A New Way of Seeing Suri
Selecting, Showing, Sorting,
& Selling Suri Fleece
DATE & TIME: To be announced.
LOCATION: Wind Walker Ranch, 6500 Moe Road, Middleville, MI 49333
PRESENTER: Nancy Haus has co-owned Humm V Farm with her husband Don since they saw their first suri alpacas in Ohio in late 2001. Their suris have won national level ribbons in halter and fleece. They seek to breed suris that excel as show and breed stock while producing fiber that has high value in the textile markets.
Since moving to Kansas in 2007, Nancy has immersed herself in learning about the fiber end of alpaca ownership. Nancy is a trained fiber sorter and she possesses a unique understanding of suri fleece that she is eager to share. Nancy has served on the Board of Directors for the Alpaca Registry (ARI) and the North American Fiber Producers Co-Operative.
PRICE: $75, including continental breakfast each day, lunch on Saturday, and seminar manual.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: 
As the alpaca fiber market gains attention, so do your options as a breeder/owner to improve your income stream from all your alpacas and all your fiber. In this seminar, you will learn about several venues and techniques for marketing and reaping added value from your herd’s fiber production. No more bags of fiber filling your barn, basement or spare room! There are ways for fiber to actually fill your wallet!
You will be introduced to some simple new ways to see your suri alpacas that will change forever how you look at alpacas for sale, for breeding, or when purchasing for your own herd. You will learn the basics of fiber physiology, how to recognize micron count variations in each fleece, and how to prepare fleeces for show and for sale or end use by fiber artists, mini-mills, or even larger endeavors.
Please bring with you on Saturday up to 3 suri fleeces of varied lock style: your nicest, a medium quality one, and one you normally wouldn’t show to anyone except a friend. (All have value!) If you have done a micron test on these beforehand, please bring that too. There will be opportunities both days to apply what you are learning in the class to many of these beauties. We will have a few fleeces available should you need them, but variety is the spice of life!
If you are a spinner or fiber artist, you are also encouraged to bring examples of your work for a short show and tell opportunity. The class size is limited in order to maximize our opportunity to learn from demonstration and hands on experience.