Events

Leading the nation in Education and more!


Upcoming Events:

April 13, 2024, Managing Your Alpacas for Optimal Reproductive Efficiency – Dr. Ahmed Tibary

We are hosting renowned educator, veterinarian and speaker, Dr. Ahmed Tibary, Professor Emeritus from Washington State University.  He is the acknowledged expert on Camelid reproduction. Oklahoma State University in Stillwater is graciously opening their facilities for lectures and a tour of the Large Animal Hospital on Saturday, April 13, 2024. You don’t want to miss this event!

Fees:

  • A-OK Members – $75.00
  • Non-Members – $150.00
  • Vet Student/A-OK Jr. Members – $25.00

Zoom format of lectures is available!
(Meeting ID and Passcode will be emailed to you the week before the event.)

Become an A-OK Member for just $75.00

6 Hours of CE Credit is available for Oklahoma Veterinarians. Other states may allow credit; please check with your state board regarding credit. Please register early due to OSU paperwork requirements!

Schedule

  • 8:30 AM – Check-In
  • 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
    Dr. Tibary will speak on herd management to maximize reproductive efficiency. This lecture/discussion will focus on herd management that affects reproductive success. Attendees are welcome to interact with questions on situations with which they have dealt. Direct participation of attendees is encouraged!
  • 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM — Lunch
  • 1:00 PM to end
    Tour of OSU Veterinary Hospital for Alpaca Owners and Breeders.
  • 1:00 – 2:00 PM
    Lecture (designed for Veterinary Students/Veterinarians) covering the reproductive physiology and breeding soundness exams in camelids.
  • 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
    Discussion (designed for Veterinary Students/Veterinarians) focusing on reproductive problems and reproductive emergencies in camelids.
  • Lunch & Snack Breaks Included
  • The day will include Lectures for Alpaca Owners & Breeders, Veterinarians, & Vet Students
  • Lots of time for Q & A
  • OSU Large Animal Clinic & Hospital Tour

Location:

Roger J Panciera (RJP) Education Center
Rooms 140 & 142
208 S. McFarland St. at Farm Rd.
Stillwater OK 74074

Dr. Ahmed Tibary image
Dr. Ahmed Tibary is Professor Emeritus,
Comparative Theriogenology (Equine,
Ruminant, Camelid) at the College of
Veterinary Medicine, Washington State
University, Pullman, WA, USA.

Dr. Tibary is one of five authors of the Llama and Alpaca Care, the acknowledged veterinary text on Medicine, Surgery, Reproduction, Nutrition and Herd Health. —Cebra, Anderson, Tibary, Van Saun, Johnson. This text is Designed for the mixed practice large animal veterinarian, veterinary students, and camelid caretakers alike. Llama and Alpaca Care covers all major body systems, herd health, physical examination, nutrition, reproduction, surgery, anesthesia, and multisystem diseases of llamas and alpacas.

Dr. Tibary has served in various positions around the world starting his career in Morocco doing research on equine and ruminant Theriogenology. He worked as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Equine Theriogenology at the University of Minnesota from 1990-1992. He then accepted a position as the Scientific Director of the Veterinary Research Center in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates where he helped develop a referral center for infertility and artificial breeding in Arabian horses and camels. In 1998, he joined the College of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State where he is now a professor and head of the Comparative Theriogenology service providing clinical service and conducting research in equine, ruminant and camelid reproductive medicine and surgery.

Dr. Tibary devoted most of his career to teaching Theriogenology and conducting applied research on equine, ruminants, and camelid reproduction. He received several awards recognizing his excellence in teaching and clinical practice including the Norden Distinguished Teacher Award (2001 and 2005), the faculty member award by the Washington State Veterinary Medical Association (2003), the WSU Veterinary Continuing Education Award (2002) and the Veterinary Achievement Award by the Alpaca Research Foundation (2007). He was named the 2011 “Theriogenologist of the Year” by the American College of Theriogenologists. Dr Tibary provided large animal reproductive medicine and surgery continuing education programs for veterinarians around the world.  He is the author of over 70 peer-review scientific publications, 85 scientific abstracts, 5 books and over 130 book chapters on camelid, equine and ruminant reproduction. He is and active member of the Society for Theriogenology, the American Association of Equine Practitioners, the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, the International Society of Camelid Research and Development, and the International Embryo Transfer Society.

