North West Camelid Foundation

Sherri Tallmon has owned llamas since 1996, she along with her husband, Wil and two children, Kayla and Logan, own and operate Hidden Oaks Llama Ranch in Estacada, Oregon. They currently maintain between 50-60 llamas and are involved in all aspects, from raising, training, breeding, showing (halter, performance and fiber), 4-H, parasite management and helping with llama rescue.  Sherri is currently serving on the Willamette Valley Llama Association (WVLA) and North West Camelid Foundation (NWCF) board, as well as the Pacific Northwest Llama Fiber Co-op.  Her prime focus is to promote llamas and educate the public to show just how special they are, as well as all their uses.

Velta's interest in llamas began decades ago but owning any was never  a consideration until she learned to spin and got a few sheep.  The first guard llama was purchased from Deacon's in 1993 and quickly  grew into a herd.  A member of WVLA since 1994, she has been active in the organization and has served on the board of directors of WVLA  and NWCF. 

 

Since attending several OSU/WVLF Herd Health seminars at  OSU, she has been very excited about the relationship between NWCF and OSU School of Veterinary Medicine and has served on the research committee for several years.

As a co-partner of Silver Falls Alpacas, Marcia has been raising alpacas since 2003 and now has a herd of 13 animals.  They also have two female guard llamas who watch the females and crias.  Silver Falls Alpacas has been a member of Willamette Alpaca Breeders Association and of the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association since 2003.  Marcia’s most personal interaction with research occurred when their alpaca Koosah had an burst bladder and was taken to Oregon State University Veterinary where he received care during March 2007; without the great care taken by the doctors and veterinary students, Koosah surely would have died.  He is now considered one of the few animals that have survived this problem and is in very good health.

Marcia is now retired and spends most of her time dealing with their alpacas, show halter and fleece events, llamas, and the farm in general.  She has a Master of Arts degree in English/creative writing.  In her former life she was a grant writer and a project manager.

Peggy and her family began The Llama Collection in 1988 and, along with a small group of llama owners, became involved in organizing a local private treaty sale in SW Washington.  She was a founding Director of the SW Washington Llama Association in 1994 and has helped organize A Llama Affaire since its inception.  Her involvement as a WSU Extension Livestock Advisor led her to become involved with the OSU Herd Health Day volunteering with the Youth Program.  She was asked to sit on the Medical Research Committee in 1996 and just last year took on chairing the NWCF’s Annual Banquet.  In addition, Peggy has been the 4-H leader for the Curious Companions Camelid Club for 19 years, serves as Superintendent of the 4-H Fleece & Fiber Show at Western Washington State Fair, is Past President of the Clark County 4-H Leaders Association and works with the Operation: Military Kids program to support youth with parent that have been deployed.

Celia Erion and her husband, Ken, have owned llamas since 1996.  They moved L & E Farm to its location between Dallas and Sheridan in 2004 and have enjoyed expanding their farm and fiber interests.    Presently, they own 13 llama and 30 head of Boar Goats.  When the Willamette Valley Llama Association needed someone to fill a vacating Treasurer position in 2005, Celia stepped up and brought extensive bookkeeping and accounting experience to fill the need.  She served through 2007 when she went on to fill that position with the Oregon Meat Goat Producers.  Ken and Celia have played a significant role in the Pacific NW Fiber Coop.  Celia joined the WVLF Medical Research Committee in 2005 and continues her interest in improving the care and well-being of llamas.

Dr. Scot Lubbers, along with his wife, Brenda, own Amazia Veterinary Service in Brush Prairie, Washington.  Dr. Scot grew up raising and showing sheep and rabbits in 4-H in Oregon and is a 1984 graduate of OSU.  After opening his practice in 1988, he quickly became one of the region’s camelid specialists and is a frequent speaker at various camelid functions.  He donates many hours to Extension educational programs as well as  4-H and serves as a Fair Veterinarian for the Clark County Fair.   Dr. Scot is a member of the NWCF Medical Research Committee and also serves as the NWCF representative on the Lama Medical Research Group.  Both a llama and an alpaca join the horses, cattle, sheep, pigs and dogs that the Lubbers and their two sons, Nathaniel and Matthew, raise and show.

Mary Jo started with Llamas in 1995 and added alpacas in 2002.  She has served as President of the Willamette Valley Llama Association. She met her future husband, Chuck, in 2004 and introduced him to these gentle animals.   Mary Jo does herd health for the over 40 animals that live on their farm.  She is also a member of the Willamette Alpaca Breeders Association.

 

Owning both Llamas and Alpacas gives the Walkers unique perspectives on the differences and needs of  both species. Chuck has recently stepped down from the NWCF board and Mary Jo has taken his place.

After attending OSU and BYU, Dr. Jones received his DVM from Ohio State University and went on to become a mixed animal practitioner and partner in the Woodburn Veterinary Clinic in Woodburn, Oregon.  Dr. Jones has served as a long time member of the WVLF/NWCF Medical Research Committee, a screener for the ARI, President of the American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners, where he was named Practitioner of the Year as well as Veterinarian of the Year by the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association.  In addition to continuing on the WVLF Board, he also is a partner in All Creatures Investment Company, Chairman of the State Fair Committee for the OVMA, serves as a member of the House of Delegates for the AVMA and on the US Animal Association Board of Directors.

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Patrick Long, DVM is a practicing veterinarian in Corvallis, Oregon.  Llamas and alpacas comprise more than half of his practice.  He graduated from Kansas State University with his DVM degree in 1976.  After 5 years in the US Army, he has since practiced in Oregon, working with llamas and alpacas since 1982.  He has spoken at many national and international meetings on llama and alpaca care.  Dr. Long is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Oregon Veterinary Association, and he is a board member of the North West Camelid Foundation, Alpaca Research Foundation and the Morris Animal Foundation.  He s co-author of the Llama and Alpaca Neonatal Care book.  Dr. Long has written many articles for Alpacas Magazine and has participated in several importation screenings for ARI.  Dr. Long’s areas of interest are herd health management, nutrition, and reproduction.

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NWCF Board of Directors

A ten member board made up of the following members of the camelid community

oversees this non-profit camelid research foundation. 

 

Glen was President of the association in 1989 when the first Auction and Banquet raised $12,000 for camelid research.  He was appointed to the Research Committee in 1993 and has been a member ever since.  In 1994 he helped establish the tax-exempt Willamette Valley Llama Foundation (now the NWCF). In 2006 he was awarded a Distinguished Service Award by the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine for his efforts at the legislature protecting the College from budget cuts, establishing a four year veterinary program and continued support of student programs and scholarships.  He is a member of the Lama Medical Research Group, a national committee that evaluates and prioritizes llama and alpaca research requests for Morris Animal Foundation.  He has served on various committees for the International Lama Registry, Alpaca and Llama Show Association and Dean of the OSU Veterinary College.