NW Alpaca Showcase 2012

NW Alpaca Showcase a few years ago...
These 2 were awarded 2nd in Produce of Dam of 13 entries
and then each followed with 1st Place in their Halter classes~

We always love going to the NW Alpaca Showcase in Pasco, WA at the TRAC center, which was this past weekend April 27-29.  It is always a warm, sunny weekend that is so refreshing after too much rain and general unpredictable weather in the NW.  It is a well organized show and we always have fun visiting with other breeders we don't get to see much outside of shows.  There is a great RV park we stay in that is right out the doors from the pavilion where our alpacas are.  What more could you want for a weekend of fun, sun and alpacas?

Okay so on with the results of the show...  It is amazing how competitive classes are now with so many high quality, refined breeders out here in the NW.  Our first class of the weekend was in the Production Class, Bred & Owned Yearling female.  If you have been following our posts, this entry was again Moonshadow's Golden Mist.  There were 9 entries in this class from some of the best breeders around here, and judged by both show judges, Wade Gease and Kathy Merkley.  Golden Mist took 2nd Place in this class behind a beautiful grey female who went on to take Color Champion in greys.  Golden Mist went on to take 1st Place again in her Halter class, followed in 2nd by her Golden Victory sister, Kahlia Dream, owned by our good friend Sherrie Soderquist of Alpacas at Dream Catcher's Farm.

Moonshadow's Golden Mist ~ now with 1 Reserve Color Championship,
4 Blue Ribbons, 3 Red Ribbons, Best Brightness, Best Crimp Fleece awards!

  

Moonshadow's Victory's Spirit ~
Older sister & brother pictured
above at past NW Showcase

Most of the classes were very large and highly competitive.  When you see breeders you are used to seeing at the top of the class taking the gate you really recognize how competitive the playing field has become.  Moonshadow's Monique took a 3rd in her class behind 2 Patagonia Lennox daughters.  Lennox offspring seemed to dominate the show in whatever class they were entered.  Matrix Principe took a 4th in his class of mature males, many of which were past Color Champions.  Regardless of placing these guys were all worthy Herdsires.  Moonshadow's Golden Treasure took 5th in her class, the judge loving her beautiful phenotype, density, staple and organization of her fleece.  My handsome young Victory's Spirit hung in his huge class of fine young white juvenile males to take a 6th Place.  Considering his walk at the last show, the level of fleece quality and breeders in this class, and the fact he had to lay under the drip line in the barn the entire week before the show and then rolling in everything he could...we were really happy to make it into the top 6!  He was beyond paddock ready, he looked a bit more like he was wearing the paddock and brought it with him!  It is always amazing how bad they can look on the outside and then you open up this blindingly bright white beautiful fleece.

A few good looking young weanlings that were too young to show this year ~
Maybe they'll make it next year?  They are sure lookin' good!

Only 2 shows this year with all we need to do with the big move, but we feel fortunate to have been able to do them and had a great time at both.  We entered our first alpaca show in 2004, nervous and looking back now, fairly clueless.  We had watched a couple shows before so we at least had a sense of how they ran.  I look back now and recognize how much the shows, venues, breeders and alpacas have really all progressed.  Our first show was Alpacapalooza, our first class we showed our beautiful rose grey Beliarosa, who took 1st Place and we were hooked.  It's been a bit of a roller coaster with shows over the years.  We have met so many great people.  I really loved this year feeling a renewed sense of excitement and energy, with a refined focus and determination from everyone we talked to.

Six entries, six ribbons, one in every color.  With the level of competition we are seeing now at the shows we'll take this and be proud!  I won't deny we love to take the Blue and even better, a purple or lavender, but there is always more to the show then just the color of the ribbon.  Standing in the top line up and looking at who you are keeping company with is a great reflection of how far we've come and validation of choices made.  And with that, we keep looking ahead excited for the new cria coming and looking at the great options we have for breeding the next batch.  April officially marked our 10 year anniversary of owning alpacas and we are more excited about the future then ever!