10/10/2025
Field day at Thief of Hearts Alpaca Stud
Date: 2nd November 2025
Guest Speakers: Rubey and Mick Williams from Storybook Alpacas from NSW Australia.
Venue: 110 Waituna Road, RD 2, Pahiatua – Out behind the Tui Brewery in the Wairarapa.
Cost: Free to all AANZ members and $10 per person for non AANZ members
Attendance: If you would like to attend this Field Day, can you please let Eric know so that he can cater for you all.
Weather: If the weather is wet or hot, we have enough sheds to be able to do the Training course in the dry or out of the sun.
Time: 10.00 start with a coffee
10.30 Kickoff with Rubey and Mick
Lunch: 1.00
Finish: 3 to 4pm
History:
Rubey Williams is an accredited AAA Judge from Australia and is judging our Manawatu A&P Show on Saturday, Mick Williams (Rubey’s Dad) currently sits on the AAA board and is the director working closest with the Showing and Judging committees.
Mick will be able offer a unique perspective to the breeders on animal and fleece selection that is more perhaps targeted to commercial markets. I.e. the monetary value of a fleece and a simplified conversation around fibre traits through wool classing principles. Mick can also speak about animal selection for live animal exports and share our experience working within this facet of the industry.
Mick and Rubey are extremely well respected throughout Australia, and they have offered their time and expertise for the day to teach us all sorts of things they know about Judging and farming Alpacas.
Mick and Rubey’s Family own both Storybook Alpacas and Suri Alliance Alpacas and currently run a herd of over 1500 Alpacas They breed both Huacaya and Suri Alpaca, while focusing predominantly on white and light fawn. Their family’s studs focus on the long-term viability of alpacas. To this end they have immersed themselves in everything the industry has to offer – from fleece, to live export, international herd management, the show movement and reproductive technologies. Itinerary:
1. Our Quest Speakers for the day are Mick and Rubey Williams, and they will show us exactly what they are looking for in an animal when they are in the Show Ring. This will include what they are looking for in the animal and what they are looking at when they pull out the fleece samples.As Breeders this is a chance for us to learn what the traits the Judges are looking for and of course we will be able to ask as many questions as we like.
2. Bring your best fleece along: This is the best chance we as Breeders will have to place what we think is our best, or one of our best fleeces in front of Rubey and Mick and get their opinion on it. I have asked them both to give their honest opinion on these fleeces. This is so important when working on our breeding programme.
3. Lunch
For those that would like to try this, I will supply an Alpaca Burger for you to try. We will cook the Pattie and you can add what salads you like to it.
If you do not want to try an Alpaca Burger, please bring your own lunch.
I need to know in advance please if you are wanting to try an Alpaca Burger so that we have enough made.
4. Evaluating animals in a Paddock:
We will take a walk into a paddock with some Mums and their Cria and ask our Judges to evaluate some animals using their knowledge and experience. We can then catch some animals and see how our evaluations have stacked up once we open up their fleeces.
5. Sit down Discussion Time:
This is where we can sit down with Rubey and Mick and talk to them about anything Alpaca. We can supply you with tea or coffee, a cold drink or even a cold beer. Some topics as suggestion could include:
1. Politics in the Australian Industry
2. Exporting animals from Australia to NZ so we can add some new Genetics to our Herds.
3. What they do with their yearly wool production.
4. What they think the future will hold for Alpacas.
5. What they think we need to do here in NZ to save our industry.
6. Basically, any questions you might like to ask.
6. Cup of Tea/Coffee or a cold beer before you travel home. If you would like to stay a little longer to ask any questions, you will be more than welcome.
7. Mick and Rubey might like to visit a couple of farms on Monday (the next day). If you would like Mick & Rubey to have a quick visit at your farm on Monday 3rd November, please let me know and I will see if we can arrange a circuit to be able
to fit you in.
I can’t promise anything but we will do our best.
Looking forward immensely to this Field Day already.
Eric
Thief of Hearts
[email protected]
www.alpacas.nz
Thief of Hearts Alpaca Stud, nestled in the foot hills of the Tararua Rangers just south of Palmerston North.
