Heart of England Alpaca Group Shearing and Showing Day

A terrific turnout of owners on Saturday at Toft for the Heart of England Alpaca Group Shearing and Showing day. 

 Shirley and I took members of the Heart of England Alpaca Group through an alpaca Shearing  and Showing day, focusing on preparation and organisation for shearing, skirting and sorting of Alpaca Fibre, dissecting and assimilating the practical application of the British Alpaca Society Shearing guidelines and shearing manual in relation to the realities of the UK. I know it doesn't sound like fun but it truly was. We had a lot of laughs and covered acres of  information and discussion as we shared our practical experience of the past 17 years with the attendees.

A great turnout and very reassuring to so so many new faces. Thanks for your attendance, good humour and patience and we hope you took away a lot more than you arrived with from the day and look forward to seeing you all again in future!

Cameron Holt on Suris at Toft

Busy day last Sunday following the Kaffe Fassett colour seminar when Cameron Holt the Australian Alpaca Fibre expert gave an alpaca fibre workshop on Suri alpaca fibre.

 Not nearly as many participants as the Kaffe Fassett day but those who attended were given a thorough insight into the ins and outs of breeding and working with Suri Alpaca Fibre. 

We had four British Alpaca Society Judges in attendance and two other attendees who had completed most of their judge training levels. Could have done with a few more Suri breeders there as the workshop was as relevant to new Suri Breeders as well as the more established. But Hey Ho maybe next time. If there is a next time.

Cameron and his wife Joy were over here enjoying a three week cruise around the Baltic and dropped in to visit Toft for a week at the end of their trip.

It turned into a bit of a 'bus mans holiday' for Cam in that earlier in the week he gave two separate presentations. One to the British Alpaca Society Fibre Commitee and the other to the Heart of England Regional Alpaca Group- both outlining the processes and protocols on the new government backed Australian system for classing alpaca fleece.

Cam has gone back now and will resume his travels in the autumn when he is lecturing in the U S A.

Thanks to all who attended the three events and thanks Cam for sharing your knowledge and expertise - see you soon.