April 27 & 28, 2024
Fiber arts classes are filling up. Sign up here.
Photo of the Alliant Energy Center Coliseum taken by Beth Skogen at a past Great Midwest Alpaca Festival.
One weekend, two halter shows
and a walking fleece show
The Great Midwest Alpaca Festival &
the Wisconsin Alpaca & Fiber Fest
Alliant Energy Center, New Holland Pavilion 1
Madison, Wisconsin
April 27 & 28, 2024
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More than 300 alpacas will compete in the combined Great Midwest Alpaca Festival (GMAF) and the Wisconsin Alpaca & Fiber Fest (WisAFF) April 27 & 28, 2024. The two halter shows and walking fleece show return this spring to Madison’s Alliant Energy Center for a fun and competitive two-show weekend.
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There will be two Alpaca Owners Association-certified shows running simultaneously. This double header format allows exhibitors to have their breeding program evaluated by two different judges.
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A collaboration between the Great Lakes Alpaca Association and The Great Midwest Alpaca Festival, the weekend offers something for everyone. There will be fiber arts contests, fiber classes, and seminars for those interested in learning more about alpacas. More than 50 vendors will offer yarn, roving, fiber equipment, and alpaca-themed items for sale as well as soaps, baskets and other hand-crafted items. The weekend is free and open to the public. Parking is $8.
2024 Show Schedule
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Friday, April 26, 2024 (Breeders & Vendors)​
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Noon-6 p.m. – Exhibitor Check-in, Vet Check & Color Check
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Noon-6 p.m. – Vendor setup
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4-8 p.m. – Breeders' Meet and Greet
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6 p.m. – Judges' Color Verification
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6:15 p.m. – Exhibitor Meeting
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9 p.m. – Doors close for the day
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Saturday, April 27, 2024
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7 a.m. – Doors open to breeders and vendors
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8 a.m. – Judging begins
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8 a.m. – Doors open to public
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8 a.m.-5 p.m. – Vendor area open
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8:30-10:00 a.m. – "Alpaca Health and Nutrition,"
Dr. Raul Landeo. Free -
9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. – "Just Weave: An Introduction
to Weaving," Nancy Wilson, Laurie Thalacker
and Mark Aycock. Class fee: $95 -
9-10:30 a.m. – "Wet Felted Soaps," Bethanea
Kottwitz. Class fee: $20 -
10:30 a.m.-noon – "How Sorting Maximizes your
Fleece Production," Georgia Meyer. Free -
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – "Penny Mat Gnome," Bethanea
Kottwitz, Class fee: $20 -
12:30 p.m. – "Parasites, Good Practices
and Prevention," Dr. Don Bliss. Free -
1-2:30 p.m. – "Wet Felted Geodes Soap," Bethanea
Kottwitz. Class fee: $20 -
2:30-4 p.m. – "Fiber Processing: Putting (and Keeping)
Money in Your Pocket," Jessie and Dirk Monson of the
Yarn Factory. Free -
5 p.m. – Judging concludes for the day and doors
close to the public. -
6 p.m. – Happy Hour, dinner and fashion show
for breeders -
9 p.m. – Doors close for the day
​Sunday, April 28, 2024
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7 a.m. – Doors open to breeders and vendors
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8 a.m. – Judging resumes
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8 a.m. – Doors open to public
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8 a.m.-3 p.m. – Vendor area open
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8:00-9:30 a.m. – "The Wonderful World of Alpaca
Yarn," Rachel Boucher. Free -
9-10:30 a.m. – "Drop Spindle Class" CLASS FULL
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10-11:30 a.m. – "Alpaca 101: From Start up to
Championships," Kevin Stoer. Free -
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – "Needle Felted Gnomes,"
Bethanea and Karen Kottwitz. Class fee: $20 -
1-3 p.m. – "Wet Felted Soap," Bethanea Kottwitz
Class fee: $20 -
3 p.m. – Show concludes
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New Holland Pavilion 1
The combined Wisconsin Alpaca and Fiber Fest and The Great Midwest Alpaca Festival is held at the New Holland Pavilion 1 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. The 90,000-square-foot heated facility easily houses two show rings and more than 50 vendors under one roof.
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Judges
WisAFF Halter Judge: Jude Anderson
WisAFF Walking Fleece Judge: Laurel Shouvlin
GMAF Halter Judge: Jacob Hart
Show Superintendents
Halter Show Superintendent: Elizabeth Bernard
Walking Fleece Show Superintendent: Mary Curtis
Dinner and Fashion Show
Saturday, April 27
Happy Hour at 5:30 p.m., Dinner at 6 p.m., followed by Fashion Show
MENU
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Romaine salad with tomato, olive, red onion, parmesan and lemon basil vinaigrette dressing
Meatloaf with mushroom demi-glace
Smokehouse barbeque bone-in chicken with natural jus
Buttery mashed potato
Steamed broccoli, cauliflower and carrots
Potato rolls and butter
House-made gourmet cookies
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Cost is $35/person (click HERE for tickets)
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Thanks to Glengary Farm Alpacas/Andean Group LLC for sponsoring Happy Hour!
