Greetings from Suri Network Board
Reflecting on 2023, it is a moment to acknowledge both the challenges and achievements of the past year. It might have been a year of growth, learning, and resilience. Each experience, whether positive or challenging, contributed to your personal development. As we move forward, let us carry the lessons of 2023 with us and use them to shape a brighter future in 2024– challenge yourself to try new things, learn new things and develop the potential not only for yourself but for your business and farm. What are your plans for 2024?
As everyone is busy reviewing their business plan, determining what educational events and shows they might attend, making decisions for breeding, do not forget to schedule your S.H.I.P. evaluations.
What’s Happening at Suri Network:
Purely Suri
Purely Suri magazine will be released in the first quarter of 2024. This is a wonderful opportunity to explore new perspectives and ideas. We have included articles to better understand medullation, learn more about animal communication and agritourism and farm tours to name just a few. We are excited about this publication and cannot wait to have it at your door soon. Thanks to Dale Davis and Laurel Shouvlin for all their efforts to publish this magazine.
Online Silent Auction
Congratulations! The Online Silent Auctions was a success and raised just under $6000. These funds will be supporting ongoing educational and marketing efforts. A big thank you to all the donors who contributed to making this achievement possible.
Membership
The new membership introduction initiative is set to launch in the first quarter of 2024. Stay tuned for its rollout. The membership committee has been diligently updating the new membership packet, which will include an electronic version via email as part of this initiative. We will be providing more details soon.
S.H.I.P. (Suri Herd Improvement Program)
Now is the time to schedule S.H.I.P for this spring. Everyone is busy planning for the spring show season but do not forget to get this in your plan also.
What other program can provide a qualitative evaluation of 16 key classification traits (8 conformation and 8 fiber traits) on each of your Suri alpacas? Upon completion of the individual assessments the classifier spends time discussing the information collected and affords the opportunity to discuss and sort the data according to expressed farm goals, both current and future. All S.H.I.P. classification scores are stored in a specific S.H.I.P. database.
Consider scheduling an S.H.I.P. classification now. One of the classifiers can help you select the timing depending upon your shearing dates. Click on the following link to learn more about S.H.I.P. https://surinetwork.wildapricot.org/SHIP
The Jim Barker Suri Network Ambassador Award
Established in 2013, this award is to recognize a Suri Network member who exemplifies Jim Barker’s commitment to and enthusiasm toward the Suri alpaca industry.
This year’s recipient has the spirit of passion to promote the Suri breed. This couple got their first alpacas, Suris, 32 years ago at the 1991 import of Tom Hunt’s in Michigan. They have never looked back. One of their first purchases was a true black alpaca named Fruzan Noi, the first black Suri in the US. This sent them on the trajectory and having the reputation of raising the best black Suris in the county. Fast forward to 2023 and they are still at it, every year calculating breeding decisions in line with improving the Suri breed. They have shared their enthusiasm with many alpaca breeders across the country by mentoring and educating them on breeding decisions. His keen sense of pedigree lines and predictability has helped shape the US Suri breed. They have contemplated retirement many times but their passion for the breed and the people have prevented that from happening.
We would like to announce our new winner for 2023 - Mike and Janet Wilkins.
Congratulations and thank you for all that you have done for the industry.
Suri Network Website
Take a few minutes to look at the Website. We have been making changes to the look of the website.
This is just a snippet of what we are offering. When you are on the website, click on each of the pictures for more information.
Fiber Committee and Suri Simply Stunning Brand
The brand committee has been busy. Here are just a few of their accomplishments.
- The signage and hangtags have been updated to show the “R”’ and they have a QR code that will link to more information about the brand.
- Each of the social media video series that SN produced promotes Suri fiber.
Hannah Thiessen: Why knit with Suri
Celeste Malvar Stewart: Why Felt with Suri
Sally Brandon: Weaving with Suri
Pat Maley - Spinning with Suri
- Each video has the Suri Simply Stunning mark come up at the end and there is information on where viewers can go to find out more about Suri Simply Stunning and the growers and fiber artist who participate in the program. To date, those videos have had over 2, 200 views.
- In addition, a compilation of segments from the first four videos was created, by the team that specifically focuses on the Suri Simply Stunning
- Liz Vahlkamp and Laurel Shouvlin were featured speakers on Long Thread Medias’ Long Thread Podcast – Spotlight Episode which dropped on December 9th, 2023. The segment was all about Suri Network, the breed, the fiber, and the Suri Simply Stunning mark. In the first five days, we had over 2,000 downloads! In June, Suri Network will be given the audio file and at that time we will share that with our members. For now, though, feel free to visit https://longthreadmedia.com/podcast.
- Presentation to attendees of Education with a Destination about Suri Simply Stunning which includes many non-Suri owners.
How are you using the Suri Simply Stunning Brand? Let us know.
Mark Your Calendars
A new 3-part Webinar Series will be held September 12, 19 and 26th, 2024 - “September With Suris.”
The Education Committee will have more information coming out soon.
Sustainability – Did You Know
Unlike commercial producers, U.S. alpaca growers often use a one-stop shop format for processing where the fiber is sent to a mill that washes, spins, and in some cases makes garments with the fiber, thereby minimizing the carbon footprint. (NOTE: carbon footprint refers to the fuel used when shipping and transporting).
The SN Board
Beth Sheets – President
Liz Vahlkamp – Vice President
Nikki Griffith – Secretary
Laurel Shouvlin – Treasurer
Karen Ball - Member at Large
Randy Brealey – Member at Large
Candy McMahan – Member at Large