OUR 2008 JUDGES

Female Huacaya Halter & Production
Wade Gease

Wade Gease has been an AOBA Certified Alpaca Judge for the past six years and has judged shows throughout the United States and Canada. He is also an alpaca judge trainer for new prospective judges in the halter area. Presently he serves as President for the Great Lakes Alpaca Affiliate. Wade consults for Pharmacy Solutions (compound lab) with veterinarians. He is co-owner of LondonDairy Alpacas which is home to over 80 Huacaya & Suri alpacas. Wade has been very active in the alpaca world which includes speaking for clinics, consulting for auctions and privately evaluating alpacas for alpaca breeders.

His latest adventure involves organizing trips for alpaca breeders that wish to visit Bolivia & Peru.

In his past he has been a certified flight instructor, organic
chemistry teacher, co-owner of a retail gift store and has worked for pharmaceutical companies. Wade has earned an Associates Degree in Aeronautical Science, a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry & a Masters Degree in Biochemistry.

Wade likes to bring a personal teaching perspective to his judging because of his past passion of showing and educating. As a judge, Wade has a philosophy that anyone that walks by the arena should be able to understand why alpacas are lined up the way they are.

 

Male Huacaya Halter & Production
Peter Kennedy

Peter and his partner established Canchones Alpacas in 1998. Starting on ten acres with two females, the herd has grown to some 350 black alpacas (250 huacaya and 100 suri). In 2003, the alpaca stud was relocated to a 400 acre property in North East Victoria, Australia.

In 2004, Peter spent three months in Peru selecting black alpacas to be added to the Canchones breeding program. In all thirty huacaya and five suri, were selected by Peter and imported into Australia.

Peter successfully attended the International Alpaca Judging School (IAJS) in the Peruvian altiplano in 2004. He has also been certified as both an AOBA (Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association) and AAA (Australian Alpaca Association) judge. Peter has subsequently judged alpaca shows in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and The United States.

Peter has been a full time alpaca breeder for the last five years. He manages the breeding program of the Canchones herd, on a daily basis, using the latest techniques including ET (Embryo Transfer) and the SRS system.

Suri Halter & Production
David Barboza

In 1996 I started working with Alpacas, when I first learned of the South American Camelid, like many people my first question was “what is an Alpaca”. Shortly after I began attending Alpaca shows where I often worked as a ring steward to gain all of the experience I could. Working with the judges made me appreciate the process and challenges that livestock judging presented and I decided to attend the International Alpaca Judging School in 2001. After returning from Peru I also began the AOBA judges training program and completed my certification in both IAJS and AOBA as a halter, fleece and performance judge. I judged my first show in 2006 and was honored to be able to judge 9 shows in 2007 both in the US and Canada. Today together with my wife Brenda we run our ranch in the foothills of Northern California and devote our fulltime attention to raising Alpacas.

Showmanship / Obstacle and
Male & Female Gray & Multi Huacayas
Sharon Loner

Sharon Loner and her husband, Frank, purchased their first alpacas in 1993 and are the owners of Mile High Alpacas located in Parker, CO. Sharon soon learned that raising these beautiful animals was her calling and within three years she left her professional career to become an alpaca rancher full time.

Sharon is both AOBA and Internationally Certified to judge fleece and halter alpaca shows. In 2004 she completed her international training through the International Alpaca Judging School (IAJS) located in Peru by Maggie Krieger and Dr. Julio Sumar and that same year became AOBA certified. She remains an active farm member in the Alpaca Breeders of the Rockies (ABR) and has served as a director for the Alpaca Fiber Cooperative of North America (AFCNA).

Sharon graduated from North Dakota State University with a Bachelors Degree in Secondary Education and Textiles. Sharon and Frank have two daughters currently attending the University of Colorado located in Boulder, CO. She and Frank are enjoying the second phase in their lives as empty nesters.

Sharon’s goal while in the show ring is to see that every exhibitor and their alpaca are comfortable, relaxed, and at the same time having an enjoyable experience. She makes sure each and every alpaca is evaluated fairly and honestly on a comparative basis.