2012 Futurity Show Judges
Amanda Vandenbosch & Polly Michaelis
Amanda Vandenbosch
Amanda VandenBosch is a Senior AOBA Halter and Fleece Judge and an Alpaca Judge Trainer and Instructor in the United States. Amanda qualified as an International Alpaca Judge trained in Peru at the International Alpaca Judging School (IAJS ) in 2000. She has judged shows in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Germany and Switzerland, gaining an international perspective and true love for the art and science of alpaca judging.
Amanda travels worldwide judging alpacas, instructing, presenting seminars and workshops to breeders and judges. Her "hands on" approach is greatly sought after. Amanda worked with the British Alpaca Society (BAS) for 7 years developing the judge Training Program, and with the New Zealand Judge Training Program. She has been honored with regular appointments as an AOBA Senior Instructor and Judge Trainer in both Fleece and Halter in the USA.
Amanda has spent many hours volunteering over the years at AOBA National Conferences, and regional events, she has participated on numerous committees. She is past president of CALPACA a Regional Affiliate and is co -chair of the Judges Advisory Committee (JAC) . Amanda has had the opportunity to work with some of the world's leading experts in the study of alpacas. Amanda is a native of the United Kingdom. She travelled and worked for The National Stud (UK) Lindsay Park Stud (Australia) and Lanes End Farm (Kentucky, USA) the premier thoroughbred breeding operations worldwide. In 1991 she settled in the USA. For the last 18 years, Amanda has been involved with alpacas in all aspects. Amanda is also a co-author of the book "The Art & Science of Alpaca Judging" With her husband, Vince and two sons, Cody and Hunter, they operate Flying Dutchman Alpacas, in Bend OR, successfully raising both huacayas and suris.
Polly Michaelis
Polly entered the alpaca universe in 1996. She and her husband Ken created Finger Lakes Alpacas when they were lucky enough to relocate back to Central New York State from corporate occupations in Albany. In her former life Polly was a law librarian and she is currently the office manager at a veterinary clinic (which, of course, services alpacas).
Today, Finger Lakes Alpacas is home to approximately 50 Huacayas. Polly has spent hours, days and years volunteering at AOBA National Conferences, AOBA Affiliate Grant Committee, AOBA Nomination Committee, Empire Alpaca Association Board of Directors, Empire Nomination Committee and the Empire Alpaca Extravaganza and Symposium.
She is certified to judge halter, fleece and performance.