Alpacas of Oklahoma is seeking to establish an Endowed Scholarship at Oklahoma State University. Heather Fairbanks is serving as our liason to OSU and is co-chair of an ad-hoc committee with our current President, Derek Smith. What follows is a recap of a presentation that was made at our August 9, 2025 Quarterly Meeting. This project is still in the fact-finding stage. We invite anyone or any farm or ranch to consider supporting a fund agreement when it is signed. Our first support has come from outside of Oklahoma! Contact us for information as needed!
Endowed Funds at OSU Foundation — Update
Endowed funds award scholarships once the $25K level is met
- Minimum threshold = $25,000 within 5 years
- 4.25%/year award percentage = ~$1,000 for $25K endowment
- Can split a gift so that it can be awarded sooner –i.e.a $6,000 gift, where $5,000 goes into the endowed part and $1,000 is available to award
- Additional endowed gifts over $25K go into the same fund, increasing the available scholarship award for future years
Scholarships are awarded in March for the following year,
except 4th year students (which are awarded before they graduate)
Scholarship Criteria
Scholarships are awarded by a faculty/staff committee according to the criteria in the fund agreement
OSUF staff recommends setting a 1st preference, 2nd preference for criteria, such as:
- 1st preference to a student demonstrating an interest in camelids, who plans to practice in Oklahoma after graduation
- 2nd preference to a student demonstrating an interest in small ruminants, including camelids, who plans to practice in Oklahoma after graduation
OSU CVM has one other active scholarship for camelid studies the Oklahoma Lama Association Scholarship. There is definitely student interest.
How to Give
Once the fund agreement is created, AOK can make gifts to OSU
Foundation
People can also give directly to OSUF for charitable gift credit
- Cash, check, online –single gift or recurring
- Non-cash giving: IRA qualified charitable distribution, stock, donor advised fund distribution, even corporate matching gifts
- Perhaps even consider a legacy gift for the endowment in your estate plan
After the Scholarship…
OSU CVM sends annual impact reports to scholarship donors so
AOK would learn about the recipients
They would be glad to connect recipients in person with AOK,
informally or formally, perhaps even at an event like the Blast
Off/Rose Rock Annual Shows
OSUF Contact
Kathryn (Kat) McKean is the new Asst. Director of Development for
OSU CVM –kmckean@osugiving.com
Kat has invited two board members to campus to meet with a
faculty member in September -lunch and a tour of the Vet Med
Teaching Hospital
Assuming AOK decides to move forward with the endowed fund,
she also invited two board members to the Mega Suite during
Cowboy Football in fall 2025.
Collaborative Alpaca Social Media Campaign—Summary
UPDATE! – The website for this effort is ONLINE!
The Collaborative Alpaca Social Media Campaign aims to address declining alpaca industry trends by raising public awareness and driving interest in alpaca ownership and products. The initiative seeks to unite the Alpaca community through an inclusive platform that connects consumers, breeders, and related businesses, leveraging modern social media channels to expand reach and engagement.
Campaign Purpose and Goals: The campaign intends to increase awareness about alpacas, their fiber benefits, and products. This makes it easier for interested individuals to connect with breeders and businesses. It targets reversing the decline in AOA membership and registered alpacas by building a supportive community. The fundraising goal is $60,000 to maximize social media outreach.
Target Audiences and Content Focus: The campaign will promote a number of things. These include general alpaca education, lifestyle, breeding, showing, products, agritourism, youth activities, therapy, and meat. Target audiences include the general public, product consumers, fiber artists, future alpaca owners, hobby farms, show farms, and tourists.
Social Media Strategy and Execution: Campaign efforts will utilize platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Reddit. These will be tailored to appropriate demographic segments. An experienced freelancer will be hired to plan, create, execute, and monitor campaign performance to ensure effective outreach.
Project Phases and Community Involvement: The initiative is structured in phases. These include Fundraising and planning, website and social media creation, and active campaign management with performance tracking. Community members can support by pledging funds, providing media assets, and suggesting educational content.
A-OK’s Support
A-OK voted at the May, 2025 General Membership Meeting to support the effort. We are giving $1500 over the next three years at $500 per year.
Broken Arrow’s Brian Arnold…
BROKEN ARROW, Okla. — Brian Arnold raises alpacas to educate the community on their benefits. Unlike cattle, alpacas are gentle on the land, cutting grass with their teeth and causing minimal damage thanks to their soft foot pads. Their waste is pH balanced, low odor, and makes excellent fertilizer. The main product is alpaca fleece, which is warmer than wool and softer than cashmere. There are two types: the fuzzy Huacaya and the silky Suri. Each alpaca produces 5–10 pounds of fleece yearly, selling for $6–$9 per ounce, and can live up to 20 years. Prices range from a few hundred dollars to hundreds of thousands depending on quality. Alpacas are quiet, rarely bite or kick, and make good pets, though they do spit as a defense mechanism. Brian sells fleece products at Critter Corner at Sander’s Nursery, and alpaca farming is growing in Oklahoma.
For more information, visit the Alpaca Owners Association here. Contact Alpacas of Oklahoma as well here.