Alpaca competitions under the auspices of the Alpaca Owners Association (AOA) occur throughout the year across the United States. These include:

• Halter Shows where the alpaca is led into a ring, observed in motion, examined by the AOA certified judge and placed relative to the other competitors. Gait, conformation, and fleece are evaluated by the judge.
• Fleece Shows where the most recently shorn fleece of an alpaca is judged by an AOA certified judge.
• Walking Fleece Shows where the alpaca is brought to the judge, but only the fleece is judged. Walking Fleece Shows fall under the umbrella of Fleece Shows.
• Handcrafter's Spin-Off Competitions where a sample of fleece is submitted, spun into yarn by an AOA certified Spin-Off Judge and evaluated on criteria relevant to the production of finished goods.
• Auxiliary Fleece Competitions which are an opportunity for fiber arts and hand-spun or mill spun skeins to be judged
• Performance shows are events where the alpaca and its handler are judged in how well they interact. There are classes where alpacas are led over and around obstacles and classes in showmanship where the focus is mostly on the handler and how well they manage themselves and their animal.

The county and state fairs that offer alpaca competitions primarily have the Performance classes for youth. Alpaca shows across the United States that are not part of a fair, are usually organized by affiliates associated with the Alpaca Owners Association (AOA) and use the AOA Show System Handbook for conducting their shows.

To find an alpaca show near you Click Here.

You can view the entire Handbook by Clicking Here.