Note:

You will receive a receipt and an electronic ticket(s) in your email when you register.
You will need the ticket to check in on the day of the Event.
Your ticket can be:
1—Saved to your cell phone Wallet; or,
2—Simply the email that shows your electronic ticket; or,
3—A printed copy of your ticket.

Share the event information with your Veterinarian—Oklahoma Vets can receive CE Credit through OSU. Vets need to register soon to allow time for OSU’s paperwork to be processed.


May 18, 2024, SaturdayMay Membership Meeting

Location: TBD
Time: 10:00 AM

November 8-10, 2024: A-OK Shows —
A-OK Alpaca Blast-Off Show &

A-OK Rose Rock Alpaca Show

Returning to the Grady County Fairgrounds & Event Center
500 E Choctaw Ave
Chickasha OK 73018


Prior Events:

2024 January Membership Annual Meeting

Annual Election of Board Officers, 2023 Year in Review, 2024 A-OK Blast-Off and Rose Rock Show dates are November 9th and 10th at Grady County Fair Grounds, A-OK Committees.  We need members to help on our Education, Membership and Corporate Sponsorship committees

Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 10:00 am
Magnolia Blossom Ranch
2901 NW 16th Street
Newcastle, OK 73065

Grady County Free Fair, August 24-26, 2023


2023 EVENTS


The Grady County Free Fair is an event that brings together businesses and organizations through Grady County and Oklahoma to Chickasha for one jam packed weekend. The fair has business and horse exhibits along with a carnival and the crowning of the Grady County Fair Princess. (More details at the above link.)

Alpacas of Oklahoma will return again to this event as an exhibitor with Alpacas being made available to those that visit our booth. This is an excellent opportunity for A-OK to educate the public as well as encourage attendance at the Double Show in November! We are in need of Volunteers to help set up on Wednesday, August 23rd as well as during the event days, Thursday-Saturday.

November 10-12, 2023: A-OK Shows —
A-OK Alpaca Blast-Off Show &

A-OK Rose Rock Alpaca Show

• Registration opened on 7/15/2023.
Early-Bird Discounts end 9/30/2023
Registration Closes on 10/30/2023!

This will be our 17th Annual A-OK Blast-Off Show, and the 2nd A-OK Rose Rock Alpaca Show. Details can be found on our website.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!!

November 11-12, 2022
Grady County Fairgrounds & Event Center
500 E Choctaw Ave
Chickasha OK 73018


2023 August Member Meeting Event

10:00 AM, Saturday, August 5, 2023

Cardinal Creek Farm
Lillian Dixon, Owner
19200 N. Council Road
Edmond, OK 73012

405-830-4649

Education event:

A presentation of the Alpaca Owners Association Educational Video titled “Heat Stress in Camelids” by David E. Anderson, DVM, MS, Current Professor of Large Animal Surgery and Head Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Tennessee.

2023 May Membership Meeting

Education events for:

  • A dryer ball shortcut by Al Boyce
  • A show and tell of products that we use at Aubrey Oaks Alpacas

Lillian Dixon
Cardinal Creek Farm
19200 N. Council Road
Edmond, OK 73012
405-830-4649


2023 January Membership Annual Meeting

Annual Election of Board Officers, Show Committee Selections, plus education:

  • Meredith Bajorek, CPA Tax Manager is our guest!

Saturday, January 21, 2023 at 10:00 am
Magnolia Blossom Ranch
2901 NW 16th Street
Newcastle, OK 73065


2022 EVENTS


November 11-13, 2022: A-OK Shows —
Alpaca Blast-Off & Rose Rock Re-Entry

Registration opens on 7/1/2022. This will be our 16th Annual Blast-Off, and the inaugural Rose Rock Re-Entry Alpaca Show. Details can be found on our website.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!!

