Mergers and acquisitions

I’ll admit that writing this post is very bittersweet for me. On the one hand it’s not every day that one gets the opportunity to essentially cherry pick animals from one of the best and most respected breeding programs in the country. On the other hand, we are seeing — and through our actions aiding and abetting — a seismic shift in both one of our primary business relationships to say nothing one of one our most treasured friendships that we have ever made from within the alpaca community. All that being said, we are pleased to announce that we have recently acquired half interest in both Snowmass Sub-Zero and Snowmass Conopa’s Kahuna from our good friends Ryen and Ursula Munro of Tripping Gnome Farm Alpacas.

While not a final answer by any means, as a breeding program with an ongoing and serious long term ambition to push the envelope in producing the next generation of elite fleeced alpacas, we know the the additions of these two proven Champion Herdsires is an important step towards pursuing that goal. We have worked very closely with the Ryen and Ursula for many years now and given the genetic similarities between our programs, as they decided to cut back their herd size and move their family in a different direction, we were extremely grateful for the opportunity to draft some of their top genetics into the CCNF foundation herd. In fact, in addition to bringing Sub and Kahuna into the fold here at CCNF, we were also able to add several of TGF’s most potent foundation females to our breeding program including 2012 Futurity Judges’ Choice winner, TGF Let Freedom Ring and 2012 Futurity Reserve Light Champion, TGF Morning Dove, as well as several other elite caliber production-age females. There is also a small selection of amazing juveniles  — including one young Herdsire prospect, TGF Legit, who is as solid of a bet as one can ever have at weaning age — all of whom we expect to not only make our 2013 show string but far more importantly, to play integral roles in our breeding program going forward.

We know that as word of Tripping Gnome’s downsizing gets out into the alpacasphere, that there will no doubt be some frayed nerves at the idea of people as business savvy as the Munros deciding to take their considerable talents in another direction (no, not to South Beach). While we shy away from talking in the public domain about actual prices paid whenever possible — sorry, I’ve always found it a little tacky — suffice it to say that I can personally assure you that the market for elite caliber alpacas is very healthy: the CCNF checking account currently has the black hole to prove it. Now in our 16th year of operation, there have been two primary philosophical drivers of this farm’s success in breeding alpacas over that time: 1. We have never shied away from adding quality and depth to our herd with a real willingness to spend money (intelligently, most of the time…see #2) when it has been necessary. 2. Conversely, regardless of hype, awards, or money spent (ugh) we have always been able and ultimately willing to step away from animals or genetic lines that just obviously weren’t getting the job done. We have culled both National Champions and premier auction animals from the ranks of our breeding herd in the past and will no doubt do so again in the future. Put up or shut up.

Thankfully, in the case of the small herd we have acquired from TGF, it is fortunate that not only do we theoretically know how to breed them for greatest long term effect but also that the vast majority of the animals themselves are already proven producers. Where the newest members of the CCNF herd are not proven, we fully intend to have fun unlocking their potential. Our deepest gratitude and respect to our friends in Freeport, we will do our absolute best to carry their breeding program’s legacy forward. Thanks for everything guys, a lot of what we have accomplished here over the past 8+ years was only possible — to say nothing of a lot more fun — because of your help. Just the same, if you think for one minute that you’re getting away from us fully, you have another thing coming! Onward and upward…

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