Here are our Judges for our A-OK Shows—5 judges for 2023!
Ken Hibbits
A-OK Alpaca Blast-Off Show
Halter Show—Regular Classes—Full Fleece, Bred and Owned with Championships and Judge’s Choice (minimums met)
Group Classes – Get of Sire, Produce of Dam, Breeders Best Group of Three
Certifications
Huacaya Halter, Suri Halter, Fleece, Performance
Victoria and Ken Hibbits own and operate Alpacas By The Sea, Inc. in Montara, California. They have both worked in the alpaca industry for over 16 years. Alpacas By The Sea has been raising alpacas since 1992. They managed a herd of up 100 alpacas and have presented educational seminars for their clients that provide an excellent informational foundation for success in the alpaca business.
Ken is an AOA Halter Judge. Victoria Hibbits was an ARI Phenotypic screener and they have traveled together in Peru learning advanced husbandry directly from breeders on the altiplano. They have also studied and shared breeding techniques and alpaca screening criteria with some of the worlds leading experts. They have enjoyed raising alpacas in Northern California and take great pleasure in sharing the rewards of alpacas with others. Alpacas By the Sea is located just 25 minutes south of San Francisco on scenic Highway 1 along the Pacific Ocean.
Jacob Hart
A-OK Rose Rock Alpaca Show
Halter Show—Regular Classes – Full Fleece, Small Breeder with Championships and Judge’s Choice (minimums met)
Certifications
Huacaya Halter, Suri Halter
Native to Central Ohio, Jacob has been involved in the alpaca industry since 2009, when he followed his parents into the industry at the age of 12. He first acquired his own alpacas as a way for his parents to teach him about finances and investments. It was at this time that he founded Rakhel Farms, which later became Rakhel Farms LLC.
Jacob attended Delaware Valley University (Doylestown, Pennsylvania) and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agribusiness in 2018 with the intention to apply his education to the alpaca industry.
In 2019, Jacob entered the Alpaca Owners Association Judge Training Program and became a certified halter judge in 2022. He has volunteered at numerous AOA Certified alpaca shows and served on the AOA Show Revitalization Task Force in 2020.
Frauke Berman
A-OK Alpaca Blast-Off Show
Fleece—Regular Classes with Color Championships
Special Awards – Judge’s Choice, Best Hand, Best Brightness-Huacya, Best Luster-Suri, Best Crimp-Huacaya, Best Lock Formation-Suri, Spirit of the Fiber Industry, Best Prepared
A-OK Rose Rock Alpaca Show
Walking Fleece—Regular Classes with Championships
Certifications
Huacaya Halter, Suri Halter, Fleece
Frauke resides with her husband and four children in Manhattan and South Salem, New York.
She has a background in hospitality and interior design and showed horses back in Germany.
In design school she discovered alpaca fabrics and their unique qualities. Soon after, she visited several alpaca farms which consequently inspired her to acquire her first alpaca in 2014. Ever since, she passionately embraces learning about every facet of the industry.
In September 2021 she became a certified AOA fleece judge. Since December 2019 she has been working on completing her halter and performance judge certifications.
Frauke is enthusiastic about helping the alpaca industry continue to reach its vast potential.
Laurel Shouvlin
A-OK Alpaca Blast-Off Show
Performance—Youth – Showmanship, Obstacle, Costume Class, Public Relations
Adult – Showmanship, Obstacle, Public Relations, Costume Class
Certifications
Huacaya Halter, Suri Halter, Fleece, Performance
Laurel Shouvlin and her husband Tim have been raising alpacas since 1997 on Bluebird Hills Farm in Springfield, Ohio. Laurel has been fascinated with the camel family since her childhood and has also enjoyed working with natural fibers, learning to weave, knit and spin while in high school.
All facets of the alpaca industry appeal to her, including husbandry, fiber arts, veterinary medicine, breeding and birthing, and the show ring. She first considered becoming a judge after volunteering as a ring steward at various shows. Laurel believes the show ring is one of the best tools available to breeders to continue to improve both the fiber and conformation of alpacas in North America. The show ring also provides a great opportunity to help educate breeders about fleece and conformation.
Laurel has served as editor and publisher of the Ohio Alpaca Breeders Association magazine, Ohio Alpaca Life, as a director for the ARI, AOA, and the Suri Network. She feels privileged to have the opportunity to evaluate North American alpacas and their fleeces in AOA and international competitions.
Diana Timmerman
A-OK Rose Rock Alpaca Show
Walking Fleece—Regular Classes with Championships
A-OK Alpaca Blast-Off Show
Performance—Youth – Showmanship, Obstacle, Costume Class, Public Relations
Adult – Showmanship, Obstacle, Public Relations, Costume Class
Senior Fleece Judge and Judge Trainer for all Certifications
Certifications
Huacaya Halter, Suri Halter, Fleece, Performance
Diana is an AOA Halter, Senior Fleece Judge, Judge Trainer, and Instructor in the United States. Diana received her Certification as an International Alpaca Judge trained in Peru at the International Alpaca Judging School (IAJS) in 2004. She has actively judged in Canada and the United States since 2001. Diana has over 35 years of experience breeding, showing, and raising alpacas and other breeds of livestock.
Along with her husband, Tim, they established Aussie Acres Alpacas in 1994. They became known for their ability to successfully produce grey and sought-after Huacaya breeding stock. Both Diana and Tim were honored to share those grey genetics worldwide. Diana’s love for alpacas and her commitment to fleece education was the inspiration that led to the purchase of The Alpaca Breeders Fiber School, LLC. Diana also serves as an alpaca industry consultant, educator, Fiber Sorter, Grader and, continues working on her Wool Classer status and is always available for consultations.
Diana currently serves on the AOA Judges Advisory Committee (JAC), AOA Judge Training and Certification Committee (JTCC) as Liaison and served on the Advisory Board for the Mid-America Alpaca Foundation, the Board of Directors of Alpaca Breeders of the Rockies and past leader of the Leading Llamas and Alpacas 4-H Club.
Diana was born in Germany. At eight years of age, she moved to Colorado with her parents. She earned an Associate Degree in Occupational Studies with an emphasis on Medical Billing and Coding and maintains her Paralegal and Medical Billing and Coding certifications. Prior to acquiring alpacas Diana was employed as a Paralegal for the Weld County District Attorney. She has one son, Jeff, and grandson, Alden Ray.
The Ethical Promotion of All Things Alpaca…
