The new face of the Alpaca Fiber Cooperative of North America, Inc. is smiling. Smiling, because after two years of diligent hard work, a blue print for processing member alpaca fiber into finished products is now complete. We have forged relationships with U.S. mills to streamline the process from hand sorting through scouring, spinning and knitting/weaving. We now have prototype products that demonstrate this financially viable success.

Our well-known Extreme Alpaca socks have been AFCNA's largest selling product. Made in the U.S. from member fiber, they are the cornerstone of our North American fiber initiative. Hand-knitting yarn is a debut North American product and it is currently on store shelves. It is made and marketed through an alliance with a large U.S. spinning mill. Our prototype products are woven throws and knit hats, scarves, gloves and headbands.

AFCNA's mission is to build a large volume commercial and consumer North American alpaca fiber industry and market for all grades of member alpaca fiber. With the assistance of many volunteers, we are well on the way to this goal, but yet, still more work to be done.

First and foremost, we need to earn income. With cash flow, AFCNA can repay member noteholders, distribute net income to participating members and build working capital reserves to manufacture our prototype products. You can help!

As a member, you can purchase products wholesale at www.americasalpaca.com for resale profits and find retail buyers through our affiliate program and receive a 20% sales commission. Submit your alpaca fleece and share in product net income as we grow.

There is strength in numbers. With the AFCNA cooperative business model, alpaca farmers can capture the income from the consumer value added when their fiber is made into products. To join the over 1,100 members already coming together to make our North American alpaca fiber mission happen, go to www.afcna.com and click on "Join AFCNA".

More information about cooperatives and AFCNA is in my Alpacas Magazine articles Cranberries to Alpacas - The Benefits of a Farmers' Cooperative (Spring '06 issue) and Inside a Farmers' Cooperative - How AFCNA Works (Summer '06 issue). Thank you for being part of this North American alpaca fiber adventure.

Daryl W. Goodrich
President
Alpaca Fiber Cooperative of North America, Inc.

AFCNA Breaking News

2006 Clip Call - AFCNA is now collecting member alpaca fiber through September 15 of this year. Please see the 2006 Call For Clip on the members website at www.afcna.com for details. The Clip Care Manual, also on this site, gives guidance on preparing, packing and shipping your fiber. It is no longer require that 50% of a member's total clip be submitted. Only send what you can as long as it is good and clean blankets and seconds. A national low cost shipping program for members has recently been implemented. Details are also on this site.

Extreme Alpaca Socks - AFCNA has now successfully made the transition into outsourced production of its Extreme Alpaca socks. 100% of the alpaca fiber in these socks is member North American alpaca. Manufactured in the U.S., they have been one of AFCNA's perennial favorites. The new hosiery mill's large volume production capabilities will allow faster order filling. www.americasalpaca.com.

Hand-knitting Yarn - AFCNA is now able to offer pure alpaca hand-knitting yarn made from member North American alpaca fiber as part of a strategic alliance with a large U.S. spinning mill. This initiative represents the next introduction after Extreme Alpaca socks of North American alpaca to the general consumer in commercial quantities. Orders can be placed at www.americasalpaca.com.

Prototype Products Announced - AFCNA announces successful production of prototype merchandise - woven throws and knit hats, scarves, headbands and gloves. They are all pure alpaca made from member fiber. These products will be rolled out over the course of the next 12-24 months. They can be seen at www.afcna.com.

2006 AFCNA National Fleece Show - This show will be held in Las Vegas on August 5 & 6. It seeks to enable every alpaca farm, large and small, to show their fleece. This is how all farms can get AOBA - Certified Judge feedback on their breeding program. While all show registrants may share a fun-filled time in Las Vegas, you can ALSO participate from your armchair. Mail-in entries are welcome - and you can watch the show results on DVD in the comfort of your own home! All registrants will receive a FREE DVD of ribbon placements, judges' oral reasonings and seminars by Tim Lavan and Norm Evans, DVM. This show is an entirely new concept and promises to provide a unique educational opportunity for alpaca fiber producers. Rules, information and registration are at www.alpacawebsite.com.

New Members - AFCNA is now accepting new members. Now that its restructuring is complete and it is successfully producing products from member submitted fiber, AFCNA focuses on building a large volume commercial and consumer North American alpaca fiber industry and market for all grades of member alpaca fleece. We welcome your support of this initiative by joining AFCNA at "Join AFCNA" in the left hand menu at www.afcna.com. There is strength in numbers.