2012: 1st Place Finishes, Championships, and Specialty Awards
It’s that time again, when we look back at the previous year’s show winnings and howl at the moon for just a moment or two. 2012 marked Cas-Cad-Nac Farm’s 15th anniversary and as one might reasonably expect of a program that has been around that long, our winnings reflect the cumulative effect of careful and selective breeding over that stretch. Not that any of it came easily. There was much trial and error along the way with a strong emphasis on the latter. Our friend, Kevin O’Leary, loves to remind me of the time he came across a rather sulky, dejected version of myself at the 2000 Big E Alpaca Show. I was in a foul mood that day, not because we weren’t doing well at that show (though we weren’t, in fact we were consistently getting our asses kicked quite soundly as I recall) but more specifically because I felt that worse than that, we were not even really competing. That fall was a bit of an epiphany for Jen and I, one baby (human) boy and some three years into our alpaca adventure. It was the simple realization that we had no desire to humor ourselves: if we were really going to do this thing, we were going to try to do it right. Of course those wheels had already slowly begun turning the spring and summer beforehand with the acquisition of two special females: MFI Peruvian Savanna and CAR Sunbeam Alpine. For those who don’t recognize the names (and 13 years is an age in this business) those incredible production girls were respectively Archangel’s granddam (Savanna was pregnant with Arch’s mom, Abby, at the time) and SuperNova’s dam (Novy was likewise a virtual zygote when we bought Sunbeam at the 2000 AOBA conference and show). Combined with 5Peruvian Margarita — who would eventually birth a fawn male very close to the day of Johnny Cash’s passing — they would form an early core of the CCNF foundation herd. Add a little Snowmass Legacy Gold in 2001, combine with several other females from various genetic lines and farms, fold in a heaping helping of the North American Alpaca Stud, stir…and voila! The rest, as they say, is history. Except it’s not just history. The grandchildren (CCNF Prestige), great grandchildren (CCNF Valencia) and (3x)great grandchildren (hello Mr. Elixir) of those three original females are very much a part of the present and future of our farm. While individual results at a single show, or even results over the course of an entire show season, are of course wonderful, it is ultimately the ability to consistently produce top quality alpacas with each subsequent generation building and improving on those that came before, year in and year out that is the mark of a true breeding program. Knowing the extended families and the stories behind the 2009 through 2011 birth classes here at CCNF (which account for most of the winnings below), we feel that the show results listed below bare out our ability to consistently produce that quality better than ever.
We would of course be remiss to not give credit where credit is due. The introduction of Snowmass Elite Legend and his world-class genetics into our program three years ago produced breeding results that were nothing short of dynamic. I mean really, is there another Herdsire in North America that could have stepped into this herd and meshed with our females as well as he did? That would be a very tall order. Yes, to a great degree because of the genetic similarities (and relations) to EL’s birth farm, we had the advantage of not coming into his first breeding season blind but still…Needless to say, as EL leaves CCNF for the final time, we remain in awe of what he did for us in such a short time and are deeply grateful to the Skinner family for their willingness to share him with us. His mission was unquestionably accomplished and then some. As you can no doubt imagine, we are really looking forward to seeing his sons start to work here later this year too!
We must also give props to MFI Peruvian Precocious, whom we co own with Magical Farms in Ohio. Precocious has likewise thrown several crops of amazing crias since joining us several years back. We in fact even had his first grandcria born here this past fall, when his daughter Flirtatious — you’ll see her name below multiple times — gave birth to a stunning little girl, Daliance. That Precocious managed to secure Reserve Herdsire of the Year honors at last year’s Futurity with just 7 of his offspring from CCNF accounting for all of his points, is also quite remarkable. His progeny at the Futurity of course had the misfortune of coming up against a group of EL kids both from here and our friends at Tripping Gnome Farm. That train was collectively just plain old nasty. No shame coming in 2nd to them whatsoever. In addition to Precocious continuing to work here himself, we are also expecting the first crias this coming season from his sons, Invictus and Tenacious, so his beat moves forward on several fronts, all different riffs on the same basic theme.