November 12-13, 2022
Grady County Fairgrounds
   & Event Center
500 E Choctaw Ave
Chickasha OK 73018


2022 October Membership Meeting

We will be meeting at Mike and Whitney Mullica’s Ranch in Oklahoma City.  They will be providing lunch for us that day, so we do need your RSVP for planning. Contact Debbie Ashley to RSVP!

WHEN:  Saturday, October 22, 2022
TIME:    10:00 am
WHERE
Easy Money Alpacas
Mike & Whitney Mullica
6009 SE 156th Street
Oklahoma City, OK   73165


Saturday, October 1, 2022: Neonatal Clinic

Your A-OK Education Committee has prepared a Neonatal Clinic here in Oklahoma this Fall with Dr. Cheryl DeWitt of Camelid Reproductive Services. 

Biography: Dr. Cheryl DeWitt, DVM is an associate veterinarian at Camelid Veterinary Services. She attended North Carolina State University for graduate studies, then relocated to Ohio to work in camelid medicine.

Class Summary: This clinic will start with a morning lecture that includes a power-point presentation. The lecture will cover:

• female reproduction/breeding
• reproductive anatomy and physiology
• breeding and pregnancy diagnosis options
• gestational development
• care of the pregnant dam
• normal and abnormal criation and care of the newborn and the high-risk cria

The afternoon will be utilizing deceased crias in a hands-on wet lab using uterine simulators. It will provide participants opportunities to diagnose the contents of the uterus, discuss a proposed delivery plan, identify and correct dystocias to deliver the cria safely, and emergency training.

REGISTRATION IS OPEN to A-OK Members ONLY
until 9/1/2022

Spaces ARE LIMITED to 25 for the wet lab and lecture, and an additional 25 for the lecture only. Registrations are accepted in the order in which they are received. Attendees will receive a light breakfast and lunch, a workbook and other handouts.

MEMBER RANCHES ARE LIMITED TO 2 REGISTRATIONS AT THE MEMBER PRICE. — ADDITIONAL REGISTRATIONS ARE AT THE NON-MEMBER PRICE!

If you are unable to attend in person you may also view the lecture via Zoom. A digital version of the workbook will be provided for ZOOM participants.

Check-in and light breakfast will begin at 8:00 am. The lecture begins at 8:30 am. We expect to conclude the clinic around 4:30 pm.

The location is:

Magnolia Blossom Ranch
2901NW 16th St.
Newcastle OK 73065

• A-OK 2022 Members Lecture & Wet Lab$150.00
• A-OK 2022 Members Lecture Only$100.00
• Non-Members Lecture & Wet Lab$225.00
• Non-Members Lecture Only$175.00
• ZOOM Lecture Participation$100.00
• Jr Members Lecture & Wet Lab$75.00
• Jr Members Lecture Only$50.00
Payments can be made by PayPal or Credit Card,
or you may mail a check to our A-OK Treasurer.

August 6, 2022: Summer Member Meeting

UPDATE: Our meeting location has been changed. We will now be meeting at 10:00 am at:
Terri and Kerry Bates
Magnolia Blossom Ranch
2901 NW 16th Street
Newcastle, OK  73065

Our next A-OK Membership meeting was to be hosted by Mike and Whitney Mullica of Easy Money Alpacas, Oklahoma City, OK starting at 10:00 am. Mark your calendar now.  Mike and Whitney have been very active members of A-OK for under 2 years and we were looking forward to visiting their ranch but that will have to be another time.

Addi Knitting Machine Session Included in the meeting!
Also, don’t forget that we will be having a demonstration and instruction on the Addi Knitting Machines.  Sheila and John(2) Robinson and Janice and John(1) Robinson will be bringing this fun class to us. 

You will learn how to turn your own yarn into unique, saleable products. 
They will have a few Addi machines available for sale at the class.

