Alpaca Elite is an online marketing community limited to the top 200 alpaca breeders in the U.S. who have distinguished their breeding programs by consistent showring success and meeting Alpaca Elite's demanding standard of documented champion-level awards.

Through a well-designed, clear interface, members manage their own farm and animal page content which is then integrated into Alpaca Elite's easy and powerful search tools, and can be mirrored on the member's own farm website, allowing for quick, single-point edits to content from anywhere internet service is available.

Any farm - large or small - can become a member of Alpaca Elite if they are able to demonstrate, by providing show records, that they meet the membership requirements on the date of application. Once show records are verified and meet the membership requirements, a welcome email is sent and Alpaca Elite begins the process of setting up the member's new account and creating their custom header graphics.

On each "anniversary" every member is required to verify - and update if necessary - their show records to demonstrate that they meet the membership requirements on the date of renewal. It is not required to continuously meet the membership requirements - only on the dates of application and renewal. This reflects the reality of an active business and ownership fluctuations throughout the year.

By featuring only the top breeders and finest alpacas in the the United States, Alpaca Elite represents a unique, singular location on the internet for member farms to stand out, list their animals in AE's exclusive search tools, and distinguish their award-winning programs, allowing any breeder to locate the high quality farms and animals they seek to improve their own breeding programs. Members also benefit from associating with other highly successful member farms, and being identified as an Alpaca Elite Certified MemberTM, which instantly conveys a farm's showring achievements and high-quality breeding program.

By limiting membership to no more than 200 farms, our members benefit from a very effective low ratio between the investment in marketplace exposure Alpaca Elite engages in on behalf of our members, compared to the number of members who benefit from this exposure and likelihood that their farm will be "hit" when the Alpaca Elite site is visited and searched.

Many farms struggle to maintain one or more separate lists, especially during the busy show season. Alpaca Elite membership includes our AE ListMirrorTM technology, which automatically replicates the member's current Alpaca Elite listings on their own farm website, eliminating the need - and cost - of maintaining two separate lists and providing an easy system for online edits from anywhere internet service is available.

Because membership is limited, members receive a high level of personal service and many high quality services fully included in their annual membership fee. We make each member farm look the most compelling and professional they can be, doing service to the breeding program success they have worked so hard to achieve.

The following are all included with membership:

• Personal farm account management system for uploading
  and editing content, and other administrative tasks.
• AE's ListMirrorTM technology, where your Alpaca Listings and animal pages can be automatically mirrored on your own farm website, eliminating the need - and cost - of maintaining separate lists. Includes free customization of the list styles to coordinate with your farm website.
• Custom AE designed farm/animal page header graphics.
• Inclusion of farm info in AE's site-wide Breeder Search.
• Customized code for placement of your Alpaca Elite Certified MemberTM logo on your own farm website.
• Free Alpaca Elite Certified MemberTM signs to display at your stalls.
• Initial help with getting your own farm website alpaca listings uploaded.
• Unlimited number of alpacas in your listings.
• Unlimited uploads, edits.
• Automatic inclusion of all Herdsires and Alpacas for Sale in AE's search tools - as soon as you upload the information.
• Exclusive access to Alpaca Elite site advertising.
• Advertising design included in the price of the ad.
• Page hit statistics for each of your pages (monthly and year total).

Begin by reviewing our membership requirements and gathering all of your information to satisfy these requirements. Then fill out an online application. Once you submit your application it will be reviewed and the information verified. If your application is successful, you will be notified by email and Alpaca Elite will proceed with setting up your new account and creating your custom header graphics. When this process is complete, you will receive your account information and can begin managing your live content. It's that simple.

Becoming an Alpaca Elite member involves meeting the following criteria:

The applicant farm owns (or jointly owns) at least 3 Halter Color Champions/Reserve Champions*

    and

has bred enough Color Champions/Reserve Champions* (fleece or halter) for an overall total of 7 (do not have to own bred animals or be recipient of their awards).

i.e. Own 3 + Bred 4 = 7   |  Own 5 + Bred 2 = 7   |  Own 7.

*Qualifying shows: All AOBA Certified, Ohio Triple Crown, National Alpaca Sweepstakes, International Alpaca Odyssey.

All AOBA Certified shows, Ohio Triple Crown, National Alpaca Sweepstakes, International Alpaca Odyssey.

No, unfortunately not. Having objective membership requirements, which were developed to accommodate flexibility in breeding program style but to be equivalent in their high standard of championship records, is the fairest and most impartial way to determine eligibility for membership.

The annual membership fee is $895 - a full 12 months from the date of account setup. Alpaca Elite does not offer tiered membership rates based on herd size.

Once your application is approved, a welcome email will be sent and Alpaca Elite will begin the process of setting up your new account and creating your custom header graphics. Once this process is complete, you will receive your account information and an invoice for your membership dues. You can either pay securely online with a credit card or send a check.

Yes, we'll be glad to help you get up to speed. This includes creating custom header graphics, getting you started with uploading your farm and animal information from your own farm website, making your Certified Member logo available for inclusion on your farm website, and helping you get acquainted with the system.

Being an Alpaca Elite Certified MemberTM indicates that the member farm has demonstrated, by documentation, and has been verified by Alpaca Elite, as having met the membership requirements. The words "Alpaca Elite Certified Member" does not mean that a member's business products, practices, or actions are certified or warranted by Alpaca Elite in any way.

For more information, see our Terms & Conditions.

Yes. Our AE ListMirrorTM technology enables a member's Alpaca Elite pages to be automatically replicated on their own farm website, eliminating the need - and cost - of maintaining separate listings.

No. This service is included in the annual membership fee and there are no setup or custom styling fees.

Alpaca Elite engages in all forms of marketplace advertising and promotion for the most thorough exposure for our members. These include prominent advertisements in national publications, such as Alpacas Magazine, direct-mail advertising, show handbook/ auction catalog ads, showring sponsorships/ banners, regular email advertisements, attendance at major events, seminar presentations, and by member farms displaying their Certified Member logo on their farm websites and Certified Member signs at their show/auction stalls.

Only Alpaca Elite members and promoters of alpaca shows, auctions, and other prominent events can advertise on Alpaca Elite.

All of Alpaca Elite's advertising locations are limited on each page, have prominent locations and are dedicated, meaning they are never shared. Advertising is reserved on a first come-first served basis up to a year in advance. Ad design services are included in the cost of the ad (except for flash/animated graphics, which are additional), with members providing their images, text, and design ideas. Alternatively, ad graphics can be submitted web-ready.

Adam Thompson and Joe Preston are the founding partners in Alpaca Elite, which was developed in 2006 and formally launched in the spring of 2007. Alpaca Elite is not sponsored by or affiliated with any alpaca farm or industry body but operates as an independent business providing online hosting and marketing services for alpaca farms who have met the membership criteria. Alpaca Elite's office is located in Kittanning, Pennsylvania.

We at Alpaca Elite firmly believe that everything should be done with excellence, quality, solid relationships, and at a reasonable cost, so that our members are not just another number but are represented in the most compelling and cost-effective way possible, have the best online tools to manage their farm information, and have the personal attention and sincere relationships that make being an Elite member a satisfying experience.

Our members are true industry experts and so we encourage them to freely share their feedback and ideas so that Alpaca Elite is the best it can be for our members.