Though we have tooted her horn before, we also need to point out yet again the freakish wonderfulness that is Xanadu P Cadenza. Cadenza first came to us several years ago when her owner, Pamela Ray, won a breeding to our Herdsire, SuperNova, at the Quechua Benefit auction and elected to send Ms. Thing out to Vermont to be the lucky lady in question. Long story short: we both fell in love with Cadenza and she’s never left CCNF since! That original SuperNova breeding now stands at stud here in the form of CCNF Concerto who will hopefully soon be joined by his kid brother, CCNF Defiance. Granted, Big D did just barely turn 1 year old earlier this month, so we’re trying to tamp down our expectations of him for the coming year. In the mean time their mother, or more specifically their mother’s fleece, continued to to tear it up at shows around the country in 2012. To my knowledge she’s one of the few animals to ever win a banner (either Champion or Reserve Champion) at the AOBA National Fleece Show in three consecutive years, this last time with a fleece of a 4 year old female that was not only extremely fine but also still weighed just shy of 5 lb. fully skirted for show. She is a special, special female who right now probably has as much to say about this farm’s future as any Herdsire on the premises. Here that boys? That’s your cue to step it up…
Lastly, we would be remiss in presenting the list below if we did not also acknowledge again the passing this past fall of our dearly beloved Herdsire, Snowmass Legacy Gold. He was one of a kind. So much of what we have accomplished since he joined our program 12 years ago and so much of what we hope to accomplish yet was/is only possible because of him. Pronk on Dude.
Spring Bling Alpaca Show (fleece), Neenah, WI
CCNF Sundowner – Champion Fawn Huacaya
CCNF Tenacious – Champion White Huacaya
CCNF Tenacious – Huacaya Best Brightness
CCNF Tenacious – Huacaya Judge’s Choice
CCNF Tenacious – 1st Place White Juvenile Huacaya (A)
CCNF Avenger – 1st Place White Adult Huacaya (D&E)
CCNF Sundowner – 1st Place Medium Fawn Juvenile Huacaya (A)
CCNF Smoke Ring – 1st Place Grey Juvenile Huacaya (A)
North American Alpaca Show, Springfield, MA
CCNF Tanzania – Champion Black Huacaya Female
CCNF Ultraviolet – Champion Brown Huacaya Female
CCNF La Vie en Rose – Reserve Champion Fawn Huacaya Female
CCNF Elixir – Champion Light Huacaya Male
CCNF Invictus – Reserve Champion Light Huacaya Male
CCNF Elixir – Judges’ Choice Huacaya Male
Snowmass Elite Legend – 1st Place Huacaya Get of Sire
Breeder’s Best 3 – 1st Place
CCNF Tanzania – 1st Place Bay Black Yearling Female Huacaya
CCNF Ultraviolet – 1st Place Light Brown Yearling Female Huacaya
CCNF Agave – 1st Place Light Brown Juvenile Male Huacaya
CCNF Elixir – 1st Place Beige Juvenile Male Huacaya
CCNF Invictus – 1st Place Beige Yearling Male Huacaya
CCNF Jesusa – 1st Place Beige Juvenile Female Huacaya
CCNF Agamemnon – 1st Place White Juvenile Male Huacaya
CCNF Prestige – 1st Place White Juvenile Female Huacaya
CCNF Confectious – 1st Place White Juvenile Female Huacaya
CCNF Flirtatious – 1st Place White Yearling Female Huacaya
CCNF Invictus – 1st Place Bred & Owned Yearling Huacaya Male
