We are both ex-airforce from worldwide tours of duty during most of the '70's. We got out, spent 3 years in Ohio, then out to California Dreamin for 17 years. We both finally left the GM-Toyota Automotive field and returned to Ohio due to elderly care and family. We live in Dan's childhood hometown of Clyde, OH. Dan was diagnosed with terminal cancer shortly after our return and we are now taking life at a slower pace and concentrating on the daily joys. Happily, he is still with us 4 years after that shocking diagnosis of metastatic cancer and responds well to monthly treatments so far.

Bon took a garden club bus trip in June of 2006 and discovered the alpaca business. She does the research and provides all the enthusiasm. Really it is pretty much her business as Dan stays home most days and Magina is busy with school and friends. Bon and Magina have both learned how to needle felt and spin alpaca. Sometimes Magina will accompany Bon to the shows and help out with all the training.

After 2 years of agisting, not altogether good experiences, and an expanding herd, we have rented pastures and barn from a farmer in Lindsey, Ohio, a mere 20 miles west of Clyde. Bon scoops beans, medicates, and checks on the herd regularly during the week. We have an experienced alpaca owner and farmer doing the daily feeding and shuffling them back and forth from pasture to barn and maintaining the water source and secure fencing. This is a good stepping stone to actually doing everything ourselves.

When the dams are at their 11 month due date, or bag up, whichever happens first, they go back down the road a mile to the farm we were so happy agisting with, Lofty Pines Alpacas owned by ALSA Judge and Fiber Artist, Deb Yeagle. Here they mingle right back into the social group they were last with for the least stress. They aren't subject to the shallow water that exists at our pasture that could present a problem for newborn crias and have a lot of eyes on them for the birth. Lofty Pines also has a warm room for chilly days and we often bring herd members down to share shearing, vet appointments and costs.

We have bred to 12 different herdsires over the past two years, but so far have had 8 boys. We have 4 more chances in Summer 2008 for a female cria. Our first 2 boys are nearing 2 years old and herdsire duties. Both have ribboned at Level III and Level V shows, showing that we are doing 'something right' with our choices.

The current mix of girls is across the color spectrum and we have more huacaya dams than suri. But we have 2 suri herdsires and 1 huacaya. We will breed to our own Jr. Herdsires to get them 'started'. If I couldn't breed to them, they would be sold as fiber or 4-H boys or another farms junior herdsire if he can improve their dams.

The girls are mostly peruvian with a lot of accoyo by chance as this was the direction of the first farm we dealt with. We've come to appreciate full chileans that are easy birthers and milkers and breed easy with no delays as well. All of our girls have medium to heavy bone and nice straight toplines. We took Yocum fiber tests on the whole herd this year and found considerably different results from the 'purchase microns'.

We are currently looking at exactly what we need to feed the herd to avoid nutritional fiber blowout. This will include testing the orchard grass hay from this year's cuttings and eventually testing the 'good forage blend pasture' that they are on. We supplement with shredded beet pulp to assist weight gain, Hubbard's alpaca crumbles @ 10% protein, Dairy Nutri-drench found at  www.bovidr.com, and Evans S/G/L 15% protein.

This will be the first year from 2008-2009 where we actually have some control over what they are fed and can manage their healthcare. We have just purchased a microscope so we will be learning about identifying parasites next and doing our own fecal samples. We do live in whitetail deer territory, I've seen hoofprints in the pasture before starting the alpacas out there this spring. With the heavy rains, parasites and menengeal worm are both of concern for our herd and a top priority in our healthcare management as we don't want to cause ourselves further problems by over/under medicating for them! Plus, all the girls are pregnant and due.

In the short 2 years that we have been researching the industry AND owners of alpacas, though mostly agisted, we have grown in valuable knowledge. Bon has had 2 halter and 1 fleece Apprentice Judges Clinics under ALSA, plus apprenticed a Level 3 show with 2 rings and several large 6-9 alpaca classes. She has learned how to skirt, debris, wash, dry, dye, card, and spin alpaca. She is active in the Black Swamp Spinning Guild of Bowling Green, OH, and the Lofty Pine Spinners on Thursday evenings. She's also relearned how to knit and crochet. So we can put our fleeces to good use and add value to them ourselves. Plus we have purchased others fleeces and had them processed into rovings and yarn at 2 different mini-mills. We purchased a lot of alpaca fashion items in 2006 and found an alpaca consignment store for them in 2007. We continue to search for avenues of cost effective fleece processing for the best value for our farm.

Bon's developed a good eye for conformation and fleece fineness and uniformity. She has also helped with shearing day at 2 different medium sized farms for 2 years (50-150 alpacas).

We are spending the summer training up the fall and spring crias for obstacle and halter shows starting in September. We've had a lot of fun this last two years with the alpacas and hope to make this a successful business venture for the next phase of our lives.

Imaginary Alpaca Ranch is renting our own pastures this year and next (2009). The quality of our stock speaks for itself. We are also members of the Better Business Bureau and do business within their guidelines for extra customer comfort!! Will talk alpacas anytime. Love this biz! Call Bonnie at 419-547-4225 or email me at bonnie@imaginaryalpaca.com.