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CONFERENCE 2024

October 31 - November 3

Saratoga Springs, NY

Each year, a conference is held for new, experienced, and prospective camelid owners to attend sessions with camelid experts, veterinarians, discuss best practices in animal husbandry, and learn tips on successfully running a farm business.

The 2024 conference is being held in Saratoga Springs, NY with 120 attendees possible. There will also be a segment where members of the public are invited to join us to interact with the llamas and shop from vendors. We hope you’ll consider sponsoring this important event that educates farmers from all over the United States.

See you there!
2024 GALA Conference Co-Chairs
Charlotte Sankey, Deb Marcou, Katrina Capasso, and Emily Kane

Interested in attending?

Registration is now open! Your registration includes entry to sessions and classes, meals, conference notebook, and ability to participate in fun activities like the opening night ice breaker and corn hole tournament. Conference registration does not include your hotel room. Please see instructions below on securing your room in GALA's hotel block.


GALA welcomes returning attendees, first timers, and GALA retirees!

Register and pay by card

register and pay by check

Hotel Reservations

Make Your Hotel Reservations Now!

The 2024 Conference will be held at the Holiday Inn, 232 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.

The hotel has reserved a block of rooms on a first come, first served basis until Oct 4, 2024.

When you make your reservations, call (518) 584-4550 or 1-855-592-8367 or use www.saratogahi.com with the Group Code GAL or give the name GALA 2024 Annual Conference. We have one great price of $144.00 plus tax/night if booked by October 4, 2024.

CALL

Book Online

Participate

Now accepting advertisements and vendors! Spots are available to advertise in the conference notebook, booth space as a vendor, or stand alone booth space to advertise your farm or business. Information below.

notebook advertisements

become a vendor

filled!

auction donations

Become a Sponsor!

Sponsor

Sponsorships allow GALA to continue bringing current camelid information and the very best speakers to our members. They also give GALA the opportunity to support efforts for camelid welfare nationally and internationally.

We have a number of different sponsorship levels available.


sponsor Today!

Thanking our Sponsors

Llama level

We gratefully thank our $1,000 Sponsors 

  • Saratoga Olive Oil Company
  • Barbara Baker, Baker & Company Llamas

Alpaca level

We gratefully thank our $500 Sponsors 

  • Carol Reigh, Buck Hollow Llamas
  • Edward Hiller, Eagle's Landing Farm
  • Proper Nutrition, Inc.
  • Emilee English, Farm Credit East ACA
  • Debra Speyer, Westerham Llamas

Vicuña level

We gratefully thank our $250 Sponsors 

  • Katrina & Gary Capasso, Dakota Ridge Farm
  • Anne Phinney, Moose River Farm
  • Cynthia Barkman, Pinewoods Farm

Guanaco level

We gratefully thank our $100 Sponsors 

  • Curtis Lumber
  • Bob & Carol Wolfe, Spruce Lane Llamas
  • Carlos Mendoza
  • ShowEase Inc.
  • Marsha & Richard Timmerman

Dromedary level

We gratefully thank our $50 Sponsors 

  • Hilary Ware

Bactrian level

We gratefully thank our $25 Sponsors 

  • This could be you!

Conference Schedule

1:00-7:00 Check in for vendors, farm displays
3:00-7:00 Conference Registration (Full Package)
5:00-9:00 Dinner on your own
5:30-7:00 Board of Directors Meeting
7:30-8:30 Ice Breaker (greet old friends and make new ones)
8:30-? Corn Hole

Thursday October 31

Add your touch to the ongoing, very cool, wet felted decorative project in the fiber room. Share a few minutes of your time to help embellish the project to be offered at Saturday night’s auction. Stop in and help and bid on it later! All are welcome.
6:30-10:00 Breakfast on your own
7:00-8:00 Conference Registration (Full Package)
7:45-9:00 Welcome & Keynote: Niki Kuklenski, History of Llamas
9:00-9:15 Break and Shopping

Friday November 1

The Art & Beauty of Slow Stitch (Make & Take Fiber Project) - Barb Baker
Cria Care - Dr. Pat Long
Llamas from the Inside Out: Training Philosophy and Principles - John Mallon
Standing Castration, Fighting Teeth, & Microchip - Dr. Char Arendas

Session 1 - 9:15-10:30

Preparing Your Fiber for the Mill - Mary Jeane Packer, Battenkill Fiber Mill
How to Train your Babies in Preparation for Therapy Work - Roy Williams
AirBnb/Farm Stays - Hosting overnight guests on the farm - Andrea Parent-Tibbetts
Camelid Reproduction - Fertility and Breeding Practices - Dr. Ahmed Tibary