June 17, 2022: Youth Alpaca Handling Clinic

A-OK member, Magnolia Blossom Ranch is having their Summer Kids’ Alpaca Camp June 14-16, with an optional clinic on Friday, June 17 with Staci Forshee that is specifically for kids that want to learn how to show animals in the Performance Events at our Blast-Off Show in November.  This Friday event is 8am-noon, and kids, as well as parents and volunteers (we need more volunteers to also get ready for the show) are encouraged to attend.  The Friday clinic is $25 per youth and A-OK will have a Pizza lunch afterward.  Please spread the word to kids that are interested in Alpacas and want to learn more.  Contact Terri Bates at Magnolia Blossom Ranch for more information and to sign up.    mbranch.bb@gmail.com  www.magnoliablossomranch.com   Terri-405-412-4845


June 4, 2022: Fiber Pool Collection

Gail Stymerski, our Fiber Pool Coordinator, sent out an email on 5/20/22 to members in Oklahoma and close by announcing June 4th as the date to bring your fiber for the Pool collection.  The location will be Just Right Alpacas/Janice Robinson/in Jones, OK.  There are several other drop off sites where fiber will be accepted prior to June 4th and brought to the collection “party” at Just Right Alpacas.  Please find your email for details.  You can contact Gail at 405-505-4884 for more information.  Please plan to participate in this A-OK sponsored opportunity to get your fiber out of the bags and turned into $$$ for your farm.


2022 April Membership Meeting

WHEN:  Saturday, April 30, 2022
TIME:    10:00 am
WHERE:  TBD
BRING:    Pot Luck lunch


2022 January Annual Membership Meeting/Educational Event

The meeting begins at 10:00 am, and we will start with a Zoom educational presentation by Dr. Brian Wadzinski from Vanderbilt University on “…how alpacas can help biomedical research.”  This should be very interesting.  Please be on time for this. 

After the Zoom educational event we will have:

  • Our Annual Election of Board Members
  • A clarification of Article V, Section 5.2 of our Alpacas of Oklahoma By-Laws
  • A presentation about Fiber Pools
  • Presentation of financial statements from the A-OK Blast-Off as well as the A-OK 2021 final report
  • A-OK Blast-Off Committee for the 2022 show will be formed
  • An explanation of our A-OK/Open Herd relationship and how that can benefit your ranch

After these we will have a Pot Luck lunch. After lunch our new Board of Directors will meet briefly.

WHEN:  Saturday, January 22, 2022
TIME:    10:00 am
WHERE:  Magnolia Blossom Alpaca Ranch
2901 NW 16th Street
Newcastle, OK 73065
BRING:    Pot Luck lunch
Members & Interested Guests—Please plan to attend our Annual Membership Meeting/Board Election next week on Saturday, January 22,2022.  We have several important items to discuss and vote on, so your presence is important.

Membership Meeting/A-OK Blast-Off Show Planning

WHEN:  Saturday, October 23, 2021
TIME:    10:00 am
WHERE:  Magnolia Blossom Alpaca Ranch
2901 NW 16th Street
Newcastle, OK 73065
BRING:    Pot Luck lunch


2021 EVENTS


2021 A-OK Alpaca Blast-Off Show

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!!

November 13-14, 2021
— New Modern Location! —
Grady County Fairgrounds
   & Event Center
500 E Choctaw Ave
Chickasha OK 73018

Judges

  • Kevin O’Leary – Halter
  • Beverly Brehm – Halter
  • Laurel Shouvlin – Fleece, Walking Fleece, Performance

All the details are on our website.

“Dye Your Buns” Class

Have you ever wanted to learn to dye your Alpaca fiber and yarn?  Our Education Committee has planned a class just for that!  On Saturday, August 7, 2021, we will have a “Dye Your Buns” class with well-known fiber artist, Liz Mitchko, from Whirlwind Ranch in Lebanon, Missouri. “This class is great for the young and old who want to play with colors using items from your kitchen.  Students will dye provided yarn and roving samples”.  The fee for the class is $35 for A-OK members and $50 for non-members.  This will include all the supplies and handouts.  The theme for the Pot Luck lunch is “Summer Salads”, so bring something yummy and cool to share at lunch.  We will be in the Ranch House at the Barn at Country Club in Newcastle, OK.

