It's hard to resist the split-lipped smile and long eyelashes of alpacas. Farmers say they are very clean animals, very curious, each with its own distinct personality. Hundreds of both the dreadlocked suris and the fluffier huacayas will be on display and competing in the 15th annual Buckeye Alpaca Show at the Summit County Fairgrounds in Tallmage on Saturday and Sunday. (Lynn Ischay/The Plain Dealer)

TALLMAGE, Ohio, OH — Hundreds of alpacas will fill the Summit County Fairgrounds in Tallmadge this weekend for the 15th annual Buckeye Alpaca Show.

Alpaca farmers from Maine to Tennessee have brought their best alpacas to compete and show this weekend. Competition varies from a youth costume class to halter, obstacle and fleece classes.

Hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.

Story and photos by Lynn Ischay, The Plain Dealer

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These suri alpacas, from left, Kitty Burke, Wondra and Sunny Dee, will draw crowds with their curious nature and dreadlocked cartoon cuteness. (Lynn Ischay | The Plain Dealer)

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The cartoon-cute animals with their big eyes and split-lipped smiles are much gentler, softer, and better behaved than llamas and camels, their larger, camelid cousins.

Alpacas are not pack animals, but are raised for their fleece – a light-weight, luxurious fiber that is prized for its strength and silkiness. Vendors at the show will sell everything from manure to blankets, from coats and sweaters to roosters and unicorns made from the cloud-like alpaca fleece.

Proceeds from live and silent auctions will support two camelid conferences at The Ohio State University in 2020, and the Buckeye Large Animal Veterinary Scholarship fund. Over the 14 years of the show, fundraising and donations have contributed $335,000 toward education and large-animal vet scholarships.

More information and show schedules can be found at Annual Buckeye Alpaca Show Summit County Fairgrounds.

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Lynn Ischay/The Plain Dealer

Male and female alpacas are kept in separate pens at the Buckeye Alpaca Show, but they still are close enough to feel they are still with their herd mates. Alpacas are herd animals and have a rather neat society, keeping their dung in communal piles far from their living quarters, for example.

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Lynn Ischay/The Plain Dealer

Alpacas seem always to be smiling due to the split-lip construction of their mouths. This one looks a little bit like ET. Hundreds of alpacas and their owners, along with hundreds of vendors, are gathered at the Summit County Fairgrounds for the 15th annual Buckeye Alpaca Show.

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Lynn Ischay/The Plain Dealer

Female suri alpacas Wondra, left, and Kitty Burke need a little coaxing to walk through the Summit County Fair parking lot and into the exhibition building for Buckeye Alpaca Show this weekend. Jack Shumaker is gentle but persistent, and eventually gets them inside. Shumaker and his wife, Darlyn, have 49 alpacas at Alpaca Darlyn's Suri Farm in Marengo, Ohio. They started with 14 of the animals in 2012.

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Lynn Ischay/The Plain Dealer

Darlyn Schumaker untangles the leads of her four suri alpacas who decided to change positions on their way into the arena complex at the Summit County Fairgrounds on Friday, March 29, 2019. Schumaker and her husband, Jack, brought seven of their suris to show at this weekend's Buckeye Alpaca Show. The couple started Alpaca Darlyns Suri Farm in Marengo, OH, in 2012 with 14 suris. They now have 49, and expect several babies this spring.

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Lynn Ischay/The Plain Dealer

Alpaca shapes are woven into the design of this alpaca blanket, for sale from the Peruvian Link company, one of many vendors at the 15th annual Buckeye Alpaca Show.

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Lynn Ischay/The Plain Dealer

Moonwalker, a huacaya alpaca owned by David Hamilton of Black Walnut Alpaca Farms in Vienna, sits close to a fan lets his split lips blow apart. Hamilton says Moonwalker does this all the time, even in the breeze. "I say he sits and tastes the air, he's always done that," Hamilton laughs.

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Lynn Ischay/The Plain Dealer

Fingerless gloves, made of alpaca fiber and embroidered, are just some of the hundreds of items, from manure to blankets to stuffed animals, for sale at the 15th annual Buckeye Alpaca Show.

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Lynn Ischay/The Plain Dealer

A basket full of alpaca fleece gives people the chance to feel the silky softness of the raw material that goes into so many of the beautiful items for sale at the 15th annual Buckeye Alpaca Show at the Summit County Fairgrounds in Tallmadge. Farmers and vendors from Maine to Tennesee gather for competition, commeraderie and to sell their animals.

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Lynn Ischay/The Plain Dealer

Alpacas only have teeth on the bottom, and a hard dental pad on top. They do have molars in back on the top and bottom. Their tongues are short, and they only graze on the tops of plants, unable to rip them out using a longer tongue. They do less damage to the landscape that way.

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Lynn Ischay/The Plain Dealer

This sweet suri alpaca rests her head on owner Darlyn Shumaker's head as she gets her fleece checked for color compliance in preparation for the Buckeye Alpaca Show.

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Lynn Ischay/The Plain Dealer

Dyed alpaca yarn for sale at the 15th annual Buckeye Alpaca Show at the Summit County Fairgrounds in Tallmadge this weekend. Alpaca fiber is some of the softest, strongest fiber available and makes very warm, breathable clothing and blankets.

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Lynn Ischay/The Plain Dealer

Alpacas are curious creatures, and are interested in the people who walk past their enclosures at the Buckeye Alpaca Show at the Summit County Fairgrounds.

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Lynn Ischay/The Plain Dealer

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Stuffed alpaca toys ,made from the uniquely soft fiber of the real animals, line shelves at the Buckeye Alpaca Show at the Summit County Fairgrounds in Tallmadge. The non-profit event is free, and hundreds of vendors sell items made from the luxurious fleece.

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Lynn Ischay/The Plain Dealer

Darlyn Schumaker found her silver suri alpaca earrings on a trip to Peru. Schumaker and her husband, Jack, brought seven of their suris, the dreadlocked alpacas, to show at this weekend's Buckeye Alpaca Show. The couple started Alpaca Darlyns Suri Farm in Marengo, Ohio, in 2012 with 14 suris. They now have 49, and expect several babies this spring. The show is free, and hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Vendors and farmers from Maine to Tennessee are here to share their love of the bright and curious animals and to sell the products they inspire. (Lynn Ischay | The Plain Dealer)

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Lynn Ischay/The Plain Dealer

Clothing from glamorous to outdoorsy, all made from incredibly soft and strong alpaca fleece, for sale at the 15th annual Buckeye Alpaca show at the Summit County Fairgrounds in Tallmadge.

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Lynn Ischay/The Plain Dealer

Theresa and Charles Jewell of Stoney Meadows Alpacas in Holley, NY, lead their alpacas in to the arena complex at the Summit County Fairgrounds for the 15th annual Buckeye Alpaca Show. The couple has 22 huacaya alpacas on their farm, but brought three to be judged on confirmation. Thresea also has scarves, shawls, hats and other felted, woven, knit, crocheted and embroidered items she has created for sale.

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Lynn Ischay/The Plain Dealer

This huacaya alpaca is full of hay and personality ready for the Buckeye Alpaca Show at the Summit County Fairgrounds in Tallmadge this weekend.

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