August 27-30, 2026
BEND, OREGON
Thu 8/27
Day One — Thursday, August 27, 2026
Location: Flying Dutchman Alpacas, LLC • 66520 Gerking Market Rd, Bend, OR 97703
| 8:30 AM | Arrive — Continental Breakfast & Coffee available |
| 9:00 AM | Welcome: Scott & Debbie Miller (Crescent Moon Alpacas) and Amanda Vanden Bosch (Speakers for 2026 Education with a Destination) |
| 9:30 AM – 10:45 AM | Derik King, MD (Fiber Analytics) — Let’s measure it! Update on research and benchmarks, moving forward, new happenings, lots to report! |
| 10:45 AM – 11:15 AM | Karen Curtis — Alpacas and creating new markets, exciting happenings! |
| 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM | Fiber (Hands-On): Cathy Merkley, Canada (AOA Judge) — Get the best from alpacas: looking at grades and end use, sort, grade and determine end use for your fiber. Value added — win-win! |
| 12:45 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch |
| 1:30 PM – 2:20 PM | Bruno Franco, Peru — History of Arte Michell, tradition and cultural aspects, community, and Peru. News updates on 2027 International Fiesta in Peru. Join us and Quechua Benefit on the tour in October 2027 (see QR code for sign up). |
| 2:30 PM – 3:15 PM | Brian Barfield — Technology advances and use of AI and systems for shows, IFA, data collection, and fiber sales. |
| 3:30 PM – 4:45 PM | Cathy Merkley (AOA Judge), Derik King, & Amanda Vanden Bosch — Hands on Fleece, linking the traits. Let’s get down to really understanding the data and linking the visual and tactile qualities. |
| 5:00 PM | Travel to Cascades Academy (5 mins) for Quechua Benefit & Arte Michell Evening |
| 5:15 PM – 7:00 PM | Appetizers, Wine, and Cocktails (Traditional Peruvian Pisco) Evening Sponsored by Mazuri Feeds with gratitude |
Fri 8/28
Sat 8/29
Sun 8/30
Your Hosts…
Scott & Debbie Miller
Physical Address:
7566 N Hwy 97 Terrebonne, Oregon 97760
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 600 Terrebonne, OR 97760
Amanda VandenBosch
Address:
65485 Cline Falls Hwy
Bend, Oregon 97703