Glen Pfefferkorn was a founding director of the first llama association in the Willamette Valley which is the North West Camelid Foundation. He focused on education and medical research from day one.

He received an OSU College of Veterinary Medicine Distinguished Service Award for his efforts protecting the college from budget cuts and establishing a four-year veterinary program. Glen has served on various committees for the International Lama Registry, International Llama Foundation, Alpaca and Llama Show Association, and Oregon state veterinarians. He is a past member of the Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine Dean’s Advisory Council.

He and his partner owned Glenmor Forest Llamas near Dallas, Oregon. Staff and students had access to their herd for research and education. Two endowments bear their name. One, awards scholarships to students interested in camelid medicine and the other, The Glen Pfefferkorn/Morris Wendorf Professor of Camelid Medicine, is the only endowed Camelid Professorship in the world.

Patrick Long, DVM, Vice President,is a practicing veterinarian in Corvallis, Oregon. Llamas and alpacas comprise more than half of his practice. He graduated from Kansas State University with his DVM degree in 1976. Following five years in the US Army, he has practiced in Oregon, working with llamas and alpacas since 1982. He speaks at many national and international meetings on llama and alpaca care.

Dr. Long is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Oregon Veterinary Association, and he is a board member of the North West Camelid Foundation and the Alpaca Research Foundation. He is co-author of the Llama and Alpaca Neonatal Care book. Dr. Long has written many articles for Alpacas Magazine and has participated in several importation screenings for ARI. Dr. Long’s areas of interest are herd health management, nutrition, and reproduction.

Mary Jo Saw Actor Dennis Weaver on the Tonight Show some 30+ years ago, proudly sharing his llamas with Johnny Carson.  Love at first sight?  In 1995, when her father-in-law offered llamas as a solution to brush control, Mary Jo couldn’t get her fence up fast enough!  Daffodil Hill Llamas (and Alpacas in 2002) was born.

As a self-sufficient breeder, Mary Jo brings an owner’s perspective to the Board.  She has owned as many as 50 llamas and alpacas at one time. She served as President of the Willamette Valley Llama Association and was a member of the Willamette Alpaca Breeders Association. In her capacity as a Board Member, Mary Jo has served for several years as Foundation Secretary, and actively participates in organizing educational seminars for camelid owners, as well as fundraising opportunities to support medical research.

Retiring to Washington’s Olympic Peninsula in 2015 meant parting with her herd. While her present living arrangement doesn’t accommodate camelids, she hopes to still befriend a llama farm or two!

Peggy and her family began The Llama Collection in 1988 and became very active in the llama community. She was a founding board member of the SW Washington Llama Association and she and her husband, Kirk, managed The Llama Affaire show for 25 years. She began volunteering for the youth program at Herd Health Day and became a member of the Medical Research Committee in 1996. Peggy chaired the NWCF Stud Service Auction and Banquet for many years and continues to provide support for their educational and fundraising programs.

She has served over 30 years as a 4-H Leader for Llamas & Alpacas, Vet Science, Fiber Arts and Know Your Government and was inducted into the WA State 4-H Hall of Fame. She currently serves on the WA State 4-H Fairboard as well as being the NWCF Treasurer.

Ann is actively involved in the education and mentoring support of alpaca owners through local camelid associations. By hosting farm tours, she shares with visitors her own knowledge and appreciation of alpacas as eco-friendly livestock.

Olin Allen of Monmouth, Oregon, is a retired wildlife biologist who has worked for various parks and wildlife agencies and The Nature  Conservancy. He participated in numerous research projects as a professional, and continues to be active as a “Citizen Scientist.” He and his wife bought their first six llamas more than 20 years ago for their hobby farm in Delaware. They later moved to Colorado where Olin served as the state rescue coordinator for Southwest Llama Rescue, at times fostering as many as 25 llamas at their farm.

In 2014, Olin, his wife and their herd of 18 llamas moved to the lush pastures and mild climate of the Willamette Valley. Olin continues to participate in various activities to keep abreast of camelid developments for the welfare of his animals, with a particular interest in geriatric care.

Lona Frank of Beaverton, Oregon, has been involved with the camelid industry since 1988. As owner of more than 80 Huacaya and Suri alpacas, she exhibits a clear interest in the future of our industry and the well-being of our national herd.

Lona serves on the Alpaca Research Foundation Development Committee, as well as on the NWCF Research Committee. She is also a member of the Advisory Committee for the Biology and Management of Zoo Animals, a division of Portland Community College.

Involved in showing alpacas since 1992, Lona attended many Judges and Show Clinics and was approved as a Fleece Judge through the AOBA Symposium in 1998. She assisted at National Shows in both the Fleece and Halter arena to enhance her knowledge of these wonderful animals and the judging procedures used according to prescribed rules.

Lona was instrumental in developing a comprehensive supplement for the health and well-being of the North American alpaca herd which has been used in the alpaca industry since 1992. She also worked with OSU and local veterinarians to develop a drug protocol for the health of camelids.

Dr. Scot Lubbers, along with his wife, Brenda, own Amazia Veterinary Service in Brush Prairie, Washington. Dr. Lubbers grew up raising and showing sheep and rabbits in 4-H in Oregon and is a 1984 graduate of OSU. After opening his practice in 1988, he quickly became one of the region’s camelid specialists and is a frequent speaker at various camelid functions. He donates many hours to Extension educational programs as well as 4-H, and serves as a Fair Veterinarian for the Clark County Fair.

