Minnesota Alpaca Expo
2012
Halter Judges
Jude Anderson
Jude Anderson, along with her husband Alan Cousill, has been breeding alpacas since 1991, at Pucara Alpaca Stud, Australia. They also co-own Purrumbete Alpaca Stud, a separate herd of approximately 120 cross bred and pure suri females. Both herds are managed by their partners in Australia. In the US, they are building a herd of quality suris and huacayas at Pucara International, a beautiful 105 acre farm at McMinnville, Oregon.
In 1994 Jude left school teaching to concentrate fully on the breeding and animal care of alpacas at Pucara Alpaca Stud.
An AAA judge since 1998, Jude gained AOBA certification in 2002 and Senior Judge and judge trainer/instructor status in 2005. She also certified at the IAJS school in Peru in 2000. Since 1998 Jude has judged in Australia, USA, Canada, New Zealand and the UK.
Jude has also conducted seminars and spoken in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, UK and Germany on topics including breeding, reproduction and alpaca husbandry, alpaca fiber, selection, genetics, and nutrition.
Tim Lavan
Tim along with his wife, Cindy and their two boys have been breeding and raising alpacas at Chase Tavern Farm in mid coast Maine since 1993. He is an AOBA certified halter, fleece and performance judge trainer and has judged and evaluated thousands of alpacas in and outside the USA.
Tim has judged more than 50 alpaca shows. He has written articles for Alpacas Magazine and has given lectures for numerous camelid organizations. Chase Tavern Farm is home to more than 60 alpacas, both suri and huacaya. Tim is a full time alpaca farmer and is active in most of the daily activities on the farm.
Minnesota Alpaca Expo
2012
Fleece Judge
Laurel Shouvlin
Laurel Shouvlin and her husband Tim have been raising alpacas since 1997 on Bluebird Hills Farm in Springfield, Ohio. Laurel has been fascinated with the camel family since her childhood and has also enjoyed working with natural fibers, learning to weave, knit and spin while in high school.
All facets of the alpaca industry appeal to her including husbandry, veterinary medicine, the breeding and birthing, and the show ring. She first considered becoming a judge after volunteering as a ring steward at various shows, loving the opportunity to examine the fleeces of so many alpacas, and considers training to judge alpacas a natural extension of her education involving these animals. Laurel believes the show ring is one of the best tools available to breeders to continue to improve both the fiber and conformation of alpacas in North America. The show ring is also a great opportunity to help educate breeders about fleece and conformation.
Laurel has also served as editor and publisher of the Ohio Alpaca Breeders Association magazine, Ohio Alpaca Life, and as a director for the ARI. She feels privileged to have the opportunity to evaluate North American alpacas and their fleeces.