More than 300 alpacas return to Madison
MADISON WI – The Great Midwest Alpaca Festival and the Wisconsin Alpaca and Fiber Fest return to Madison for a double halter show weekend. More than 300 alpacas are expected to converge on the Alliant Energy Center in Madison on Saturday April 27 and Sunday April 28 to compete against some of the best alpacas in the country. This show is free and open to the public. Parking is $8. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. For more information and a full schedule of events go to https://www.wisconsinalpacafiberfest.com.
The New Holland Pavilion 1 will house alpacas two show rings seminars fiber classes and more than 40 vendors under one roof. Alpaca breeders from throughout the country will be available all weekend to answer questions about their alpacas and the business of breeding alpacas. Seminars on business planning marketing fiber processing and animal husbandry will be led by industry experts. Classes on weaving and felting will be offered by fiber artists and fiber fanatics will find everything from raw fleece and roving to yarn socks sweaters teddy bears jewelry soaps wooden bowls baskets pottery and even fudge in the vendor area.
Help support alpaca research by bidding on items in the silent auction. All proceeds benefit the Alpaca Research Foundation (https://alpacaresearch.org/) which is dedicated to funding medical and scientific research by improving the health and vitality of North American alpacas. Their mission is to encourage and support scientific research to benefit the North American alpaca industry primarily in the areas of alpaca health husbandry genetics and fiber.
There will be two Alpaca Owners Association-certified shows running simultaneously. This double header format allows exhibitors to have their breeding program evaluated by two different judges. Alpaca shows offer breeders an opportunity to get together see progeny from different herdsires market alpacas for sale show off the products of their breeding programs and find out how experienced judges view and place the alpacas.
Alpaca shows usually consist of four sections: halter production classes performance classes and fleece/fiber arts. New this year will be a walking fleece class. In all halter classes group and fleece classes suri and huacaya alpacas are shown separately. In the performance ring they compete together. In the halter classes males and females are shown separately in their individual color groups. The walking fleece show allows the exhibitor to enter a fleece competition where the prime fleece is evaluated while still on the alpaca.
Alpacas in the halter classes are judged on how well they move how balanced they are on their feet and whether there are any conformation faults that might affect the animal’s rank in the class. The animals are lined up and the judge begins a close inspection of each alpaca looking for uniformity of crimp fineness density and color throughout the fleece. The judge chooses the top six animals who are awarded ribbons. The first and second place winners for each class are then called back into the ring for the championship awards where color and reserve championships are selected.
Everything you ever wanted to know about alpacas can be found here (https://www.wisconsinalpacafiberfest.com/about-alpacas).
You’ll find something for everyone at the show. Watch the competition visit the alpacas ask questions of the breeders attend one of the free seminars and visit the vendors throughout the facility. It is the perfect family event.
Event Venue
Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Center Way, Madison, WI 53713, United States
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