Mike Safley was born and raised in Oregon. He attended the University of Oregon and served in the U.S. Navy Seabees during the Vietnam War. Prior to purchasing his first five alpacas with his father, Ken Safley, in 1984, Mike was a builder and real estate investor.

Mike was elected president of the fledgling Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association (AOBA) in 1990. While serving as president of AOBA, he conceived of and became the first editor for Alpacas magazine. He wrote for the magazine for almost ten years. He was chairman of the first AOBA alpaca show committee and on the first alpaca marketing committee.

As a member of the marketing committee, Mike wrote several brochures for the alpaca industry--"Alpaca Investment", "Fleece to Fashion", and "Color"--all of which continue to be printed by AOBA today. Mike wrote and produced the first alpaca marketing video which was issued by AOBA; and established the first alpaca advertising co-op, pioneering the breeder's guide model that AOBA still uses. With his wife, Julie Safley, Mike wrote and produced the alpaca coloring book.

An accredited alpaca judge, Mike has judged alpaca shows in the United States, Peru, Australia, and Canada. As a member of AOBA's first show committee, he authored the first alpaca show rules used in the United States and Canada. He was the initial organizer of the All American Alpaca Futurity, which awarded the first championship ribbons to alpacas in the United States.

Mike was elected to the Alpaca Registry, Inc., (ARI) Board of Directors twice, the last time in 1995; he was elected president of the registry in 1997. As a member of the alpaca registry, he was the driving force behind the levy of screening fees for imported alpacas, which resulted in the collection of several million dollars in revenue. This was used by the alpaca industry for marketing and research. In 1998, he authored the amendment to the alpaca registry's policies and procedures which were voted on by the ARI members and resulted in the closure of the registry to the registration of offspring of unregistered parents.

Julie Safley has also been active in the alpaca industry. She wrote and produced the first alpaca fiber newsletter, "Sharing Sources,"and she co-authored the Alpaca Clip Care Manual with Cameron Holt of Australia. Julie was the moving force behind the formation of the Alpaca Fiber Cooperative of North America (AFCNA), and opened the first exclusively alpaca retail store in the United States. Mike and Julie hosted the first Alpaca Fest International at their Northwest Alpacas Ranch in Hillsboro, Oregon. The format used at that time became the format adopted by alpaca festivals across the U.S. and Canada.

Beginning in 1992, Mike and Julie made over 25 trips to Peru, buying goods for Julie's store, selecting alpacas, visiting alpaca producers and processors, establishing the Quechua Benefit with Dr. Mario Pedroza (providing dental assistance, school supplies, and clothing to the alpaca shepherds of Peru's high sierra), and researching this book. Mike and Julie continue to reside at Northwest Alpacas Ranch with their four children and 150 alpacas.

You can reach Mike and Julie at Northwest Alpacas, 11785 SW River Road, Hillsboro, Oregon, 97123