Jude and I have been running seminars in the US now since July 2001. This past weekend we ran the " Thrive or Survive " seminar on farm with 15 participants. We were totally suprised with how quickly this group and all the individuals in it not only learnt the theory put before them but also excelled at the hands on. Many of these people had never before had hands on. It was amazing.

We break the groups up for hands on work in the barn with fleeces and animals, one breed at a time. Whilst Jude takes them through the raw fleece evaluation I take them ito the pens for hands on evaluation of the alpacas. This group absolutely creamed it with everyone improving so much in just a short time.

And we take them out of their comfort zone a little by breaking them up into pairs to help one another. We split up husbands and wives and partners and team individuals with little experience with someone with a little more. They assess three animals for several traits by a score card. Meanwhile the other group is assessing six fleeces and grading them. We are there of course to encourage and tutor. Well there wasn't much of that needed in the end. We have never seen a group listen to all the theory of alapca and fiber selection then adapt it so quickly. Congrats to a great group.

And we always know on the Friday night when we start a seminar off if they are a good group. This group was big time fun. They got into the food and wine straight away and by the time the seminar power point was to begin we were enjoying ourselves that much I wasn't sure we'd get through the presentation.

We managed!

"Thank you so much for the wonderful weekend and sharing your wealth of knowledge.  I know how physically demanding it can be to do what you do in sharing your passion.  We appreciate every ounce of it.  Keep up the great work." and they add " Anyhow, I have been to a lot of professional seminars and by far, you and Jude really know and present your materials in such a manner that we can understand it..."

Cheryl and Eric Steffen from Anderson Island in WA

Plinzy ( Al Plinz our farm manager ) in       Analysing samples with Elaine Simon,

suri pen with Jose Luis holding one of our   Candice, Tom Betts and Eric Steffen.

show team.