Helen Testa-PAOBA Halter
Certifications
Huacaya Halter, Suri Halter, Performance Helen established Silvercloud Farm in 2001 and managed a large herd of huacayas. Helen has been very active within the alpaca community. She served as the President of the Pennsylvania Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association (PAOBA), managed the PAOBA Breeders Showcase, served on the Mid- Atlantic Alpaca Association Board of Directors, served on several Alpaca Owners Association Sub-Committees, and was founder partner in Silver Penn Sales. Helen recently joined the Judges Advisory Committee (JAC) and plans to remain active and supportive of the alpaca community. Helen has been a AOA Certified Judge since 2007 and enjoys traveling throughout the country evaluating alpacas, offering educational seminars, herd evaluations, and sale consultations. Helen has now retired from Silvercloud Farm and she and her two children Mia and Raymond reside in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. |
Wade Geese-Walking Fleece
Certifications
Huacaya Halter, Suri Halter, Fleece, Walking Fleece, PerformanceWade Gease is an AOA certified senior alpaca judge, judge training instructor, presenter, designer and consultant/mediator for the worldwide alpaca industry. He was the previous co-owner of LondonDairy Alpacas for 18 years. He now unveils his own wholesale/retail product line as The Alpaca Guy. Wade has been honored to be involved with so many different activities in the alpaca world: presenting his personal educational seminars at pen sales, consulting, commentating, coordinating for auctions, and evaluating for private alpaca breeders. A favored activity has been leading yearly educational trips throughout Peru. In 2021 he will host a Fiesta Alpaca trip in April because of a scheduled alpaca show in Cusco. Contact him to be put on his notification list. Wade was the first to produce a N.A. made alpaca bamboo fabric. Thereafter, he created an upscale clothing line highlighting alpaca fabric, Alpaca Couture. The company’s vision was to gain greater attention from a discriminating consumer and help the industry gain greater recognition as an attractive fiber for fashion. Fashion shows were presented in Las Vegas, Orange County, and San Diego. The business transitioned into the accessory lines of The Alpaca Guy. Wade helps with Fashion Show/ Auction coordinations at different venues and shows like AOA. Mr. Gease also forged ahead in making alpaca materials, designing alpaca products and has created a wet felting machine for home/farm use to empower ranches to make on the farm products, The Wet Felting Wizard. It has had over 25,000 views on YouTube and has sold as far as the Netherlands, France & South Africa. Wade earned an Associate’s Degree in Aeronautical Science, a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, and a Masters Degree in Biochemistry. He is also a Camelid Fibre Sorter certified from Olds College Natural Fibre Centre, Canada. His past has given him experience in construction, was a certified flight instructor, chemistry instructor, co-owner of a gift and floral store, and a professional sales representative for multiple pharmaceutical companies. He enjoys scuba diving, home improvement projects, and anything related to alpaca fiber! |
Laurel Shouvlin-Youth Activities
Certifications
Huacaya Halter, Suri Halter, Fleece, Walking 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, veterinary medicine, the breeding and birthing, and the show ring. She first considered becoming a judge after volunteering as a ring steward at various shows, loving the opportunity to examine the fleeces of so many alpacas, and considers training to judge alpacas a natural extension of her education involving these animals. 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 is also a great opportunity to help educate breeders about fleece and conformation. Laurel has also served as editor and publisher of the Ohio Alpaca Breeders Association magazine, Ohio Alpaca Life, and as a director for the ARI. She feels privileged to have the opportunity to evaluate North American alpacas and their fleeces. |