How do we, knocking on the door of our 20th year in the alpaca world, measure success in the show ring? And, I guess it’s fair to ask as well: are shows and the results they spit out a true measure of a breeding program anyway?

We have always argued that while the results from a particular class or even a single show may just be a relative snapshot in time, to do consistently well on the show circuit over time, requires a base level of quality in those alpacas and the program that is producing them that is simply undeniable. There is after all, a degree of subjectivity to it all and different judges can and do see things differently sometimes (the very results at the bottom of this post prove that out). But if that same animal is always competing, regardless of who the judge is, whether it’s winning Championships or just always finishing near the top of it’s classes, that is not happening by chance. Individual shows are still great marketing and can be a lot of fun but it is the longer term trends carry the most weight in our book.

This was the 2nd year in a row that the NEAOBA Fall Alpaca Show and the Empire Alpaca Extravaganza (which also includes a fleece show) combined to run side by side as the Showtacular. We showed up with a relatively sane (by our standards at least) string of 23 alpacas and a dedicated crew of 6 handlers (4 Lutzes plus our friends Dave Serino and Sue Monat), knowing full well that on Saturday when the shows would be running concurrently, it would be all hands on deck. In the end it was crazy but we had a great time. It was also great seeing our customers do well too: both Stillmeadow Farm and Brontti Alpacas won their share of ribbons and Championship banners. And though he wont make our official results, I was particularly thrilled to be asked by our friend Pam Brewster, who purchased CCNF Leviathan from us at the Parade of Champions last June, to help show him for team Stillmeadow. Needless to say, I still love that (not so) little man. Leviathan of course won both of his color championships with style, while I just got to hang out on the end of his lead line and pretend that he was still mine for about 20 minutes each time. Very much cake-and-eat-it-too territory.

Alright, but back to that opening question about measuring success in the show ring. Though we did very well in Syracuse, I think my favorite statistic to come out of the halter shows was this: our 23 animals, produced 53 total entries across the 2 shows (that includes Get of Sire and Breeders Best 3 classes) and the worst results we garnered all weekend long were 5 3rd place finishes. There is a mantra around here that if we do our job right, each successive birth class to come out of our breeding program should, at least when measured overall, be an improvement on the class which came before it. Based upon one weekend in Syracuse, NY at least, the CCNF classes of 2014 & 2015 are doing just fine. 🙂

CCNF Championships, Specialty Awards, & 1st Place Finishes at the 2016 Showtacular, Syracuse, NY

NEAOBA Fall Alpaca Show

CCNF Majesty United (TGF Let Freedom Reign x Snowmass Matrix Majesty) – Judges’ Choice Huacaya Female

CCNF Skyhawk (AG Margarita x CCNF Marick) – Champion Black Huacaya Male

CCNF Majesty United (TGF Let Freedom Reign x Snowmass Matrix Majesty) – Champion Brown Huacaya Female

CCNF Alia (Ulio Humbra Aletta x Snowmass Matrix Majesty) – Champion Fawn Huacaya Female

CCNF Delilah (CCNF Lilah x CCNF Elixir) – Champion Light Huacaya Female

CCNF Venise (TGF Legend’s Lace x Snowmass Matrix Majesty) – Best Bred & Owned Huacaya Female

CCNF Baldric (CCNF Bellafina x CCNF Invictus) – Reserve Champion Brown Huacaya Male

CCNF Dreadnought (CCNF Prima Majesty x CCNF Elixir) – Reserve Champion Fawn Huacaya Male

CCNF Sienna (Happy Hearts Gemma D’Oro x Snowmass Matrix Majesty) – Reserve Champion Fawn Huacaya Female

CCNF Ilario (Chatham Lancaster’s La Boheme x CCNF Elixir) – Reserve Champion Light Huacaya Male

CCNF Caipirinha (CCNF Questra x CCNF Elixir) – Reserve Champion Light Huacaya Female

Cas-Cad-Nac Farm LLC (CCNF Delilah, CCNF Dreadnaught, CCNF Majesty United) – 1st Place, Breeder’s Best 3

CCNF Elixir (CCNF Delilah, CCNF Dreadnaught, CCNF Leviathan) – 1st Place, Get of Sire

