Spring Shows

Tiskilwa Farms will be traveling this spring. Our show schedule is as follows:

March 20-21 Spring Bling Alpaca Show - Neenah, WI
Grand Sponsor
Speaking on Tax and Financial topics of Alpaca Ownership

April 2-3 Indiana Alpaca Invitational - Fort Wayne, IN
Grand Sponsor

April 24-25 Great Midwest Alpaca Festival - Madison, WI
Speaking on Tax and Financial topics of Alpaca Ownership

May 1-2 Interstate 80 Alpacafest
Show Host and Grand Sponsor

May 20-23 AOBA Nationals - Fort Wayne, IN

Interstate 80 Alpacafest

When we heard that the Illinois Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association cancelled their show for this coming March we were upset that Illinois would not have a show in the spring. We love the Northern Illinois Alpaca Extravaganza each fall, but Illinois also needs a spring show before these magnificent animals head to shearing. We are convinced that alpaca shows are a great place for breeders to market their farms and learn from each other. We called our dear friends at Apple Tree Acres and asked if they'd put on a smaller show with us. Both Ed and Karen said they had the same idea and were planning to call us. We met on New Year's Day.

We are pleased to announce the Interstate 80 Alpacfest to be held at the Bureau County Fairgrounds May 1-2, 2010. We're working on details and we look forward to a fun Level II show. We hope you'll join us!!

Skirting Fleece

So what do you do when there is snow on the ground and its cold outside? Why prepare fleece for spring shows, of course! I admire people who have time to get fleece ready for the fall shows, but summer chores just never seem to allow time for skirting. Thanks to some lessons from our friends at Wineaux Alpacas (home of Tsunami!) we will be entering fleece in a few shows this spring. Here's just a few shots of our Accoyo Galactica's fleece spread on the table. What a beautiful sight!

Sub-Zero Temperatures - but new waterers are great

Yes, this morning the mercury in the thermometer was rather shy and didn't show its face above the -0- mark. Not fun for the animals or the caretakers. Last fall we finalized construction of heated automatic waterers and this morning they water was steaming in the cold but fresh and ready for the animals. And who said farmers have a tough life?????
Keep warm.

Ohio Alpaca Fest 2009





We attended the 2009 Ohio Alpaca Fest in Columbus the weekend of November 6-7 - yes this is the show which was cancelled and then re-instated. This has always been one of our favorite shows. It was a much smaller show this year. They did not use the show arena and instead had the show rings on carpet in the stalling barn with very poor lighting. Even if the facilities were less than stellar, TFA still had a great weekend. Our brown (of course) juvenile male Suri, TFA Lock and Load, was awarded the Reserve Champion banner. Needless to say, we were thrilled. This was his third show this fall and the first one that had enough animals for a Championship.

He is the progeny of MacGyver's Armed and Dangerous and other Mac kids also had a great weekend! Our thanks to Gail Wasserstein of Andean Vista Ranch for her help in showing him.

Indiana Heartland Classic

We did well in Indianapolis! There was some tough Ohio competition. In several classes the first place went to the largest farm in the country (grrrr....), second went to an extremely well respected Ohio breeding program, and THIRD WENT TO TISKILWA. We can't complain when we're essentially competing against national champions.

Fall Show Schedule

This fall we will be showing animals and the Indiana Heartland Classic in Indianapolis the weekend of October 3-4. Then we are off to the Northern Illinois Alpaca Extravaganza in Libertyville the weekend of October 24-25. We will end our fall show season with the Ohio AlpacaFest in Columbus the weekend of November 7-8.