By JANE HOUIN
Ohio correspondent

WOOSTER, Ohio — Encouragement, new ideas, and a “lit fire” – those are just a few of the things attendees at the second annual ’Paca to Product forum will walk away with according to Karen Christensen of Morning Star Fiber in Apple Creek, Ohio, helping to coordinate the event.

The forum will take place Nov. 15 at the Shisler Conference Center in Wooster.

“Our hope is that people will walk away from the forum with encouragement, new ideas for markets, better understanding of what is required for excellent end-product results, understanding how to work ‘within the system’ to take advantage of alpacas being designated an agricultural animal as opposed to an exotic animal, insights on alpaca’s fiber strengths and weaknesses in the fabric world and how to augment alpaca with just the right blending fiber – and perhaps a platform for launching a whole new concept in fiber,” Christensen said.

“Last year, we were delighted with how many ‘fires were lit’ at ’Paca to Product, and we look forward to seeing the results in this year’s event. In fact, one of our presenters is on the program specifically because of how she implemented what she learned at the 2007 Paca to Product.”

The one-day event will start at 10 a.m. with morning topics covering the Julie Ganim high-end alpaca fiber fashion collection, a session on determining the best end use of fleece by Wini LaBrecqe of Star Weaver Farm and a session on the implications of Ohio House Bill 352, which reclassifies alpacas as agricultural rather than exotic animals, written by Ohio Sen. Ron Amstutz (R-District 22).

“We have a great panel of presenters this year, and we are very excited about the quality of each presentation offered,” said Christensen. “I think the highlight of this year’s forum will be the incredible knowledge base covered from Wini LaBrecque’s presentation, describing how to look at a fleece and know its best end-product, coupled with Julie Ganim’s high end fashion collection presentation.”

She said she didn’t want to minimize the value of the other presentations, stressing they are all worthwhile topics with knowledgeable presenters.

“Certainly the whole day will be a highlight and a great step forward to help the pioneering alpaca farmers move to the next level of marketing the marvelous alpaca fiber,” Christensen said. “The forum was originally designed for advancing the education of alpaca farmers about the fiber end of the industry, but all those interested in alpaca fiber processing will find it useful.”

The afternoon offers breakout sessions on a variety of topics, including motivations behind shearing with end products in mind; skirting/sorting for the highest return on fiber processing; adventures in niche marketing and how to get to market; yarn design and blending for color, texture and appeal; fiber pools versus fiber co-ops and the best partnering opportunities; and finished product development and determining the retail market.
“As we see it, the challenges facing today’s alpaca industry are developing a viable fiber market,” Christensen said. “Most of the fiber products sold in the USA today are imported from Third World countries and sold at Third World prices. This communicates that alpaca fiber is not of high value, nor are the people who make the alpaca products.

“If we don’t address the alpaca fiber quality/care issue now, the American alpaca fiber industry will travel the same route the sheep/wool industry has, and all our American alpaca fiber will be relegated to being worth pennies because the quality of the fleece is lacking.”

She said this would ensure the alpaca fiber industry to be captured by other countries, preventing the U.S. from developing needed fiber-related industries and resulting job growth.

“Our goal is to ensure that high end alpaca fiber products are grown, processed and sold right here in America, creating not only quality alpaca products for Americans but jobs for Americans,” Christensen said, “the long-term goal being that North America becomes recognized as the premier alpaca fiber industry that it is striving to be.”

She said there are five key issues to be addressed: Importing Third World products at a less-than-fair-market value; recognizing and implementing the amount of preparation needed to make a valuable fiber product; recognizing the amount of work needed to process fleece into a usable product; developing new markets; and realizing standards of excellence in alpaca fiber products.

“In some aspects, a reeducation is what is needed, as well as addressing new concepts – and that is the aim of the ’Paca to Product forums,” Christen-sen said. “We recognize that developing the fiber market is next on the horizon for alpaca producers, and we are working hard to form alliances with people of like minds.
“Our forums are designed for looking at fiber from all angles, and time is always allotted at the end of each presentation for lots of interaction from the audience.

“We keep our groups small enough for very active dialogue, and all go away with a new and greater perspective of the issue.”

Registration is $35, which includes lunch.

Additional registration information and details on the schedule and speakers can be found at www .morningstarfiber.com or by calling 330-778-0078.

“In the years to come, this event will be a great hub for producers, processors, artisans and even end users,” Christensen said.
In fact, they already have their keynote speaker scheduled for 2009 – an internationally known fiber magazine editor.