PEOPLE with small holdings know only too well the lifestyle benefits that their little slice of life on the land offers.
For those with kids the fresh air, adventure and physical activity are invaluable additions to a modern childhood.
But it’s not only the informal benefits that kids can get from a family with access to open spaces. Have you thought about the opportunities to grow the kids’ personal and even professional development?
Alpacas could offer an attainable opportunity to anyone who’s got some grass growing beneath their feet.
“For someone on a small farm looking to get kids involved with animals I can’t think of anything better than an alpaca,” said Dr Ian Davison, of Coolawarra Alpacas stud.
He and co-principal Janie Hicks spearheaded alpaca youth camps, now run with the bustling Australian Australian Alpaca Youth Committee.
The camps teach the necessary husbandry and livestock handling skills, but the broader benefits run deeper.
“What kids learn at the camps is not just about skills,” Ms Hicks said.
“Like anything to do with animals and being on the land – it teaches them so much about life.
“And of course, they can take the skills they learn back home and use them with their own alpacas.”
The camps run for a couple of days and host dozens of kids, aged between 5 and 25, with the older ones mentoring and training and supervised by alpaca industry leaders.
Topics include alpaca husbandry, anatomy, fleece, public speaking, leadership and even training in forming a committee.
NSW Alpaca Youth Committee secretary is 16 year-old Rubey Williams, whose family runs Storybook Alpaca stud at Bargo, said it was easy and fun to take part at the camps.
“It also gives kids a good start in the industry, with training in all aspects of alpacas.”
Rubey and Dr Davison were keen to point out the camps have to be enjoyable and educational.
“We’ve always said we want the kids to learn, but they have got to have fun as well,” Dr Davison said.
Schools across the country, from the Sydney Basin, to coastal areas, down to Victoria and into beef heartland in Rockhampton are sending kids into camp and getting into alpacas.
“It teaches them so much about animal handling, feed and pasture and so on,” Dr Davison says.
“But it’s all good, fundamental knowledge and safety techniques that can be applied to any sheep, cattle or whatever animal.”
Junior paraders competitions at agricultural shows offer a formal outlet to put their skills to the test, with a focus on showmanship and handling skills.
“Showing alpacas is a massive social event. It’s the type of industry where everyone knows everyone and we are all really happy to share our knowledge,” Rubey said.
The camps help kids get show-ready, with a herdsman competiton where kids are assigned an animal and take care for the weekend.
“It’s an introduction to the preparation for a show, practicing cleaning and show trimming,” she said.
Ms Hicks said showing animals was a valuable life lesson.
“Kids have to learn to stay calm, patient and clear-minded,” Ms Hicks says.
“The animal won’t be there to say ‘its all right darling’. It will fly off the handle if the kid flies off the handle.
“Sometimes modern kids can think the world should just run as they want it to. And then they take an animal to an obstacle course, it wont go over it and they start getting embarrassed and angry the alpaca – but that’s the worst thing you can do.
“But then the kids start to learn that amazing thing of patience, that they can’t have everything their way and to control what they do
“They realise they need to be calm, follow their training and use their skills to coax the animal around.”
One of the most exciting things about the camps is seeing a 15 year-olds thriving in positions of responsibility
- Dr Ian Davison
Despite any scepticism an alpaca may have about an obstacle course, their even temperament and manageable size – not to mention soft-padded feet – are ideal for small holdings and kids, as well as those inexperienced with livestock, Ms Hicks says.
The 25 year-old alpaca industry is well-established in the livestock landscape and Dr Davison says a sign of its health is the alpaca community planning for its future.
A market for fleece is going strong, live exports offer tantalising potential and suppliers are even tapping substantial demand from the restaurant trade.
“Youth events and the camps are about succession in the industry and trying to find leaders for next generation,” Dr Davison said.
Rubey said the camps were a gateway for kids into the industry.
“The Youth Committee is great group to be involved in. Everyone you meet is very well connected to industry.
“We have a database for members of alpaca studs all over Australia who are willing to mentor and train younger kids.
“One of the most exciting things about the camps is seeing a 15 year-olds thriving in positions of responsibility,” he said.
Ms Hicks adds that members of the Alpaca Youth Group, from rural and metropolitan backgrounds, have graduated to stud breeding and tertiary agricultural studies.
The Australian Alpaca Association, over 2000 members strong, is a great place to for advice on getting started. Visit: www.alpaca.asn.au
Ms Hicks and Dr Davison started the youth camps on their Cambewarra, NSW property four years ago and still host the principal event each year. But camps are now hosted across the state.
Go to the Alpaca Youth faceboook page for information on events and networking. Visit: www.facebook.com/AustralianAlpacaYouth
