about orvla
The Ohio River Valley Llama Association is one of the oldest llama associations in the country. It was founded in 1980 to provide camaraderie and the sharing of information among llama owners in the Ohio River Valley area. ORVLA has been known for years as an organization where people have fun and enjoy the life of llamas.
TOPLINE, ORVLA's quarterly newsletter, keeps members current with informative articles, fun events and great photos.
Members and their llamas are active in parades, nursing home and school visits, church camps, and many other activities too numerous to mention. In addition, ORVLA is known for promoting llamas through llama shows. There are more llama shows in Ohio than in any other state.
Presidents Message
May 2012
The show season in Ohio is now well underway with the Fairfield County and Daffodil Classic shows completed. But more are on the way and if you are so inclined, participate in and support as many as you can.
Coming soon is the summer meeting in July at the farm of Russ and Kris Miller. We promise a day of fun, education, good food and good friends. Russ just might share his newest venture with us too! Details are in this issue of Topline. We are also planning another outing this fall since the hike at Spencer's last year was such fun. If you have a suggestion for a place to hold such an event in September or October, with a place to have a lunch and to park trailers, let any Board member know right away and we'll get our crack team on it to investigate.
We again have a new, limited edition ORVLA t-shirt for 2012. When these are gone, they are gone, just like last year. Contact Kris Miller if you'd like one or see her at a show to pick one out personally. They are going fast (REALLY!) so get one while you can. As always, proceeds benefit ORVLA.
Don't forget too, the Farm Science Review this fall. There will again be slots available if you'd like to bring a llama or two and talk to thousands (that's right, THOUSANDS) of rural people a day about llamas. This year we invited the state wide alpaca organization to join us and share the expenses. I'm happy to report they've accepted and we've already received the check for their share. This will ensure that camelids in Ohio will continue to be represented at this important agricultural event.
As in the past, I urge you to support your llama and alpaca organizations and associations. Without all of us pulling at the oars of these organizations we are facing a bleak future for our continued existence as an agricultural industry in Ohio and the Nation. Nothing happens until we are all involved.
“ORVLA, where the fun begins”... with you!
Bill Safreed
Read past messages from the President here.
Board members for 2012
We welcome Darlene Sutton
Back row: Doug Targett, Bill Safreed, Nick Fischer, Fred Tarr
Front row: Darlene Sutton, Joy Bishop-Forshey, Janice Schilling, Kris Miller, Cindy Wilson
ORVLA goes hiking!
Getting ready to hike!
About these Pictures
These are pictures from the ORVLA hike on October 9, 2011 at Rob, Donna and Brian Spencer's beautiful farm near Beloit. The almost three mile hike through fields and woods.
ORVLA now accepts payments using paypal
Join ORVLA online
ORVLA Honors Founding Fathers
The Ohio River Valley Llama Association recently honored three couples as founders of the organization at their annual Christmas luncheon and general meeting. The meeting was held December 4th at the home of Russ and Kris Miller of Galloway, Ohio. The honoraries introduced were (left to right) Dennis and Janet Fender of Baltic, Hank and Connie Kauffman of Gambier and Al and Barbara Ramonde of Westerville. Each couple spoke on their beginnings in the llama industry and entertained those present with humorous stories of incidents that occurred during their 75+ total years of raising llamas. Each couple thanked the organization for the years of being an extended family, the friendships created and fun that they have experienced from being involved with llamas and the Ohio River Valley Llama Association. Each couple was given a gift of appreciation from the organization to thank them for their service and years of involvement with the organization.