Session 2 - 10:45 - 12:00

Morning Refreshment Break - 10:30 - 10:45

Fiber Dyeing Demonstration - Amy Bowling
Tractor, PTO, and equipment safety along with a PTO demonstration - NYCAMH/Northeast Center
Video Tour - Infrastructure at Dakota Ridge Farm - Katrina and Gary Capasso
Round Pen Training; Cooperative Haltering, Safely Handle Ears, Face and Feet - John Mallon
Meningeal Worm and GI Parasites - Dr. Char Arendas

Session 3 - 1:15 - 2:30

Lunch & Shopping - 12:00 - 1:15

Wet Felting Camelid Fiber - Coffee/Tea Coaster - Pat McKinney
ILR Registry - Bring Your Laptop and Learn How to Navigate the Database of ILR - Niki Kuklenski
Events on the Farm - Is It Really Worth It? - Andrea Patent-Tibbetts
Camelid Vet Panel - Well known Camelid Vets will answer questions from breeders and owners

Session 4 - 2:45 - 4:00

Afternoon Refreshment Break - 2:30 - 2:45

What do judges look for in shorn fleece and how to preserve locks/architecture/transportation of fleece. - Joy Bishop-Forshey
Learn How to Do Fecals - Emaly Leak
Birthing Demonstration with Indiana Bones - Hilary Ware
Fireside Chat - John Mallon
Training Your Llama to Pack: What to know before you hit the trail - Linsday Chandler

Session 5 - 4:15 - 5:30

Break and Shopping - 4:00 - 4:15

4:30-5:15 - Registration for Partial Package 1
5:45-7:30 - Dinner Buffet with Deja Vu Jazz Playing
7:30-8:30 - GALA Annual Meeting
8:15-? - Cornhole Tournament
7:00-11:00 Breakfast on your own
7:00-8:00 Registration Partial Package II
8:00-9:15 Keynote Address - How do all camels compare as far as their biology. Take a look at the similarities amongst all the camelid family and notes from Dr. Tibary's work with camels.

Saturday November 2

Fiber Identification and its Uses - Amy Bowling
Running Your Farm as a Business - Anne Phinney
Advance Training - Leading, Sidepass, Backing, Stand, Verbal and Visual Cues - John Mallon
Running a llama show as a superintendent - Carol Millard & Debbie Arendas
Therapy Llamas - Pet Partners - Niki Kuklenski

Session 1 - 9:30-10:45

Break and Shopping 9:15-9:30

Beginner Cookie cutter Needle Felting Class with embellishments - Wunsapana Farm 4-H Group
Updates on Any Research Projects - Dr. Pat Long
Cria Weight Project - Madeline Krawciw
What do judges look for when you show in halter? How does a correct llama walk? A hands on evaluation of
llamas - Judges Joy Bishop-Forshey, Niki Kuklenski

Session 2 - 11:00 - 12:15

Morning Refreshment Break - 10:45 - 11:00

Kumihimo Japanese Braiding - Deb Gaskill
How to Photograph Your Llama - Meghan Cormier
Care of Geriatric Llamas - Dr. Pat Long
Leading on a Slack Lead - John Mallon
Should you Have a Breeding Herd - Dr. Ahmed Tibary

Session 3 - 2:15 - 3:30

Lunch - 12:30 - 1:30

Yarn Trolls (Make & Take Fiber Project) - Bonnie Kittrell
Do you have the right insurance coverage for your farm, animals and activities. Protecting your animals from disaster - Roy Williams
A Discussion on Care for Your Animals After You Die(Succession Planning?) - FarmNet
Negotiating an obstacle course and what do judges look for when you show in performance? - Jeff Carminati, Joy
Bishop-Forshey

Session 4 - 3:45 - 5:00

Afternoon Refreshment Break - 3:30 - 3:45

Market your Fiber Products Online and at Craft Shows - Emaly Leak
Guides and Tips to consider when taking an animal out in public - Nicole Truman, Jeff Hatley
Tips for the new llama owner including first aid, meds, equipment, etc. - Carol Reigh
More Training Techniques - John Mallon

Session 5 - 5:15 - 6:30

6:30-7:30 - Cocktails,Shopping, Silent Auction Bidding
7:30 - ? Dinner with Live Auction to Follow with Auctioneer Zach Toomey

Llama Parade - 1:30 - 2:00

Public Workshop - Llead a Llama - 2:00 - 3:00

7:00-11:00 Breakfast on your own
7:30-7:50 Drop off yard sale items
8:00-9:15 Keynote Address -  TBD

Sunday November 3

Weave your own “Mug Rug” Make & Take Fiber Project - Limit 12 people - Jean Szachacz
Breeding Trends & Precautions - John Mallon
Nutrition - Dr. Pat Long
Shots/Toenail Trimming - Carol Reigh

Session 1 - 9:30-10:45

11:00-11:25 Yard Sale
11:30-12:30 Brunch and Farewells

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