NORWICH – In the wake of the oil spill affecting the gulf coast, a local Norwich family of Alpaca farmers has stepped up to donate fleeces to help fight the United States’ worst environmental catastrophe in history.
The Thall family has spent the last four years showcasing their two dozen Alpacas in several states, and at their last competition a non-profit group began collecting donated fleeces from the animals and sending them to coastal states affected by the spill.
“We believe in the cause. If we had some major catastrophe here in our area, I would hope other people would come in and help us. This is something we can easily give to help the United States. Not everyone has money to give away; this is our small contribution,” said Brenda Thall.
Volunteers in those states take the donated Alpaca hair and stuff it into pillow-like containers to create water booms that contain and absorb the drifting oil.
Brenda and Mat Thall, along with their nine year old daughter Breanna, traveled to York, Pa., last month to compete in the annual Paoba Alpaca Show.
The weekend show drew around 700 competing alpacas and between 150 to 200 farms.
At the show, Breanna took first place in the Junior Youth Division’s Performance Class, for ages 9 to 12.
Breanna competed against 13 others with her black alpaca, County Girl. During the show, judges evaluate the handler’s control, the animal’s discipline and its overall health. Breanna also took third place in the event’s obstacle course show, which had her leading Country Girl over teetering ramps, steps and other intimidating challenges.
Brenda, who also competed, brought home a fourth, fifth and sixth place ribbon in the adult’s Halter Show.
The Paoba Alpaca Show’s organizers began collecting donated fleece from participants. The fleece is often sold at three different grades, first, second and third, with the first grade being the hair sheered from the animal finest areas of the body, the back and sides. The finest grade is used in yards and many human-bound products.
Second grade fleece is often used as stuffing or for bedding for domestic pets, while the third is either discarded, used for educational purposes or, as it is now, used to contain oil spills.
The Thalls donated around 8 pounds of alpaca hair, half third grade and the other half second grade, which could have been sold for a profit.
Brenda said the Paoba Alpaca Show paid about $1,000 to have an entire tractor trailer full of alpaca hair sent to the gulf coast from the event and now the family is hoping to do even more.
Brenda said the New York organization for Alpaca Farmers, Empire, was unable to send fleece to the gulf citing financial difficulties. The family has contacted out of state organizations collecting the hair instead.
The Thalls have collected nearly 15 pound of fleece to donate, but are waiting for other organizations to work out the logistics of moving the material south. Meanwhile, BP has announced they are currently not using any hair booms to contain the oil spill pending further testing – a position that has drawn fire from many organizations that have been collecting all types of hair at centers near the afflicted areas.
Despite the company’s current decision, many groups continue to stockpile the naturally absorbant materials.
“If we can find a way to get this down there and if it helps, I’m more than happy to donate,” said Brenda. “You think they’d make it easier to help out.”