Upcoming Educational Seminars
2011 ALPACA ONTARIO
FALL EDUCATION EVENT
Location: Sheraton Fallsview Hotel/Casino, Niagara Falls, ON
September 10th & 11th, 2011
Speakers: Peter Kennedy & Robert Gane
2011 Registration Form
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 (200 huacaya and 100 suri). In 2003, the alpaca stud was relocated to a 160 hectare (400 acre) property in Taggerty, 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 has been a full time alpaca breeder for the last eight years. He manages the breeding program of the Canchones herd, on a daily basis, using the latest techniques including ET (Embryo Transfer).
Peter successfully attended the International Alpaca Judging School (IAJS) in the Peruvian altiplano in 2004. He has also been certified as a judge in the USA for AOBA (Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association). Peter is also an AAA (Australian Alpaca Association) Senior judge.
Since qualifying as a judge in Australia and the United States, Peter has judged shows throughout Australia, Canada , New Zealand, and the USA.
Some highlights of his judging career so far have been judging the following:
Canadian Futurity in 2007 and 2009
AOBA National show in 2009 and 2010
American Futurity in 2010 and 2011
New Zealand Royal in 2009
Auckland Royal in 2010
Perth Royal in 2008
Canberra, Brisbane and Melbourne Royals in 2010
New Zealand National 2011
Robert Gane
Robert has been a member of the alpaca industry since 1999. With his partner Peter Kennedy he established their herd “Canchones” with the purchase of 2 females and 2 male huacaya on 10 acres. Canchones specialises in black alpacas. Over the ensuing years through ongoing importations from Peru, purchases, sales and breeding, the stud has grown to be over 300 alpacas, with approximately 200 black huacaya and 100 black suri. This has entailed the move from the original property to a new one of some 160 hectares (400 acres). Both Robert and Peter work full time in their alpaca business, with the Canchones alpaca farm being their primary source of income.
During Robert’s time in the alpaca industry, he has held various positions within the industry such as:
Member of the regional committee (Victorian Eastern),
President of a local breeders group (Mornington Peninsula Alpaca Breeders)
Director of the Australian Alpaca Co-operative.
Director of the Australian Alpaca Association.
Chairman of Showing and Judging Committee.
Before committing to his alpacas business full time, Robert ran a consulting business developing business strategies for small and medium sized businesses for some 5 years. Previous to that he held various corporate positions for large national and multi national corporations in various fields as diverse as insurance, banking, printing and retail.
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Past Educational Seminars
2010 ALPACA ONTARIO
FALL EDUCATION EVENT
Location: Holiday Inn, Peterborough, ON
October 23rd & 24th, 2010
Speakers: Brett Kaysen & Dr. Pat Long & Jill MacLeod
Brett Kaysen
Brett was raised east of Brighton, Colorado where he has always been involved with every aspect of raising livestock. While growing up, Brett was an active 4-H member and successfully competed in livestock shows at many levels and in many events. While attending middle school, Brett took an interest in livestock judging and competed at several youth contests around the State of Colorado as well as on a National level. Brett was a member of a Reserve National Champion Livestock Judging Team while pursuing his undergraduate degree.
Brett Kaysen has been an influence in the Alpaca Community on many levels since 2001 when he brought his professional animal science background to the alpaca livestock industry. He travels coast-to-coast teaching seminars on alpacas consisting of classroom presentations, as well as "hands-on" workshops. He also holds an instrumental position with AOBA Judges Training Program where he teaches Oral Reasons and Conformation. Brett has a passion for educating, especially in the area of youth education. He has taught the nation's youth about various livestock industries and has spent countless hours volunteering to educate youngsters involved in 4-H programs nationwide.
