IAOBA - Rail Splitter Alpaca Show

Judge's Biography

Kevin O'leary
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Committed to the alpaca industry, Kevin has served on various AOBA committees including the Affiliate, the Nominating, the National Conference Planning, and the Judge Advisory Committee.

Kevin is one of the founding members and President of N. E. Alpaca Tours, a non-profit corporation that organizes the North American Alpaca Show. To date, N.E.A.T. has donated over a quarter of a million dollars to alpaca research and education.

Having successfully completed the AOBA Judge Training Program in 2004, Kevin received certification in halter, fleece, and performance judging for both Suri and Huacaya alpacas.

Kevin is currently judging alpaca shows throughout the country and is involved in speaking, consulting, and in the organization of alpaca shows and auctions

Jacob Hart

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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 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.

Wade Gease

Senor Judge and Judge Trainer

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Certifications: Huacaya Halter, Suri Halter, Fleece, Walking Fleece, Performance

Wade Gease is an AOA-certified senior alpaca judge, judge training instructor, presenter, designer, and consultant/mediator for the worldwide alpaca industry. He is a previous owner and manager of a sustainable alpaca ranch for eighteen years. He now unveils his own wholesale/retail product line and services as The Alpaca Guy.

Wade has been honored to be involved with many different activities in the alpaca world: presenting his personal educational seminars at industry gatherings, consulting, commentating, coordinating for auctions or fashion shows, and providing private evaluations for alpaca breeders. 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 business transitioned into his popular wholesale business, The Alpaca Guy.

Wade earned an associate degree in Aeronautical Science, a bachelor’s degree in chemistry & a master degree in Biochemistry. He is also a Camelid Fibre Sorter certified from Olds College Natural Fibre Centre, Canada.

Laurel Shouvlin
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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.

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