People view them as adorable and friendly, and now they are award winners.

Six residents of Knapp’s Island Alpacas farm won awards at the seventh annual Michigan International Alpaca Fest in September.

Three won blue ribbons for first place and the other three finished second.

"We are fortunate the owner was able to invest in high-quality animals," Operations Manager Lori Gray said.

The shows help farmers like Gray and owner Gary Knapp keep in touch with other owners, and also to show off their animals for sales.

Knapp’s farm houses 58 alpacas, including 10 that are owned by other boarders. Two of the recent winners are owned by boarders.

"The shows are fun, but you don’t do it just for fun," Gray said.

Raising alpacas also is big business. Alpacas kept just as pets cost about $500. Those raised for breeding and shearing can reach into six figures.

Their fleece is in high demand for fashion, since it is warmer and stronger than wool, but softer than cashmere.

They also provide tax advantages and require little maintenance, since they eat about 2 pounds of hay or grass a day and are resistant to most diseases.

Winning awards does not guarantee that the animals will be worth more, but it doesn’t hurt their value, either.

The animals are judged by the way they walk and the quality of their fleece.

Unlike other show animals, alpacas are relatively easy to prepare for competition, Gray said.

"We don’t bother to bathe or brush them," she said. "All we do is pick out the bigger pieces of hay."

Judges prefer a natural look to the creatures and often frown upon bathing them. Despite the lack of bathing, alpacas have no odor and are fairly clean animals.

Gray said the alpacas are quite smart and learn quickly. However, they do not perform tricks during shows.

Knapp’s animals participates in just a few shows each year and has won several awards since 2000. The next show they plan to attend is the biggest in the country, Gray said.

The Alpacas Owners and Breeders Association National Conference in Louisville, Ky., is considered the Westminster of alpaca shows. The next one is in June.