Alpaca Research Foundation Donate Now!

Development Committee

The ARF Development Committee, the only standing committee of ARF, began its work early in 2001. The Committee was challenged by the ARF Board to develop a strategic plan for fundraising to benefit alpaca research. The ultimate goal is to provide the ARF with an endowment that will, if properly invested, yield an annual income substantial enough to fund on-going and important alpaca research. The formation of the ARF Development Committee is the first step toward the Board's goal of creating a self-sufficient alpaca research program.

The following alpaca breeders form the nucleus of the ARF Development Committee:

  • Ruthanne McCaslin, Chardon, Ohio. Ruthanne and her family own Promised Land Farm, where she has been raising alpacas for six years. She is also a small animal veterinarian, as is her husband, and has three teens to keep her busy. Ruthanne can be reached at blackalpaca@hotmail.com.

  • Kerry Anderson - Kerry and her husband Bob own A Star Alpacas and have been raising alpacas since 1997. Since 1985, Kerry has worked as a program officer and a Trustee for the True North Foundation. She is in charge of the foundation's environmental grant making. Bob and Kerry now live in Grass Valley, California. - astaralpacas@aol.com

  • Tsulan Balka, Elizabeth, CO - Tsulan and her husband, Tom, established Lavender Fields Alpacas in 2002. Tsulan's background as a women's health nurse practitioner carries over to the assessing the health of their herd. She's passionate about alpacas and enjoys their individuality. She also volunteers with Alpaca Breeders of the Rockies. Tsulan may be reached at tsulan@lavenderfieldsalpacas.com.

  • Rachelle Black, Lebec, CA. Rachelle Black and her family own Black Magic Alpaca Ranch in Lebec, CA. In business officially since 1999, Rachelle and her husband currently own 16 alpacas. She is passionate about educating the public about alpacas and their husbandry, and is very proud to be serving on the ARF Development Committee. She believes that the Alpaca Research Foundation is the most vital organization in the camelid industry. Rachelle can be reached at wyattblack@earthlink.net

  • Susan Forman, Washington Court House, OH --Susan and her husband bought their first alpacas in 2002 and established Dewey Morning Alpacas. Susan's background is in the social services, focusing on children and their needs. She has had a lifelong passion for animals and now plans to return their kindness through serving on the ARF Development Committee. She can be reached at susan@deweymorningalpacas.com

  • Lona Nelsen Frank - Lona, whose background was in a diverse corporate world and her engineering husband, John, have owned and operated ALPACAS of Tualatin Valley, LLC since 1988. Lona's interest in raising alpacas since the beginning has been focused toward nutrition and medicine. Lona may be reached at LFrank@AlpacaTV.com

  • Nancy Haus - Leavenworth, KS. Since late 2001, Nancy Haus has co-owned Humm V Farm - Suri Alpacas with her husband Donald. Nancy has served on the Board of Directors for ARI and has actively volunteered with OABA and MAPACA on committees and in both the show and fiber aspects of our industry. In earlier lives, Nancy was an Army Lieutenant Colonel, a Director of Development for an international non-profit and a University Professor focused on human behavior in organizational change processes. She hopes these talents will contribute to the Alpaca Research Foundation's success and to the well-being of alpacas now and into the future. hummvfarm@aol.com

  • Marilyn Scoggins, Morro Bay, CA has been in the alpaca industry since 1998 and has a herd of over 50 mostly grey and black huacayas at Canyon Creek Ranch. Her background is in business administration and nutrition which has complemented her alpaca enterprise. She has volunteered and been on the board of SoCalpaca and Alpaca Western Extravaganza. She feels honored to help an organization that does so much to support the health of the alpaca. mar.ccr@earthlink.net 

ARF Board Liaison

  • Pat Craven, Creekside, PA, pursued a career in medical research in the areas of endocrinology and metabolism with emphasis on diabetic nephropathy for 35 years. At her retirement she held the positions of Career Scientist for the Veterans Administration and Research Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. She has served on the board of directors of the Alpaca Research Foundation since 2001. alpacone@hughes.net