Dr. Pat Long
Dr. Long has co-written important Camelid publications such as "Llama and Alpaca Neonatal Care". He is a well-known veterinarian specializing in camelid health and treatment. He received his DVM in 1976 from Kansas State University. After serving a 5- year stint in the U.S. Army, he entered private veterinary practice in Oregon. As the owner of a four-person mixed animal practice, Eastgate Veterinary Clinic in Corvallis, OR, Pat spends about half of his professional time caring for llamas and alpacas. Dr. Long has been an invited speaker at camelid events worldwide. He has authored numerous articles published in Alpacas Magazine as well as a chapter on herd health in the Veterinary Clinics of North America Llama Medicine. Dr. Long currently sits on the ARF Board and is Board liaison to the Development Committee.
Jill MacLeod
Jill MacLeod lives in High River, Alberta, Canada with her husband Art and two daughters, Rachel and Emma. The family has been involved in the Alpaca industry since 1991, when the MacLeods began their breeding operation, Aztec Alpacas. Jill has served as a past director of the Canadian Alpaca Association and also has extensive experience with Alpaca show organization. She spends much of her time traveling as an alpaca halter and fleece judge and holds international training credentials and is also a senior judge and judge trainer for the American association, AOBA. Jill has been fortunate to judge across North America as well as Germany, France, the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
Jill has had a lifelong interest in textiles and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Textiles in 1987 from the University of Alberta. She is interested in the development of the alpaca fibre industry and spent several years working with the Canadian fibre cooperative to achieve the volumes required to move Canadian alpaca to a wider market. She is a certified Camelid fibre classer and devoted many hours at the co-op each year classing the Canadian clip for the co-op.
Jill readily agrees that it was her interest in what the alpacas grow on their backs that initially lead her into the industry and she has a keen interest in seeing this valuable product earn it’s rightful place in the luxury natural fibre marketplace.
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FALL EDUCATION SEMINAR
Location: Textile Museum of Canada, Toronto
November 7th & 8th, 2009
This year's fall education seminars were held at the Textile Museum of Canada, situated in Toronto, Ontario. Saturday saw everyone learning much about fibre from Wade Gease. The day was filled with hands-on learning exercises; identifying fleece samples visually as well as by touch. Our members asked many questions and everyone was attentive. Saturday night’s dinner was wonderful and very entertaining. Both Wade and Brett were able to join us for many stories told around the table.
"Funding for this project was provided in part by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Adaptation Council's CanAdvance Program."
Dr. Brett Kaysen spoke to us on Sunday. He helped open our eyes as to where we need to go with our alpaca industry. Many other livestock industries have already gone through the evolution from small time hobby to professional business. Brett used his red Angus herd to give examples of what tracking and recording EPD (expected progeny difference) can do for us. Based on this newly acquired knowledge we will be developing a tracking sheet/scoring system that every farm and breeder can access in the near future. This tracking system will help us achieve a new level of accountability and integrity not seen before. Potential customers will always ask questions and now we can answer them with confidence and the ability to back-up any claims made about our animals. It will also vastly improve mating choices based on real data collected long-term.
The location at the museum was intimate and just the right size for our weekend. The food was fresh and very tasty and those who attended had a wonderful time. The fleece show set up by Stacey Davis was awesome and the added fall colour decorations really made it special.
Since we only got a fraction of Brett's knowledge on Sunday we have already invited him back to be the keynote speaker for next year's fall education seminar. Can't wait to update him next year on the tools we will have implemented by then. Dr. Pat Long will round out the weekend. We have asked him to teach us many different subjects, among them neonatal and emergency situation handling. Please mark your calendars for this seminar on October 23 & 24, 2010. Location TBA.
Speakers Bios
Wade Gease
Wade Gease is an AOBA Certified Alpaca Judge and Judge Trainer. For the past seven years he has judged shows throughout the United States and Canada. He is one of the few alpaca judge trainers in all areas of halter, fleece and performance. Wade is a certified Camelid Fibre Sorter from Olds College Natural Fibre Centre, Canada. Presently he serves as President for the Great Lakes Alpaca Association. He has been co-owner of LondonDairy Alpacas and Alpaca Threads gift store since 1997. Wade has been honored to be so involved with many different activities in the alpaca world: speaking for educational events, consulting for auctions, evaluating for private alpaca breeders and organizing eight past private trips to Peru.
