Our Cups runneth over.
We got word this week that CCNF was declared the winner of both the AOA Heirloom Halter Cup and the AOA Heirloom Fleece Cup at the recently completed Alpaca Owners Association National Alpaca Show in Harrisburg, PA! That means that we were the top overall point getters in the “large farm” division. Though it’s not totally clear where the cutoff was between us and the next size category down (each category was determined by one’s total number of entries, not the size of your herd at home as at the Futurity) — the Vintage Cups which were won by our colleagues from Majestic Meadows Alpacas and Gray Alpaca Company in the halter and fleece shows respectively — the Heirloom Cups exist mostly to celebrate the achievements of those of us smart/crazy/stupid enough (you choose!) to bring 30 +/- animals and fleeces to the National Show. For the record, we had 34 animals and 36 fleeces that showed in Harrisburg. In spite of the relative trials and tribulations that the show presented us with at times, namely the excitement of 4 separate huacaya rings running simultaneously, we are of course thrilled to have won these prestigious trophies! We have always preached that the consistent production year in and year out of quality alpacas, that improve with each subsequent generation, is the mark of a true breeding program. We feel that in winning the 2014 Heirloom Cups, that we can lay claim to that mantle at least, if nothing else!
Though the 2014 show actually marked the second year in a row that we won the Heirloom Fleece Cup, it was in fact the first time in several years that we have been present at Nationals with actual animals in the halter classes. That was primarily a happy byproduct of the show’s move to March (vs. May in years past), when our show strings are still in full fleece. We were proud to represent our farm and our breeding program in force at the “new” breed association’s first National Show, and we look forward to attending others in the years to come!
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