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Greetings!
What a show.
The 2026 Mazuri AOA National Alpaca Show, presented by Cedar & Sage Alpacas, Red Granite Ranch, and Tierra Prometida Alpacas in Fort Wayne, Indiana, was truly one for the books — and if you were there, you already know it. If you weren't, we hope this gives you a little taste of what you missed (and maybe nudges you to start planning for Tulsa in 2027!)
From the very first show ring to the final gavel drop, this show delivered. New breeders and seasoned veterans alike stepped into the ring and discovered just how their programs measured up against some of the finest alpacas in the country. Class after class, judges and exhibitors kept saying the same thing: this is an incredibly competitive field. Alpaca breeding in the United States has reached a truly elite level — and we got a front-row seat to all of it.
But let's be clear: this show was about so much more than ribbons.
Attendees shopped, took classes, got hands-on with fiber arts, and threw themselves headfirst into the weekend's most spirited rivalry — East vs. West. And we have Scott Miller of Crescent Moon Ranch to thank (or blame?) for lighting that particular fire. His full-sprint lap through the venue waving a West flag — followed closely by Jeff Jorritsma proudly carrying the East flag — may have started something we can't stop. We're not even sure we want to.
The Hollywood theme came alive in the most wonderful ways. Exhibitors went all-in on stall decor, and the banquet red carpet was stunning. Congratulations to Elderwood Farms of Tennessee (Team East) for taking home the Oscar for Best Stall Decorating, and to Gerald and Colette Peterson of California (Team West) for winning Best Dressed at the banquet. These categories were every bit as competitive as the show rings — and just as fun to watch.
And then… there was the First National Poop Raking Championship.
Yes, you read that right. The public and exhibitors gathered ringside on Saturday to cheer on their East and West teams, plus a judges’ scooper competition — in what turned out to be one of the most entertaining moments of the entire weekend. The coveted Golden Rake went to Don Yancey of Oregon — Team West. Congratulations, Don. We hope you display it proudly.
None of this happens without incredible support — financial and human. This show required more of both than usual, and our community delivered in every way.
View the full list of event sponsors — your generosity made this possible. And to our volunteers: I wish I could name every single one of you, and I'm afraid to try for fear of leaving anyone out. What I can say is this — every time staff needed to be in five places at once, a member appeared and simply asked, "How can I help?" Truly. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
We were so grateful to welcome three of AOA's trusted industry supporters to Fort Wayne this year.
Mazuri Nutrition, our title sponsor, joined us for the fifth consecutive year — and we cannot thank them enough. Mazuri awards every Supreme winner with 20 bags of feed and offers breeders customized nutritional plans for their alpacas. Five years of partnership. That means something.
Jeremy Wear and Hugh McMillian from SGS Fiber Lab in New Zealand traveled the furthest of anyone — and they did it through some truly wild weather. They judged the stall decorating contest with what can only be described as scientific rigor (it was serious), and then, when they stuck around a little too long, they ended up doing some very heavy lifting — literally helping us load the Penske truck bound for Nebraska. We are so grateful. These two are the real deal.
And we were thrilled to meet Farm Family Insurance. C.R. Hogendorp and Milissa Julius as they were on-site all weekend. AOA and Farm Family are in talks to bring members comprehensive farm insurance policies at discounted rates. We'll be sharing more details in the coming weeks — stay tuned.
I want to close with a moment of genuine awe.
A few months ago, auction committee members Jennifer Hack, Brian Houchin, Scott Miller, and Randy Strong began the hard work of securing elite herdsire breedings, animals, and select items for the auction. Scott threw out a goal: $100,000.
I'll be honest — I had my doubts. But I forgot how generous our members are.
We raised $124,000.
These funds help cover the cost of the national show and — importantly — help support the continued development of our registry database, something that affects every single one of us as we manage and grow our herds. The generosity of this community never stops being remarkable.
All in all, this was a successful show and a genuinely great time. Thank you to those who stepped in the ring, those who cheered from the bleachers, and those who showed up with a willingness to help. You made it happen. You always do.
We hope to see you in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2027.
Robin Gifford,
AOA Executive Director
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