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PRESS RELEASE                                                                                      MEDIA CONTACT
For Immediate Release                                                                               Laura Bakewell 
Jan 10, 2015                                                                                                 951-660-2228
 
 
Public are Welcomed to get “Up Close and Personal” with Cute, Friendly Fuzzy Alpacas at Local Show
 Once only the prized possession of Incan Royalty thousands of years ago, these beautiful exotic animals are available for the public to touch and see at AlpacaFest West (AFW) Alpaca Show
 
NORCO, CA. – If you’ve ever wanted to meet a sweet-tempered, gentle, intelligent, and highly social animal, who’s both appealing to look at and fun to have around you can meet alpacas, hundreds of them at the AlpacaFest West (AFW)  Alpaca show March 21 & 22,  at the George Ingalls Equestrian Center in Norco CA.  

Alpacas are easy to care for and handle, they communicate mainly through body posturing and a gentle humming sound. Known for their intelligence, along with a sweet and gentle personality, alpacas are prized for their luxurious and valuable fleece, which is stronger and more resilient than merino sheep wool, softer than cashmere and comes in an extraordinary variety of 22 natural colors. As companions or investments, alpacas offer heartwarming and rewarding experiences.

If you've ever wondered what alpacas are, how they’re raised or why some consider their fleece to be the finest in the world, plan on attending the March show in Norco.
 
Visitors to the event can enjoy the sight of hundreds of beautiful alpacas vying for top honors in the show ring, along with a wide variety of products and activities at the Marketplace section of the show. Admission and parking are free.
 
The AFW Alpaca Show brings together in one location over 300 top alpacas from more than 120 ranches throughout California and neighboring Western states, many of them state and national champions.
 
“These beautiful animals represent the best of the best,” explained show manager Julie Roy. “It would take weeks of driving around the state to all the ranches to see the variety and quality of alpacas that will be present at this event, so it’s really the perfect place to come for people interested in learning more about the lifestyle of raising these wonderful and gentle animals.”
 
Roy also noted that experienced breeders will be on hand throughout the event to answer questions and discuss the benefits of alpaca ownership and ranching.
 
In addition to the excitement of the blue ribbon judging, show visitors will be treated to a wide variety of free informative and fun exhibits, hands-on spinning, weaving and knitting demonstrations. New this year is a Fiber Fling Showcase and Auction area.
 
Beautiful fiber art projects will be displayed and open for public voting. A fiber auction of luxurious raw alpaca fleece will be held on Sat, March 21, from 9 am until 4 pm. These fleeces will be available for purchase to the highest bidder.
 
Alpaca fleece, considered by many to be superior to cashmere, has become increasingly popular with top fashion designers because of its ultra-soft feel, durability, and range of natural colors. The AFW Alpaca Show's Marketplace will carry an extensive collection of finely tailored and luxurious clothing and accessories for men, women and children – including many one-of-a-kind garments – all made from alpaca and alpaca blend fibers. A wide variety of other handmade artisan items, including decorative items for the home and all natural eco-friendly fiber toys, will be offered.
 
Alpacas are smaller than their llama cousins, and are known for their shy, sweet and gentle personalities. They are shorn annually, much like sheep, to harvest their hypoallergenic soft fiber, which is spun into yarn for knitting, weaving, crocheting and felting. Initially brought into the United States from South America, alpaca breeding has flourished in the United States, growing to over 4,000 ranches around the country today. Many investors are realizing the value of the alpaca as a reliable source of income, based on the animals’ ability to produce valuable fleece and offspring.
 
The AlpacaFest West Alpaca Show 2015 is presented by The Southern California Alpaca Breeders Association (www.socalpaca.org/), and is open to the public. It takes place March 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and March 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the George Ingalls Equestrian Events Center - 3737 Crestview Ave. Norco, California 92860. Admission and parking are free. Visit http://www.alpacafestwest.com for more information, event schedule and directions to the venue.
 
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Event Chair: Julie Roy, Julie@alpacasnextdoor.com