It's a little late, but here is Red Granite Ranch's 2024 recap. We want to sincerely thank every client from 2024 who trusted our program, whether through breedings, animal purchases, or advice—we appreciate you! To start, 2024 was a very rewarding year full of new relationships, new alpacas (almost too many!), thousands of miles traveling across the country for shows, lots of food, and a lot of NEW experiences. Breakdown by months below, along with a little show breakdown.
In January, we attended the National Western Stock Show and had a blast. RGR Colo Lsere By Val D Lsere won the Grand Champion Male award and Red Granites Shea won the Grand Champion Female award. Additionally, we released the 2024 Herdsire Directory, which was a huge hit!
In February, we attended the TXOLAN Double Show and had soooo much fun with our fellow Texans!! We also went to the final Amber Autumn Auction and sold Red Granites Crisi Bay By Alydar to Christine and Jim of Flying Iron Ranch.
In March, we spent 3 weeks straight on the road for shows! We started with the RailSplitter/IAOBA dual show, where 3/4 of Judges’ Choice awards that weekend, and all of the Huacaya JC winners were offspring of Red Granites Val D Lsere. 18/21 of the animals we brought to that dual show also won a banner, which was an impressive statistic to find out! We then moved on to the AOA National Show, where the Alydar & Val D Lsere kids did a stellar job in halter and walking fleece rings! Boco Raton's breeding also sold for $4,000 at the Banquet and Auction of Badger Canyon Farm. We then traveled to Kansas for the MOPACA/Mid-America dual shows. Excellent results once again from our team. Boco Raton took both of the Male Judges’ Choice awards, sadly there was not enough for a Female judges' choice.
In April, we attended the prestigious Futurity Show & Sale where the crew did fantastic! Alydar and Val D Lsere's kids won banners, where the Alydar sons swept the Roan Male Championship class! Sharon and Cadence also hosted an international zoom meeting for the North Shires and North Wales Alpaca Group on Making Breeding Decisions! We sold both of our Futurity consignments and purchased a few as well.
In May, we attended our final halter shows of the year, the GWAS/RMAS dual show, where we also purchased a new herdsire. We also sheared 380+ alpacas at the end of May in 2 1/2 days, where 29 show blankets were kept and 17 show blankets made the cut (our largest ever).
In June, cria season was in full swing!! We welcomed our first Legit, Boco, and Casper crias during this month. We also welcomed home Saucy, a Bernese mountain dog puppy (who is now HUGE).
In July, we were welcomed with our AOA National High Point awards and Futurity awards. Our program was named the Large Breeder of the Year at The Futurity and Alydar was named the Futurity Herdsire of the Year winner for Large Breeders and Dark Offspring. Additionally, we were named the #1 Large Breeding Farm in BOTH halter and fleece in 2024. Pascal was named the #9 Huacaya Male in fleece too! Sharon attended the AOA National Fiber Conference as well, where our animals shined brilliantly in the fleece show!!
In August, we attended the Education with a Destination auction where our package deal lot claimed the highest selling price and sold to Amber Autumn Alpacas. While Sharon and Marc were away at that, we had a baby palooza at the ranch with a record of 5+ crias in less than 48 hours. In August we also lost an industry icon, MFI Pistol at the age of 23 years old.
In September, many more crias made their way into the world! We also sent fleeces to the PNAA IFA Fleece show where 5/9 of our entries received Grade Championships, and two received advanced fleece awards.
In October, we went to our first fall show of 2024 the Iowa Mega Show! Where we won 17 Championship banners plus two from Pascal who our partner entered. Our champions ranged from 9 months to 3 years old!
In November, we attended the A-OK Dual Shows while Pascal competed in Ohio at the Buckeye Show with Sugarland alpacas and he took the Black Male Championship. We also attended the Showtacular Shows in New York, where we saw many new and old friends!! We also welcomed home AMAF's Top Gun, a new shiney Herdsire...
In December, we relaxed!!! We had a nice Christmas dinner with the RGR team and also one with family. We also said goodbye to RGR Liberty Bell By Val D Lsere, as she went to her forever home with Travis & Sarah in Iowa at Cedar & Sage Alpacas.
Show Highlights:
→ 100+ Championships were won by Red Granite Ranch animals from January 2024 - December 2024.
→ 160+ First places were won by Red Granite Ranch animals from January 2024 - December 2024.
→ 120+ Second places were won by Red Granite Ranch animals from January 2024 - December 2024.
→ 55+ Third places were won by Red Granite Ranch animals from January 2024 - December 2024.
→ 7 Judges' Choice/Grand Champion awards were won by Red Granite Ranch animals from January 2024 - December 2024. Six of those were won by animals still residing at RGR and one was won by an animal we sold.
Sale Highlights:
→ Red Granites Pascal By Val D Lsere sold to Sugarland Alpacas in Iowa for half-interest.
→ RGR Justification By Alydar sold to Sunny Acres Alpacas in Florida for full interest.
→ RGR Aces Loaded By Val D Lsere sold to Fleecy Friends Alpacas in Oklahoma for full interest at the Futurity Auction. Later on, 2/3 interest of Aces was purchased by Oregon breeding farms; Flying Dutchman Alpacs & Stillmeadow Farm.
→ RGR Tator Tot By Alydar sold to Tiskilwa Alpacas in Illinois for full interest at the Futurity Auction.
→ Red Granites Estaban By Val D Lsere sold to Rogue Alpacs in Oregon for full interest.
→ Red Graites Sting, Red GRanites Shaka, and Red Granites Satin Fever sold to Amber Autumn Alpacas in Oregon for full interest at the Education with a Destination Auction.
→ RGR Liberty Bell By Val D Lsere (bred to Estates Passionate Fever) sold to Cedar & Sage Alpacas in Iowa for full interest.