WHEN:  Saturday, August 7, 2021
TIME:    10:00 am
WHERE:  The Barn at Country Club
                 1675 OK-37
                 Newcastle, OK  73065
BRING:    Summer Salad for Pot Luck lunch
Something to write with, a sharpie marker, and a gallon zip lock bag or two for damp items to take home. You may also bring other yarns (must be protein based) to dye using remaining dyes after class.  Wear clothing appropriate for dyeing or bring an apron to protect clothing.
COST:      $35 for A-OK members; $50 for non-members (Please have a current paid A-OK Membership to get the $35 price!)


Summer 2021 Education Event

Topics: Geriatric Alpaca Care & Heat Stress Prevention and Treatment
When:   Thursday, June 10, 2021 at 7:00 pm
Where:  Online Webinar
Speaker:  Dr. Meredyth Jones, Oklahoma State University, College of Veterinary Medicine

COST: Free to Members

Slide Show of: Geriatric Care of Camelids

Slide Show of: Heat Stress Mitigation for Camelids


Spring 2021 Membership Meeting

When:   Saturday, May 1, 2021 at 10:00 am
Where:  M & M Supply
               521 East Choctaw
               Chickasha, OK   73018
RSVP to: Debbie Ashley
aok.pres@gmail.com

We will be having a membership meeting and field trip on Saturday, May 1st in Chickasha, Oklahoma.  As part of the meeting, we will be preparing approximately 1200 A-OK Alpaca Blast-Off “Save the Date” postcards for mailing.  This involves putting on prepared address labels and postage stamps. 

Our hosts for the day are Michael and Whitney Mullica.  They are new alpaca owners and members of Alpacas of Oklahoma.  They and M & M Supply in Chickasha and have invited us to have our meeting there.  They are located across the street from Grady County Fairgrounds, which is where our A-OK Alpaca Blast-Off will take place in November.  Michael is experienced at cooking for a crowd, as he says he has to cook for his crew to keep them happy on the job.  He will be preparing our lunch after our meeting.  We must have your RSVP for lunch by Saturday, April 24th.  Also, if you have any dietary restrictions, please let me know at that time as well.  Michael and Whitney have generously offered to feed us at no charge, but I will have a “donation” box to allow you to say Thank You.

After the meeting, we will take a field trip at the venue so everyone can see what we are so excited about.  There will be an event taking place, so we will be able to see all the buildings and we can experience the lighting, the sound system and anything else we can think of!

If you have not yet renewed your Alpacas of Oklahoma dues of $75 for 2021, please bring a check with you that day and our Treasurer, Betsy Morehead will be happy to accept it.  For an additional $75, you can become a Benefactor and receive additional benefits such as our website showcase advertising and discounts on educational events.  Thank you!!

Fiber Mill Tour and Fleece Skirting Workshop

WHEN:  Sunday, April 11, 2021
TIME: 
1:00 pm until approximately 3:00 pm
WHERE: 
ScissorTail Yarn and Fiber Mill
                 119 N. Crawford Ave.
                  Norman, Oklahoma 73069
                  405-642-7991

COST: Free to Members

Open to Members Only

Instructors:

  • Betsy Morehead
  • Janice Robinson

Neonatal Class and Wet Lab

Instructors: Dr. Meredyth Jones and Dr. Melanie Boileau OSU College of Veterinary Medicine

Date: Saturday, September 5, 2020

Time:
9:30 am Check-in
10:00 am Start 1st session
12:00 pm Lunch
12:30 pm Start 2nd session

Where:
Land Run Alpaca Ranch
780596 S. Hwy 18
Agra, OK 74824-1015
John Robinson, cell # 405-519-5906
Sheila Robinson, cell # 405-226-9005

Cost: $40 per PERSON

Registration:
Limited to the first 24 PAID MEMBERS of A-OK that register by August 26, 2020.

Note: Please plan to bring your mask or face covering to this event.

Please contact A-OK President, Debbie Ashley for any event questions.