CCNF Skyhawk (AG Margarita x CCNF Marick) – 1st Place, Bay Black Yearling Huacaya Male

CCNF Moonraker (CCNF Moonlight x Snowmass Matrix Majesty) – 1st Place, Brown Juvenile Huacaya Male

CCNF Baldric (CCNF Bellafina x CCNF Invictus) – 1st Place, Light Brown Yearling Huacaya Male

CCNF Nikita (CCNF Margaux x CCNF Elixir) – 1st Place, Medium Brown Yearling Huacaya Female

CCNF Majesty United (TGF Let Freedom Reign x Snowmass Matrix Majesty) – 1st Place, Light Brown Yearling Huacaya Female

CCNF Dreadnought (CCNF Prima Majesty x CCNF Elixir) – 1st Place, Medium Fawn Yearling Huacaya Male

CCNF Night Hawk (TGF Morning Dove x Snowmass Matrix Majesty) – 1st Place, Medium Fawn Yearling Huacaya Male

CCNF Alia (Ulio Humbra Aletta x Snowmass Matrix Majesty) – 1st Place, Medium Fawn Yearling Huacaya Female

CCNF Ilario (Chatham Lancaster’s La Boheme x CCNF Elixir) – 1st Place, Beige Yearling Huacaya Male

CCNF Spittfire (CCNF The Mighty Beast Alexandra x CCNF Elixir) – 1st Place, Beige 2 Year+ Huacaya Male

CCNF Delilah (CCNF Lilah x CCNF Elixir) – 1st Place, Light Fawn Yearling Huacaya Female

CCNF Charmaine (CCNF Charming x Snowmass Matrix Majesty) – 1st Place, Beige Yearling Huacaya Female

CCNF Caipirinha (CCNF Questra x CCNF Elixir) – 1st Place, Beige 2 Year+ Huacaya Female

CCNF Eden (CCNF Johanna x Snowmass Matrix Majesty) – 1st Place Patterned Yearling Huacaya Female

CCNF Venise (TGF Legend’s Lace x Snowmass Matrix Majesty) – 1st Place, Bred & Owned Light Yearling Huacaya Female

Empire Alpaca Extravaganza Halter Show

CCNF Caipirinha (CCNF Questra x CCNF Elixir) – Judges’ Choice Huacaya Female

CCNF Caipirinha (CCNF Questra x CCNF Elixir) – Champion Light Huacaya Female

CCNF Reality (CCNF Acomani x CCNF Centurion) – Best Bred & Owned Huacaya Female

CCNF Skyhawk (AG Margarita x CCNF Marick) – Reserve Champion Black Huacaya Male

CCNF Majesty United (TGF Let Freedom Reign x Snowmass Matrix Majesty) – Reserve Champion Brown Huacaya Female

CCNF Dreadnought (CCNF Prima Majesty x CCNF Elixir) – Reserve Champion Fawn Huacaya Male

CCNF Sienna (Happy Hearts Gemma D’Oro x Snowmass Matrix Majesty) – Reserve Champion Fawn Huacaya Female

CCNF Delilah (CCNF Lilah x CCNF Elixir) – Reserve Champion Light Huacaya Female

CCNF Sunstarlight (CCNF La Vie En Rose x Snowmass Matrix Majesty) – Reserve Champion White Female

Cas-Cad-Nac Farm LLC (CCNF Delilah, CCNF Dreadnaught, CCNF Majesty United) – 1st Place, Breeder’s Best 3

Snowmass Matrix Majesty (CCNF Majesty United, CCNF Night Hawk, CCNF Sienna) – 1st Place, Get of Sire

CCNF Moonraker (CCNF Moonlight x Snowmass Matrix Majesty) – 1st Place, Brown Juvenile Huacaya Male

CCNF Baldric (CCNF Bellafina x CCNF Invictus) – 1st Place, Light Brown Yearling Huacaya Male

CCNF Nikita (CCNF Margaux x CCNF Elixir) – 1st Place, Medium Brown Yearling Huacaya Female

CCNF Dreadnought (CCNF Prima Majesty x CCNF Elixir) – 1st Place, Medium Fawn Yearling Huacaya Male