The fashion show will feature alpaca clothing from
Everything Alpaca and The Alpaca Guy.
Hotel Information
The last weekend in April is a busy weekend in Madison so you're advised to make your hotel reservations early.
Clarion Suites at the Alliant Energy Center is the host hotel. Use this link to make reservations online and receive the show discount. Call 608-284-1234 or 608-284-9401 to make a reservation. Ask for the Alpaca and Fiber Festival rooms to receive a discounted rate. The Clarion will offer a cold breakfast beginning at 6 a.m. followed by a hot breakfast buffet at 6:30 a.m.
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A second host hotel is Hotel Indigo Madison Downtown, 901 E. Washington Ave., Madison. Click here to make reservations. Deadline for the discount is April 12. Rooms are $199/night.
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Home2 Suites Madison Central will also be serving as a host hotel. You may call the hotel directly or the Hilton reservations line (800-445-8667) to make reservations by mentioning the WI Alpaca and Fiber Festival or group code 90D. You can also book online here. Rooms are $179/night and there is no deposit due at the time of booking. There is a 48-hour cancellation policy. The discount is good through April 2.
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A list of other nearby accommodations can be found here.
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Contact the Alliant Energy Center to reserve a campsite or an RV hook-up.
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COVID-19: The show will comply with any applicable COVID recommendations at the time of the show.
Show Board of Directors
Margery Morack, Greenbriar Farm, President and Sponsor Coordinator
Marcus Skildum, Mesa Trail Alpacas, Vice President & Show Manager
Jan Clingman, Lodi Alpacas at Whistling Valley Farm, Treasurer
Mark Shillcox, Shillcox Shamrock Lines, Secretary & Seminar Coordinator
Lynne Johnson, Sauk Creek Alpacas, Webmaster/Publicity
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GLAA Board of Directors
Kevin Stoer, Londondairy Alpacas, President
Elden Harms, Token Creek Alpacas, Vice President
Chris Rogers, Whisper Meadows Alpacas, Secretary
Jan Clingman, Lodi Alpacas at Whistling Valley Farm, Treasurer
Margery Morack, Greenbriar Farm, Member at Large
Show Volunteers
Jerry & Wendy Campbell, Justorian Alpacas, Barn Managers
Kathy Nauta, Five Oaks Farm, Registrar
Becky McMillan, Magic Willows Alpacas, Vendor Coordinator
Steven and Sandy Clemons, Double S Alpaca, Volunteer Coordinators
Elden Harms, Token Creek Alpacas, Chair, Ad Hoc Committee
Mindy Huitt, Galpaca Farm, Silent Auction Coordinator
Raul Landeo, Hillsboro Alpaca Ranch, Veterinarian
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ABOUT
WisAFF & GLAA
The Great Midwest Alpaca Festival (doing business as the Wisconsin Alpaca & Fiber Fest) is a nonprofit association registered in the state of Wisconsin.
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I agree to hold harmless the Alliant Energy Center, Dane County, and the Great Midwest Alpaca Festival Board of Directors and committee members as well as the Great Lakes Alpaca Association Board of Directors from any damage or loss, or liability of any kind whatsoever.
Directions
The Alliant Energy Center is located at the gateway to downtown Madison, WI, just off the Beltline (Hwy 12 & 18), on John Nolan Drive. It is just five minutes from Interstate 90/94 via Hwy 12 & 18, minutes from the Wisconsin State Capitol, Madison’s State Street area, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and 15 minutes from the Dane County Airport.
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The Alliant Energy Center is situated near three major metro areas – 250 miles from Minneapolis, MN, 145 miles from Chicago, IL, and 75 miles from Milwaukee, WI.
From Chicago (South)
I-90 to exit 142A, west on Hwy. 12/18, 5 miles to Rimrock Rd. exit 262
From Green Bay (North)
I-90 to exit 142A, west on Hwy. 12/18, 5 miles to Rimrock Rd. exit 262
From Milwaukee (East)
I-94 West, I-90 South to exit 142A, west on Hwy. 12/18 to Rimrock Rd. exit 262
From Minneapolis (West)
I-90 South to exit 142A, west on Hwy. 12/18 to Rimrock Rd. exit 262
From Des Moines (South)
I-80 East to I-380 North, north on Hwy. 151 to Hwy. 12/18E, exit at Rimrock Rd. exit 262
Entrances
There are four entrances to the Center: the Main Gate from Rimrock Road on the Southeast; the Nolan Gate from John Nolen Drive on the East; the Olin Gate from Olin Avenue on the North; and the Rusk Gate from Rusk Avenue on the South.
All show activities will be located in the New Holland Pavilion 1, a new addition to the Alliant Energy Center Campus. To reach the New Holland Pavilion 1, use either the John Nolan or Main Entrance.
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