Wade has worked to produce one of the nations’ first blends of Alpaca & Bamboo fabrics. This has led to developments into the fashion industry and becoming a broker for bamboo, tensel and silks. Further exploration into a sustainable fabric market is under way.
In his past he has been a certified flight instructor, chemistry instructor, co-owner of a retail gift store and has worked for pharmaceutical companies. Wade has earned an Associate’s 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 professional educating. As a judge, Wade enjoys giving breeders informative feedback through his halter class oral reasons and all other speaking engagements.
Brett Kaysen
Brett was raised east of Brighton, Colorado where he has always been involved with every aspect of raising livestock. He earned a Bachelors degree in Animal Science from Colorado State University in 1997. Brett continued his education at CSU earning a Masters degree in Cooperative Extension and Education in 2003 and most recently, a Ph.D. in Management Systems. Brett currently holds a faculty position with CSU in the Department of Animal Sciences.
While growing up, Brett was an active 4-H member and successfully competed in livestock shows at many levels and in many events. While attending middle school, Brett took an interest in livestock judging and competed at several youth contests around the State of Colorado as well as on a National level. Brett was a member of a Reserve National Champion Livestock Judging Team while pursuing his undergraduate degree.
Brett joined the CSU Department of Animal Sciences during the spring of 1998 and has managed the beef, swine and sheep units at the university farm. Currently, Brett's staff position with CSU's Department of Animal Sciences is composed of 50% teaching and 50% extension. Brett teaches Swine Production and the CSU Livestock Judging course. Brett also coaches the CSU Livestock Judging Team.
Brett Kaysen has been an influence in the Alpaca Community on many levels since 2001 when he brought his professional animal science background to the alpaca livestock industry. He travels coast-to-coast teaching seminars on alpacas consisting of classroom presentations, as well as "hands-on" workshops. He also holds an instrumental position with AOBA Judges Training Program where he teaches Oral Reasons and Conformation. Brett has a passion for educating, especially in the area of youth education. He has taught the nation's youth about various livestock industries and has spent countless hours volunteering to educate youngsters involved in 4-H programs nationwide.
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2008 ALPACA ONTARIO
FALL EDUCATION SEMINAR
University of Guelph, Guelph, ON
August 30 and 31, 2008
INAUGURAL PHOTO COMPETITION
Our inaugural photo contest was a wonderful demonstration of what our members are capable of producing with their cameras when given just a little incentive. Look for our next photo contest to open soon. Keep the cameras at the ready.
Photo contest winners posted on the Photo Gallery page
Full photo contest results available here
Our 2008 Fall Education Seminar was a great success due to the attendance of our membership and funding through the Program. A heartfelt THANK YOU to all that took time out of their busy schedules to attend. A big Thank You also has to go to everyone at Guelph University Conference and Catering who provided great food and great service. Everything went smoothly thanks to their commitment to making our conference a successful one.
"Funding for this project was provided in part by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the Agricultural Adaptation Council's CanAdvance Program."
Saturday was completely dedicated to Dr. Tibary, as I was sure he had lots to tell us. There aren't enough words to describe the professionalism, knowledge and commitment for his work that Dr. Tibary possesses. He enjoyed speaking and sharing his knowledge with us, all the while injecting humour and goodwill. Here is what he wanted me to tell you in his own words: "Please convey my best regards to all and thanks for the wonderful book (signed!!). I really enjoyed the company and the dinner."
Sunday seminar segments were made up of farm accounting and government grants and education resources taught by our own Melody Macdonald, who did a fantastic job. Who knew she had never stood in front of a classroom teaching and speaking before? Next up was Dr. Erin Wilson, who taught us about external and internal parasites; the medications to use to eradicate or at least control them with and last, but not least, about optimal nutrition for our alpacas. The day concluded with Tyler Allair's demonstration of proper lighting and positioning when taking photographs of our animals, both artistically and for marketing purposes.
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