CCNF Night Hawk (TGF Morning Dove x Snowmass Matrix Majesty) – 1st Place, Medium Fawn Yearling Huacaya Male

CCNF Sienna (Happy Hearts Gemma D’Oro x Snowmass Matrix Majesty) – 1st Place, Medium Fawn Yearling Huacaya Female

CCNF Ilario (Chatham Lancaster’s La Boheme x CCNF Elixir) – 1st Place, Beige Yearling Huacaya Male

CCNF Spittfire (CCNF The Mighty Beast Alexandra x CCNF Elixir) – 1st Place, Beige 2 Year+ Huacaya Male

CCNF Delilah (CCNF Lilah x CCNF Elixir) – 1st Place, Light Fawn Yearling Huacaya Female

CCNF Charmaine (CCNF Charming x Snowmass Matrix Majesty) – 1st Place, Beige Yearling Huacaya Female

CCNF Caipirinha (CCNF Questra x CCNF Elixir) – 1st Place, Beige 2 Year+ Huacaya Female

CCNF Sunstarlight (CCNF La Vie En Rose x Snowmass Matrix Majesty) – 1st Place, White Yearling Huacaya Female

CCNF Reality (CCNF Acomani x CCNF Centurion) – 1st Place, Bred & Owned Dark Yearling Huacaya Female

CCNF Moonshine (CCNF Moonbeam x CCNF Elixir) – 1st Place, Bred & Owned Light Yearling Huacaya Male

CCNF Venise (TGF Legend’s Lace x Snowmass Matrix Majesty) – 1st Place, Bred & Owned Light Yearling Huacaya Female

Empire Alpaca Extravaganza Fleece Show

CCNF Dreadnought (CCNF Prima Majesty x CCNF Elixir) – Judges’ Choice Huacaya

CCNF Majesty United (TGF Let Freedom Reign x Snowmass Matrix Majesty) – Champion Brown Huacaya

CCNF Dreadnought (CCNF Prima Majesty x CCNF Elixir) – Champion Fawn Huacaya

CCNF Magistrate (SHRA Virtual’s Reality x Snowmass Matrix Majesty) – Reserve Champion Brown Huacaya

CCNF Prima Majesty (CCNF Bellarina x Snowmass Matrix Majesty) – Reserve Champion Fawn Huacaya

CCNF Delilah (CCNF Lilah x CCNF Elixir) – Reserve Champion Light Huacaya

CCNF True Vigilance (Truly Scrumptious x CCNF Centurion) – Reserve Champion White Huacaya

CCNF Mechlin (Delicate Lace x Snowmass Elite Legend) – Best Hand Huacaya

CCNF Dreadnought (CCNF Prima Majesty x CCNF Elixir) – Best Prepared Huacaya

CCNF Magistrate (SHRA Virtual’s Reality x Snowmass Matrix Majesty) – 1st Place, Adult Dark Brown Huacaya

CCNF Majesty United (TGF Let Freedom Reign x Snowmass Matrix Majesty) – 1st Place, Juvenile Light Brown Huacaya

CCNF Prima Majesty (CCNF Bellarina x Snowmass Matrix Majesty) – 1st Place, Adult Dark Fawn Huacaya

MFI & KVR’s Fila My Fleece (KVR’s Prada My Fleece x MFI Peruvian Presumption) – 1st Place, Yearling Dark Fawn Huacaya

CCNF Dreadnought (CCNF Prima Majesty x CCNF Elixir) – 1st Place, Juvenile Medium Fawn Huacaya

CCNF Delilah (CCNF Lilah x CCNF Elixir) – 1st Place, Juvenile Light Fawn Huacaya

CCNF Caipirinha (CCNF Questra x CCNF Elixir) – 1st Place, Yearling Beige Huacaya

Snowmass Oh Be Joyful (Snowmass Infinit Joy x Snowmass Matrix) – 1st Place, Mature (5+ Years) White Huacaya

CCNF Defiance (Xanadu P Cadenza x Snowmass Elite Legend) – 1st Place, Adult White Huacaya

CCNF True Vigilance (Truly Scrumptious x CCNF Centurion) – 1st Place, Juvenile White Huacaya

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