CCNF Lisbeth – 1st Place Bred & Owned Yearling Huacaya Female
Minnesota Alpaca Expo Fleece Show, Owatonna, MN
CCNF Sundowner – Champion Fawn Huacaya
CCNF Invictus – Champion Light Huacaya
CCNF Tenacious – Champion White Huacaya
CCNF Sundowner – Best Prepared Huacaya
CCNF Avenger – Best Hand Huacaya
CCNF Sundowner – 1st Place Juvenile Fawn Huacaya (A)
CCNF Invictus – 1st Place Juvenile Light Huacaya (A)
CCNF Tenacious – 1st Place Juvenile White Huacaya (A)
CCNF Smoke Ring – 1st Place Juvenile Grey Huacaya (A)
The Futurity, Grand Island, NE
CCNF Tanzania – Champion Black Female Huacaya
CCNF Flirtatious – Reserve Champion White Female Huacaya
CCNF Elixir – Champion Light Male Huacaya
CCNF Elixir – Judges’ Choice Huacaya Male
Snowmass Elite Legend – 1st Place Get of Sire
Snowmass Elite Legend – 2012 Huacaya Herdsire of the Year (Light Offspring)
MFI Peruvian Precocious – 2012 Reserve Huacaya Herdsire of the Year (Light Offspring)
Cas-Cad-Nac Farm LLC – 2012 Futurity Huacaya Breeder of the Year (Large Farm Division)
CCNF Tanzania – 1st Place Bay Black Yearling Female Huacaya
CCNF Silken Fire – 1st Place Dark Brown Juvenile Female Huacaya
CCNF Jesusa – 1st Place Beige Juvenile Female Huacaya
CCNF Flirtatious – 1st Place White Yearling Female Huacaya
CCNF Elixir – 1st Place Beige Juvenile Male Huacaya
CCNF Agamemnon – 1st Place White Juvenile Male Huacaya
CCNF Bellagio – 1st Place White Yearling Huacaya
Great Midwest Alpaca Festival (fleece), Madison, WI
CCNF Invictus – Champion White Huacaya
CCNF Avenger – Reserve Champion White Huacaya
CCNF Smoke Ring – Reserve Champion Grey Huacaya
CCNF Invictus – Best Brightness Huacaya
CCNF Avenger – Judges’ Choice Hucaya
CCNF Sundowner – 1st Place Juvenile Medium Fawn Huacaya (A)
CCNF Invictus – 1st Place Juvenile White Huacaya (A)
CCNF Avenger – 1st Place 4 Year Old White Huacaya (D)
CCNF Smoke Ring – 1st Place Juvenile Grey Huacaya (A)
Mapaca Jubilee Fleece Show, Harrisburg, PA
CCNF Gabbana – Reserve Champion Fawn Huacaya
CCNF Flirtatious – Champion White Huacaya
Xanadu P Cadenza – Reserve Champion White Huacaya
CCNF Flirtatious – Best Brightness Huacaya
CCNF Royal Ring of Fire – 1st Place Huacaya Get of Sire
Xanadu P Cadenza – Judges’ Choice Huacaya
CCNF Magellan – 1st Place 2 Year Old Brown Huacaya
CCNF Gabbana – 1st Place Dark Fawn Juvenile Huacaya
CCNF Wayfarer – 1st Place Dark Fawn Yearling Huacaya
CCNF Marguerite – 1st Place Medium Fawn Adult Huacaya
CCNF Flirtatious – 1st Place White Juvenile Huacaya
Xanadu P Cadenza – 1st Place White Adult Huacaya
PAOBA Fleece Show, York, PA
Xanadu P Cadenza – Champion White Huacaya
CCNF Flirtatious – Reserve Champion White Huacaya
CCNF Marguerite – Reserve Champion Fawn Huacaya
CCNF Annabeth – Champion Grey Huacaya
CCNF Flirtatious – 1st Place Juvenile White Huacaya
Xanadu P Cadenza – 1st Place Adult White Huacaya
CCNF La Vie en Rose – 1st Place Juvenile Dark Fawn Huacaya
CCNF Marguerite – 1st Place Medium Fawn Adult Huacaya
CCNF Magellan – 1st Place Brown 2 Year Old+ Huacaya
CCNF Tanzania – 1st Place Black Juvenile Huacaya
CCNF Annabeth – 1st Place Rose Grey Yearling Huacaya
AOBA National Fleece Show, Louisville, KY
CCNF Silken Fire – Reserve Champion Brown Female Huacaya
Xanadu P Cadenza – Reserve Champion White Female Huacaya