Dr. Lubbers is a member of the NWCF Medical Research Committee and also serves as the NWCF representative on the Lama Medical Research Group. Both a llama and an alpaca join the horses, cattle, sheep, pigs and dogs that the Lubbers and their two sons, Nathaniel and Matthew, raise and show.

Grace Montgomery, DVM  

 Dr. Grace Montgomery is a large animal veterinarian in southwest Washington. She received Bachelor’s degrees in Microbiology and Animal Sciences from Washington State University, and continued her education at WSU for veterinary school, graduating as a DVM in 2024. 

Her lifelong love of animals drew her to veterinary medicine, but her experience with her llama and alpaca projects in the Washington State 4-H program influenced her to pursue large animal medicine as a career path.

During veterinary school, Dr. Montgomery wrote and presented the 1st place paper for the class of 2024, covering Parelaphostrongylus tenuis in North American camelids. She was also a grateful recipient of the NWCF scholarship, which allowed her to travel to Oregon State University to participate in their Camelid Medicine and Surgery rotation. Her professional interests include small ruminant parasitology, mastitis, dairy management, and educating clients with pet livestock animals. 

Dr. Rachel Oxley, DVM grew up on a cattle ranch, where her family also raised quarter horses and paint horses. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, California in animal science.

Dr. Oxley is a 1998 graduate of Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine. While there, she became interested in Camelid Medicine and took all of the Camelid courses provided. OSU has a reputation of specializing in Camelid Medicine and Surgery, and encouraging research in Camelids. Dr. Oxley then did an internship in Central Oregon in a practice with a Camelid specialist, treating a large number of llamas and alpacas. Subsequently she was hired at that clinic, working there for eight years before establishing her own veterinary practice. A large part of her practice is camelids, both llamas and alpacas, and she enjoys the rewards and challenges that these unique animals bring.

In her spare time, Dr. Rachel enjoys hiking, horseback riding, camping, music, and spending time with family, friends, and her menagerie of animals.

Dr. “Char” Arendas hails from the northeast Ohio area, near Youngstown. She got her first llama as a 4-H project in 1995 when she was 12 years old. That was the beginning of Spacey Acres Llama Ranch, and since then, she & her mom Debbie have enjoyed nearly 30 years of raising, training, & showing llamas all over the USA. Char and her mom chartered the Llucky Llamas 4-H Club in Mahoning County, Ohio in 2000 and still run it.

Char graduated from Youngstown State University in 2004 with her honors BS degree in Biology, then from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008 with her DVM. She and her fiancé Ben now have their own small farm – Steel Valley Llamas – in Berlin Center, Ohio. Char is the co-owner of a 7-doctor small animal veterinary practice in Warren, Ohio, where she works full-time treating companion pets and exotics. She enjoys treating local llamas and alpacas on her days off as a hobby to help out her fellow camelid owners.

In her spare time, Char enjoys kayaking, playing the trumpet, camping, hiking, needle felting, and home improvement projects. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Ohio River Valley Llama Association (ORVLA) and the Llama Fiber Cooperative of North America (LFCNA), and previously served on the board of the Ohio Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA). Dr. Arendas is an avid Ohio State Buckeyes and Steelers football fan!

For 18 years, I have engaged with camelids through various avenues that have shaped my deep understanding and passion for these animals.

As a 10-year alumni of the Washington State 4-H Llama project, I have honed my skills and knowledge in handling and caring for camelids. Additionally, I have participated in open shows with the International Llama Registry Show Division (ILR-SD) and the Alpaca Llama Show Association (ALSA), competing and placing at local, regional, and national levels. My show ring achievements include winning my first national championship in 2021 and completing my ILR-SD judging certification in 2023.

Deepening my bond with and my understanding of these animals, I own one of the only Pet Partners registered therapy llamas in Wisconsin. Together, we have been a registered team since March of 2020, bringing comfort and joy to those in need.

My involvement in the fiber arts community, including fleece processing, spinning, knitting, and needle felting, has not only been a creative outlet but has also garnered recognition. I was honored to win Grand Champion for one of my felted sculptures at the Oregon Flock & Fiber Festival.

I am committed to sharing my knowledge and passion for camelids with the public. I have volunteered at numerous outreach and educational events, presenting educational displays and teaching classes on various aspects of llama and alpaca care and training. I have also run a successful llama and alpaca shearing business, providing shearing and toe trimming services to owners across the Pacific Northwest, while also offering consultation on proper care.

Currently, I am a Ph.D. candidate in political science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I have taken numerous courses in research methodology. My research experience, though in the social sciences, has equipped me with valuable skills in data analysis and presentation, which  would be beneficial to NWCF’s research grant review committee.

Kendara began volunteering at age of 13 at a local llama farm. She acquired her first llama within a year and a second shortly after. She participated in the local 4H club with her llamas throughout her high school years. Her llamas were boarded in friends’ empty pastures until after she graduated college and was able to acquire property for herself.  She currently has a small herd of four female llamas.

Kendara graduated from University of Washington,Tacoma, with a BS in Environmental Science. She currently works as a licensed veterinary technician with small animals in an internal medicine specialty practice.  In the past, Kendara has held the position of  Open Class Llama Assistant Superintendent and 4H Llama Superintendent at the Kitsap Fair.

As a small herd hobby farmer with a background in sciences and veterinary medicine, Kendara brings a unique perspective to the Foundation.  Her interest is the overall well-being of these amazing animals, with the specific goal of the best care we can provide our pets.