Presenter:
Kim DeVos, Creekside Breeders & Inca Fashions
Date: 5/21
Time: 1:00pm
Bio: Kim owns and operates Creekside Breeders
established in 1997. Currently she maintains a herd
of 11 alpacas, however her herd once toped 40. She enjoys
working with and showing her alpacas. She has actively
participated in shows and fleece competitions in the
eastern part of the US. and is active in alpaca interests.
Kim served on the MAPCA Board from 2002 until 2004 and
is currently running for the AOBA Board of Directors.
Kim has been involved in an alpaca fiber business since
1999 when she opened up her first retail establishment,
Inca Fashions in a local mall. Since then her interest
in alpaca fiber has grown to be a full time passion,
and Inca Fashions into a retail/wholesale endeavor.
This however became reality as a way to market alpacas
and her farm to the general public. For Kim, it's all
about the alpacas!
Her goal is to educate and share her enthusiasm for
alpacas and fiber with others, both within and outside
of the alpaca industry. She feels that it is important
to lead by example and is ready and willing to share
her business and marketing ideas that have helped her
grow her business. By sharing this information, it is
her goal to help build an economically strong alpaca
industry with longevity and a better understanding by
all peoples of alpaca.
In 2001 she began serving on the AOBA Marketing Committee,
initiating & chairing the "Complete the Circle"
Campaign focusing on educating AOBA members on the benefits
of farm stores and alpaca fashion sales. She has been
and continues to be an active participant in the AOBA
Marketing committee and helps spread awareness to others
about alpaca. She speaks around the country on such
marketing campaigns as the Farm and Ranch Guide, Fiber
products and this year was the volunteer co-coordinator
for the National Auction Donation program, which benefits
the industry by raising funds for the national marketing
program.
Marketing is her favorite thing to do. Be it alpacas
or fiber products, spreading the word about alpacas
is top on her list continues to be a personal mission.
She has been involved in the annual Marketing Seminar,
a full day instructional course offered at the AOBA
National Convention each year. She also partners with
the "Alpaca Tool Box", hosts alpaca farm events
each year and helps others do the same.
For her work within the alpaca community she was presented
with the "Shining Star Award" for outstanding
volunteer efforts at the 2004 AOBA National Conference.
At the time of this writing, Kim is still an active
volunteer on the AOBA Marketing Committee and the AOBA
Raw Fiber and Fiber Products Committee.
|
Ruth has
over 30 years’ experience in a broad Canadian base
of agriculture, business, government and academic sectors.
She has extensive teaching, curriculum and program development
expertise, and has been involved in international trade,
import/export of livestock, and international fibre
research.