MASTERCLASS- Suri Network Online Education The Suri Network strives to provide educational opportunities to its membership and the interested public. Listed below are several online Masterclasses presented for the benefit of our members. Skin to Skein and Everything In Between -Part 1 The Suri Network Education Committee presents a two-part Masterclass: These two masterclasses will include a review of the Density Study organized by Amanda VandenBosch and Derik King and will follow 5 Suri alpacas and their fleeces correlating their scientific testing results with fleece characteristics. An AOA judge clinic at Randy and Barbara Coleman's ranch featured those same Suris through fleece assessment while in halter, during the shearing process and onto the fleece table. Jean Van Effen will share her initial impressions of the fleeces prior to processing them at her mill. Part One will review the Density study and follow 5 of the Suris that were part of that study to the Coleman ranch where the alpacas were assessed in halter, during the shearing process, and their fleeces were studied by the AOA judges. Jean Van Effen will provide her initial impressions of the fleeces prior to processing. In Part Two, Jean Van Effen will discuss her experience processing the individual fleeces and her impressions of the resultant yarn. The panel will then bring those impressions back to histogram and biopsy results to see if there are any correlations between the skein qualities and the information gleaned from those alpaca's biopsies, histograms, and fleece assessments. Whether your focus is on fiber arts or enhancing your genetics, this masterclass will provide a foundation to understand how quantitative measures can be leveraged across multiple domains of production. These skills can help to inform breeding decisions as well as deepen your appreciation of your animals’ fleece. When: August 13th 5 pm PT / 8 pm ET Moderator – Julie Roy Meet the Panelists (Biographies below):
Once registered, you will receive the Zoom link prior to the class and receive a link to the replay. Suri Network members can join for free, but will need to register to receive the Zoom link. Masterclass fee for each class for non-Suri Network members: $25. Register for Skin to Skein Part 1 Save the Date for Part 2 in this Masterclass Series: Skin to Skein and Everything In Between - Sessions 1 and 2 Dr. Derik King: Chief Science Officer and Co-Founder, Alpaca Fiber Analytics Dr. King received his BA/MD from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and then practiced emergency medicine for many years. He managed and owned a physician practice management and malpractice insurance company. Since selling his company, Derik has dedicated his time to understanding how camelid fleece can be improved to be more usable in the industry. By using his scientific curiosity, he has spent many years training on alpaca biopsy, histogram, and genetic interpretation and analysis. Randy Coleman: Wings & A Prayer Alpacas Randy Coleman and his wife Barbara own Wings & A Prayer Alpacas in Amity, Oregon, a premier Today, Randy and Barbara manage an elite herd of approximately 80 animals with a strong focus on Suri alpacas. His strict dedication to advanced genetics and structural conformation earned Wings & A Prayer Alpacas the prestigious industry title of Herdsire of the Year. Leveraging his mechanical background, Randy also designs and custom-builds specialized, low-waste pasture feeders and shelters for fellow breeders. Deeply committed to agritourism and education, Randy regularly hosts “Alpacas 101” workshops, guides scenic “ AlpacaTreks”, and mentors new breeders entering the industry. Jean Van Effen: Tahoma Vista Fiber Mill Jean and her husband David purchased their first alpaca in 1993 and immediately began working In 2016, they acquired a wet felting machine, picker, and carder, establishing Tahoma Vista Fiber Mill. Spinning equipment was added in 2019. Jean retired in 2015 after 29 years as a U.S. Army musician. She continues to play horn in local professional ensembles. In 2017, she earned the Master Fiber Sorting, Grading, and Classing certificate from SUNY Cobleskill after completing rigorous training and an apprenticeship. She applies these skills daily in mill operations and provides professional sorting and grading services. Operating Tahoma Vista Fiber Mill has fulfilled Jean's dream of coming full-circle in the alpaca industry. The mill produces unique fiber items that have received recognition at local, state, and national levels. Jean and David run an onsite farm store offering yarns, rugs, accessories, and finished goods. They love to share their love of alpacas with visitors, through interactive farm and mill tours and