Mike Safley

Mike Safley was born and raised in Oregon.  He attended the University of Oregon and served in the U.S. Navy Seabees, doing two tours of duty in Vietnam.

Mike was elected president of the fledgling Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association (AOBA) in 1990 and the Alpaca Registry (ARI) in 1996.  While serving as president of AOBA, he conceived of and became the first editor for Alpacas magazine. He has been instrumental in the development of policies and practices for both AOBA and The Alpaca Registry, Inc. (ARI).  Mike has written several brochures for the alpaca industry which continue to be printed by AOBA today including: “The Alpaca Investment,” “Fleece to Fashion” and “Alpacas the Color” brochure.  He is also the author of Alpacas: Synthesis of a Miracle, Ideal Alpacas from Myth to Reality, The Alpaca Shepherd, and The Alpaca Chronicles.

Over the last 30 years, Mike has conducted seminars and lectures worldwide to audiences in England, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United States, and Peru.  He has been a judge at alpaca shows in the United States, England, Germany, Australia, Canada, and Peru.  The major shows include the AOBA National, MAPACA, The All American Futurity, British Futurity, Alpaca Western Extravaganza, The North American Alpaca Show, The Great Western Alpaca Show, The Kentucky Classic, Estes Park Wool Market, and the Santa Fe Alpaca Show.

Mike worked to organize and fund Quechua Benefit since its inception, traveling to Peru with the crew for the past 13 years.