CCNF Elixir – 1st Place Juvenile Light Fawn/Beige Male Huacaya
CCNF Bellagio – 1st Place Yearling White Male Huacaya
CCNF Silken Fire – 1st Place Juvenile Brown Female Huacaya
CCNF Ultraviolet – 1st Place Medium Brown Yearling Female Huacaya
CCNF Prestige – 1st Place White Juvenile Female Huacaya
CCNF Flirtatious – 1st Place White Yearling Female Huacaya
Xanadu P Cadenza – 1st Place White Adult Huacaya Female
Empire Alpaca Extravaganza, Syracuse, NY
CCNF Wayfarer – Reserve Champion Fawn Male Huacaya
CCNF Elixir – Champion Light Male Huacaya
CCNF Defiance – Champion White Male Huacaya
CCNF Prestige – Champion White Female Huacaya
Snowmass Elite Legend – 1st Place Get of Sire
Cas-Cad-Nac Farm LLC – 1st Place Breeders Best 3 (Defiance, Elixir, Hyperion)
CCNF Elixir – 1st Place Beige Yearling Male Huacaya
CCNF Valencia – 1st Place Dark Fawn Juvenile Female Huacaya
CCNF Solara – 1st Place Medium Fawn Yearling Female Huacaya
CCNF Defiance – 1st Place White Juvenile Male Huacaya
CCNF Hyperion – 1st Place White Yearling Male Huacaya
CCNF Prestige – 1st Place White Yearling Female Huacaya
CCNF Ladyhawke – 1st Place White Yearling Female Huacaya
CCNF Elixir – 1st Place Bred & Owned Yearling Male Huacaya
CCNF Prestige – 1st Place Bred & Owned Yearling Female Huacaya
Green Mountain Alpaca Fall Spectacular, Essex, VT
CCNF Valencia – Reserve Champion Brown Female Huacaya
CCNF Agave – Reserve Champion Brown Male Huacaya
CCNF Wayfarer – Champion Fawn Male Huacaya
CCNF Elixir – Champion Light Male Huacaya
CCNF Prestige – Champion White Female Huacaya
CCNF Confectious – Reserve Champion White Female Huacaya
Snowmass Elite Legend – 1st Place Get of Sire
Cas-Cad-Nac Farm LLC – 1st Place Breeders Best 3 (Defiance, Elixir, Hyperion)
CCNF Valencia – 1st Place Brown Juvenile Female Huacaya
CCNF Agave – 1st Place Light Brown Yearling Male Huacaya
CCNF Wayfarer – 1st Place Fawn 2 Year Old+ Male Huacaya
CCNF Elixir – 1st Place Beige Yearling Male Huacaya
CCNF Defiance – 1st Place White Juvenile Huacaya
CCNF Prestige – 1st Place White Yearling Female Huacaya
CCNF Confectious – 1st Place White Yearling Female Huacaya
CCNF Elixir – 1st Place Bred & Owned Yearling Male Huacaya
CCNF Prestige – 1st Place Bred & Owned Yearling Female Huacaya
New England Fleece Classic, Essex, VT
CCNF Agave – Reserve Champion Brown Huacaya
CCNF Elixir – Champion Light Huacaya
CCNF Panamera – Reserve Champion Light Huacaya
Xanadu P Cadenza – Champion White Huacaya
CCNF Bellagio – Reserve Champion White Huacaya
CCNF Prestige – Best Crimp
CCNF Elixir – Best Brightness
Xanadu P Cadenza – Judges’ Choice Huacaya
Xanadu P Cadenza – Spirit of the Industry
CCNF Agave – 1st Place Light Brown Juvenile Huacaya
CCNF Ultraviolet – 1st Place Brown Yearling Huacaya
CCNF Wayfarer – 1st Place Dark Fawn 2 Year Old Huacaya
CCNF Elixir – 1st Place Beige Juvenile Huacaya
CCNF Invictus – 1st Place Beige Yearling Huacaya
CCNF Panamera – 1st Place Light 2 Year Old Huacaya
CCNF Arctic – 1st Place White Junior Juvenile Huacaya
CCNF Bellagio – 1st Place White Yearling Huacaya
CCNF Angel Mist – 1st Place White 2 Year Old Huacaya
Xanadu P Cadenza – 1st Place 3 to 5 Year Old Huacaya
CCNF Smoke Ring – 1st Place Rose Grey Yearling Huacaya