fiber arts lessons. Laurel Shouvlin: AOA Judge Laurel and her husband Tim own Bluebird Hills Farm in Springfield, Ohio. Jean Van Effen: Our Moderator Julie Roy, (aka Alpaca Julie) will serve as our moderator. She has been helping Alpaca farms grow On February 19th, 2026, the Suri Network held a Masterclass about the Suri Herd Improvement Program (SHIP). Have you wondered if a SHIP herd evaluation is worth your time and investment? Maybe you’ve considered enrolling but haven’t taken the next step. Or perhaps you tried SHIP once and did not fully see how to use the results. This second session of the Suri Network Education Committee’s Masterclass series featured a virtual panel discussion with Suri Network members who actively use SHIP and believe in its value. You’ll hear from experienced breeders Bob Figular, Lisa Collura, Tim Sheets, and Bill Vonderhaar who will share:
If you are new to SHIP, this will help you understand the big picture. If you are already in SHIP, this will help you get more value from the information you receive. Suri Network members can view the program by clicking below. On September 11th, 2024, Joe Preston presented, "The Five Rules Of Marketing And Sales- Making The Most Of Openherd". Joe shared his insights on marketing and sales, along with how Openherd can be leveraged for maximum benefit. By following his 5 rules for marketing and sales and utilizing Openherd’s platform effectively, you can maximize your marketing efforts and drive sales for your business. Click below On September 18th, 2024 , Kylie Munyard B. Sc. (Hons) PhD presented, "Want To Breed For A Specific Fleece Colour? Understand Your Animals' Colour Genetics". Dr. Munyard is an Associate Professor of Genomics & Bioinformatics, in a combined teaching and research role and is also the Director of Graduate Research in the Curtin Medical School at Curtin University. The focus of her research is alpaca color genetics, through the use of targeted and whole genome sequencing, transcriptomics and genome wide association studies combined with specialized phenotype analyses such as chemical analyses and spectrophotometry. Click below September 25th, 2024, Nancy Lindemood and Liz Vahlkamp co-presented, "The Story Of Two Fiberpools- Lessons Learned and What To Consider". In 2023, Nancy helped organize KAA’s first regional fiber pool project with a goal to produce high quality local alpaca socks, at a competitive cost and attractive project margin, while also educating members about fiber traits and processing. Liz has been involved in collecting Suri fiber from producers for over 10 years to sell to commercial markets and with her experience in 2023 she organized a fiber pool to allow Suri growers to offer commercial products, made from their own fiber, in their farm stores. "The Story Of Two Fiberpools- Lessons Learned and What To Consider" The Suri Sip & Share Series: The Suri Network Fiber Committee launched a series of Suri Sip & Share zoom calls, and we had a wonderful response! For those who missed the chance to see them live, we have them linked here! These are friendly, casual events that encourage all attendees to participate! Because we offer them here, you can still enjoy them with your beverage of choice! Whether you are a seasoned fiber artist, a beginner, or you sell yarn, you'll benefit from this discussion. Learn about tips and techniques for working with Suri from those who have experience. Hear from beginners who have questions about how to incorporate this fiber into their next project! |
Future Masterclass Sessions: August 13, 2026- 8 PM ET, 5PM PT |
breeding farm and agritourism destination they cofounded in 1998. A former journeyman mechanic and fabricator, Randy left his corporate career in 2003 to dedicate himself full-time to herd management and sustainable agriculture.
with alpaca fiber. Jean learned to spin yarn and continues to enjoy spinning, both at her wheel and in the mill.
Alpacas became a part of their farm in 1998. A former Physician Assistant, mother of 4 who have all fledged, and an amateur fiber artist, she is a Jill of many trades but mistress of none. Her love for medicine, science, alpacas, and fiber arts has drawn her far into the alpaca industry with a current focus on educating the public about alpacas and the unique and wonderful characteristics of Suri fiber. The cherry on top has been to be certified as an AOA Judge. She enjoys writing and was editor of the Ohio Alpacas Magazine. She has also served on the Boards of the ARI, AOA, and the Suri Network.
their businesses for more than 20 years. She ’s a trusted author, speaker, business coach, and cofounder of AlpacaEDU.com. Julie joined the Suri Network Board in January 2026 and serves on the Education Committee.