ILR Board Member Election Results

Dr. Karen Baum Reelected

Dr. Baum received the highest number of votes in our most recent election so she will continue for a five-year term on the ILR Board of Directors. Karen has been around for awhile so some of you might not recollect her background. Following is a bio to help you better know who your board member is.

Dr. Baum, a native of Wisconsin, graduated from Iowa State University, College of Veterinary Medicine. After completing an ambulatory internship at the Ohio State University, she moved to Cornell University to perform a Large Animal Medicine residency. Karen worked at a racetrack practice in Illinois before accepting a faculty position at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, where she founded the Large Animal Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and established the Lama Advisory Committee. She was president of the CVM Faculty Association.

Dr. Baum was the national Vice President of Omega Tau Sigma (veterinary professional fraternity), and has served as an advisor to numerous student chapters. She is also a member of AASRP, AABP, AAEP, AVMA, and WisconsinVMA.

Dr. Baum managed a llama herd after leaving the University. She is now President and owner of Little Doc's Veterinary Care, a private large animal practice emphasizing llamas and alpacas. Many patients are hospitalized which required special care and attention. Her special interests are newborns, problem breeders, intensive care, heat stress, nutrition, neurologic problems and physical therapy. She raises llamas, alpacas, sheep, goats, and cattle. Other animals on the farm include dogs, cats, potbellied pigs, ducks, turkeys, chickens, horses, mini horses and donkeys.

She has given over 100 seminars and invited lectures nationally and internationally, produced over 70 articles, handouts and autotutorial sets, as well as helping plan and coordinate numerous conferences. Besides being a member of various llama and alpaca associations, Dr. Baum has served on numerous boards and held varied offices.

Dr. Baum is past President and past Vice President of the Lama Association of Mid-Atlantic States (L.A.M.A.S.) and is enthusiastic about the llama and alpaca industries. Karen is on the Alpaca Research Foundation board of directors, having filled the roles of President and Vice President as well as Secretary, enjoying involvement in ongoing research and the alpaca industry. She is the past Vice President and Treasurer, currently President, of the International Lama Registry (ILR).

Karen enjoys the involvement at all levels: owner, manager, officer and veterinarian. The Little Doc's llamas and alpaca work with special needs children and nursing homes as well as participate in shows, offering many youth a chance to participate with a borrowed animal. Karen received the prestigious PUSH ME PULL YOU award fromthe International Lama Association in 1992 for contributions to the betterment of the health and well being of llamas.

Welcome to Mark Smith - Our Newest Board Member

Mark will join the current ILR Board of Directors for a one-year term as he fills out the year left on Art Kennels term. Following is a lengthier bio than was printed in the election package to give you the opportunity to get to know Mark a little better.

Mark is a life long grain and livestock farmer from West Central Indiana. Mark says he has never gotten very far in life because he still lives in the same house he grew up in. Currently the farm consist of 1,300 acres of corn & soybeans and 50 llamas that were added 11 years ago. Until just a few years ago the farm also produced 4,000 swine a year and had a flock of purebred Southdown ewes.

Mark and his wife Susan are the parents of two children Kyle, an engineer for General Motors in Detroit , and Kelly a College Senior. Mark & Susan met showing sheep at the Indiana State Fair. Purebred livestock have been a big part of the Smiths lives showing and competing across the U.S. for over 30 years. As a family they have been very involved in 4-H, church and community organizations.

Mark started his Southdown sheep flock as a young teenager and became intrigued with pedigrees. He produced his first National Champion in 1978; many more National Champions were produced over the next 25 years. The flock was sold in 2003 so that more time could be devoted to the growing number of llamas on the farm.

Mark has been involved in many agriculture organizations. He served on the Board of the American Southdown Breeders Registry for 18 years serving as president for two years. Mark along with his brother won the North American Shepherd Award in 1982.

Mark was a member of class 7 of the Indiana Agriculture Leadership Program and has served on Ag advisory committees for 3 U.S. Congressmen. Mark is currently a Farm Bureau county president and is President of the Hoosier Llama & Alpaca Assoc. He also is a past ALSA Board member serving as Secretary and V.P.

Mark has judged numerous local, State Fair and National sheep shows through the years. He is an ALSA llama and Alpaca judge and enjoys the challenge of placing the quality animals he sees in today’s show rings.

Mark says that he looks forward to working with the ILR Board, staff and the membership during his term. We will face challenges and opportunities in the coming years. Our focus should always be how to best serve the membership and to create value in the services we provide.