Sweetheart Halter & Walking Fleece (Huacaya and Suri)
Jacob Hart
Certifications (AOA): Huacaya Halter, Suri Halter, Fleece, Performance
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.
Sweetheart Suri Halter, Fleece & Walking Fleece (Huacaya)
Frauke Berman
Certifications (AOA): 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 embraced learning about every facet of the industry.
In 2021, she was certified to be a fleece judge and in December 2022 she completed the AOA halter certification. She feels privileged to have had the opportunity to judge several fleece and halter shows.
Frauke is enthusiastic about helping the alpaca industry continue to reach its vast potential.
Sweetheart Fleece & Walking Fleece (Huacaya)
Wade Gease
Certifications (AOA): Huacaya Halter, Suri Halter, 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. Another favored activity has been leading yearly educational trips throughout Peru. Contact him to be put on his Peru Trip 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 his popular wholesale business, The Alpaca Guy.
Mr. Gease also forged ahead in making other alpaca materials and 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, and South Africa.
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. His past has given him experience in construction, was a certified flight instructor, chemistry instructor, co-owner of a gift & floral store and a cardiovascular sale representative for multiple pharmaceutical companies. He enjoys scuba diving, home improvement projects, and anything related to alpaca fiber!
Sweetheart Walking Fleece (Suri) & Bluebonnet Halter (Huacaya)
Kevin O’Leary
Certifications (AOA): Huacaya Halter, Suri Halter, Fleece, Performance
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.
Sweetheart Walking Fleece (Huacaya) & Bluebonnet Suri Halter
Diana Timmerman
Certifications (AOA): 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.