(Radio Iowa) – Alpaca farmers from all across the Midwest will be bringing their animals to central Iowa this weekend for a large convention, show and competition. The president of the National Alpaca Owners Association, Jennifer Hack, says the Fall Alpaca Spectacular will be the first-ever “mega” alpaca show in North America, as it’s combining five competitions into one.

There will be some 350 alpacas shown at the Iowa venue, which is free and open to the general public. Unlike most other livestock, alpacas aren’t raised for meat, but rather for their fleece, which Hack says is truly unlike that of any other creature.

The event runs today (Friday) through Sunday at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.