Mike Safley purchased his first five alpacas with his father, Ken Safley, in 1984. Since then he has served as president of the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association (AOBA) and the Alpaca Registry, Inc. He created and edited Alpacas magazine, authored several industry brochures, such as “Alpaca Investment,” “Fleece to Fashion,“ and the Alpaca “Color” brochure. In 2001, Mike authored Alpacas: Synthesis of a Miracle. A senior AOBA alpaca judge, Mike has judged alpaca shows in the United States, Peru, Australia and Canada. Mike Safley lives with his wife and four children on their Northwest Alpacas Ranch that they share with 150 alpacas. He can be reached at Northwest Alpacas, 11785 SW River Road, Hillsboro, Oregon 97123 or at www.alpacas.com.