Upcoming Events:
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
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
Prior Events:
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 |
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. [email protected] 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 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
[email protected]
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.