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Willamette Valley Llama Foundation |
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Raising Funds for Camelid Medical Research since 1987 |
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2008 Annual Banquet & Stud Service Auction |
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And Remember…
You Can Make a Donation Anytime!
Just send your check to: WVLF 375 NW Jasper St. #24 Dallas, OR 97338-1759
The WVLF is a 501(c) (3) organization and all donations are tax deductible. |
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For additional information regarding the 2009 Annual Banquet and Stud Service Auction, contact: Peggy Gresham, Banquet Chair (360) 896-0226 or llamacollection@msn.com |
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Learn more about the WVLF Camelid Research Program. |
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Oregon Auction Raises Nearly $25,000 for Camelid Medical Research
By Melinda Van Bossuyt
When nearly 200 llama and alpaca owners and breeders came together in March for the 20th annual Willamette Valley Llama Foundation (WVLF) Banquet and Stud Service Auction in Wilsonville, Oregon, the results were both exciting and wonderfully successful. Llamas and alpacas were the winners. With $24,912 total auction income, camelid health research will be well funded this year.
During the silent auction and raffle social hour before dinner studs and their owners mingled with auction attendees in the hotel foyer. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the WVLF Banquet and Stud Service Auction, a slide program showing all of the studs whose services were auctioned through the years was presented. It was noted that in 20 years of holding the event, a total of more than $400,000 has been raised for camelid research.
The oral auction started up after dinner with a parade of the three alpaca and nine llama studs being offered for stud service in the auction. It was the first time members of the alpaca community contributed alpaca studs for stud service to the oral auction. Stud service was donated from as far away as Arizona by Toni and Bob Skousen of Goose Valley Llamas. Other studs came from all over Oregon and Washington
Glen Pfefferkorn reminded everyone why they were there. “It’s about money, money, money for research!” he said as he encouraged folks to be generous. Dan Milton led the auction while Bob Wynia described each stud and provided colorful commentary.
Prices for stud services were strong with vigorous bidding from both those present and a contingent of phone bidders. The top auction price was $2,500 paid by Connie Tallent of Tallmon’s Hidden Oaks Llama Ranch in Estacada, Oregon for stud service to Silver Moon Chiri Alluro owned by Dan and Marilyn Milton of Highland Llamas in Jacksonville, Oregon. The top auction price for an alpaca stud service was $1,550 for El Nino’s Accoyo Lancelot owned by Marie and Chuck Smith of Stone Mist Alpacas in Sherwood, Oregon and Mark and Robin Widmer of Pleasant Hill Alpacas also of Sherwood, Oregon. The buyer was Pamela MacLellan of Vineyard View Camelid Farms in Hillsboro, Oregon.
The average llama stud service price was one of the highest in the 20 year history of the event at $1,317. The average alpaca stud service price was $1,183. In all, the 12 studs raised a total of $15,400 for camelid research. The other 150 items contributed by at least 45 different donors for the oral auction, silent auction, centerpiece auction, and raffle brought in an additional $9,512 in contributions to camelid research.
Event chair, Peggy Gresham, credits the success of the auction to the super team of volunteers supporting the effort. She says, “I’m so proud to have been a part of this outstanding 20th anniversary event. Everyone participating helped to make it very special by donating and then raising their hands for this cause.” Special thanks goes to Larry Raley who, according to Justin Timm of Frog Pond Llamas and Suri Alpacas, “not only did an outstanding job of getting an incredible lineup of both llama and alpaca studs, but an even better job of promoting and gathering buyers.” |