpaca Know How Seminar Series: Learn How to Make an Informed Alpaca Decision. For more information click on the seminar link on the left column of categories.

April 2009

April 22nd-Shearing of all 26 alpacas at Desert Mtn Alpaca Ranch will occur.

May 2009

June 2009

July 2009

August 2009

August 1st – 2nd: FABA Fleece Show in Eustis, FL. I am real excited since  I sent in fleeces for the following alpacas: DMAR Royal Knight, DMAR Armani, DMAR Dominique, and DMAR White Russian.  I can’t wait to see how we do. This show is a level II.

September 2009

September 13th - 2009 Home & Business Expo at the Sierra Vista Buena High School. The Chamber of Congress puts on this expo, so that its members can speak to the public as to the products and services they provide. Come out and see us! We will have displays and alpaca products for purchase. This event is free to the public and will be held from 9 am to 4 pm.

Sept. 26th – 27thNational Alpaca Farm Days. All across the US alpaca ranches open their ranches to the public for viewing. Come spend a day with us and learn all about alpacas. Visit our store for luxurious alpaca products. You will be surprised how much you will learn and enjoy the alpacas and what is made from their beautiful fiber.

October 2009

Oct. 9th – 11th-Patagonia Fall Festival in Patagonia, AZ. Over 10,000 people attend this festival. For the past couple of years we have been vendors and bring a couple of our alpacas for the public to view. We have received great responses from the public on both the alpacas and their products.

Oct. 24th-SouthWest Fiber Festival held in Sahuarita, AZ. This is the 2nd annual fiber festival. They will hold fiber classes on the 23rd and then open up the location to vendors on the 24th. Come spend the day and if you are a fiber enthusiast then you don’t want to miss this festival. There will be alpacas and sheep on site.

November 2009

Nov. 14th – 15th-Holy Trinity Fall Festival of the Arts held in St. David, AZ. This will be our 2nd time being vendors at this festival. They welcomed us last year with open arms. The grounds of the monastery is absolutely beautiful and they truly are their own sustainable community. Tom and I look forward to attending this festival again this year.

Nov. 26th-Desert Mtn Alpaca Ranch will be closed to observe Thanksgiving holiday.

December 2009

Dec. 25thDesert Mtn Alpaca Ranch will be closed to observe Christmas.