Fall 2022- Congratulations to Mary Miller of Aspen Alpacas on her purchase of FTAF Privateer. At age 10, Privateer is as handsome as ever and going strong. We are ever so grateful for what he has added to our herd over the years. He has blessed Rare Gem Alpacas and our clients with many amazing champions and foundation offspring. We will miss this sweet dispositioned boy, but happy that he is going to such a great home and program. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Privateer's offspring made their first show appearance March 2019. RG Privateer's First Mate took two 1 firsts and Grey Color Champion in both Halter (out of 17) and Walking Fleece (out of 33). RG Harley's Davidson took first of 13 in his Walking Fleece class and then Reserve Color Champion Walking Fleece (25 total). We can now add "Producer of Champions" to Privateer's list of fine qualities. Privateer’s grey, 3X color champion son sold at 2020 Amber Autumn Auction. Congratulations Jamey Haney on her purchase of this beautiful Privateer offspring. Privateer's 2017 skin biopsy at 5yrs old by Dr. Norm Evans shows a density of 71 follicles/sqmm. SP ratio is 12.1 to 1 with level 4 of 4 gland presence which correlates with what senior judges are referring to as “well-nourished fleeces”. Secondary fibers average 21.9 microns and primary fibers averaging 30.1 giving him a variation of only 8.2 microns. I greatly anticipated the arrival of this guy and he is all that I expected and more. He is out Crown Jewel of PVA and SHVN The Buccaneer (who passes on lingering fineness to his offspring), both of whom are multiple champion animals! What a powerhouse background this guy possesses, The Elite Maximus, Hemingway, Bobbie Ann on the dams side and Pot of Gold, Royal Inca Legend on his sire's side, no wonder he is such a gorgeous animal. Privateer is stunning. As you can see by his fleece, he possesses awesome structure and the brightness to his fleece is blinding. Take that with his gorgeous head and coverage everywhere and we are looking at a boy that will make an excellent herdsire! Privateer's fleece is that "elite" fleece with bundles everywhere and secondary bundles coming out of each bundle, even down to his knee and under his belly and on his chest. He also has dark skin which should allow him to pass color. He has placed well in the shows and has always been up against very tough competition. The animals that placed above him were always from very big farms. So that should tell you where this boys really stands in the line up of future herdsires. Privateer started his breeding career Fall 2016 and has thrown many champions and has champion grand-offspring as well. He tends to throw the color of the female— while significantly upgrading fleece characteristics. If you have a dam that you love the color of and want to look for improvements in AFD (fineness that lasts!), SD, density, crimp, brightness!

Tic Tac is the product of two top producing harlequins from the Kuska herd. She carries legendary appaloosa / harlequin genetics on both sides of her pedigree making it very possible that she is homozygous for the appy / harlequin trait. She has had three offspring-- all out of non-appaloosa / harlequin gene carriers. All three of Tic Tac's offspring have expressed-- one as classic appaloosa and two as lovely harlequin appaloosas. Tic Tac's blanket is spotless and her coloration is exquisite. She has spots on her belly and face... a classical harlequin pattern expression. Tic Tac is a large girl. She pushes 200 lbs when not pregnant. Although large, she is easy to handle and the most attentive mother. She has tons of milk and grows them big and healthy. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 2019: Tic Tac’s first offspring arrived— a beautiful appaloosa out of white male and 2X Judges Choice winner, Springtoo Skyfall. The cria has super bright, dense and bundles of zipper crimp fleece. Congratulations to Plateau Breeze Ranch on their purchase of this beautiful cria! 2021: Tic Tac’s second offspring arrived— a beautiful harlequin appaloosa— Rare Gem Just Smitten. He was born a big healthy 20 lbs. baby. His primary color is fawn which will develop into a lovely grey coloration. His legs, belly, muzzle and tail are full of well-defined black spots. After just a 330 day gestation, he was up, nursing and posing within minutes. This boy has presence galore! He thinks he is "all that" and I am just smitten with him. Will be repeating this breeding. 2022: Tic Tac's third cria has arrived... and she has done it again! Another beautiful harlequin appaloosa-- this time a female. Tic Tac gave birth to a big-bone, color-FULL 16 lbs. female on day 337 (11/19/22). As this is Tic Tac's third appaloosa in a row, we have named her Tic Tac's Hat Trick. 2024: We loved the result of Tic Tac's last two offspring sired by champion FTAF's Privateer, but he was purchased by Mary Miller of Aspen Alpacas. So... for Tic Tac's 2023 breeding, we paired her with our handsome male, Sriracha of Linden Hills. Sriracha is a beautifully conformed male with a very fine, elite fleece. Previously, Tic Tac was paired with Sriracha's sire, Springtoo Skyfall and produced a lovely appaloosa female. 2024 Update: It with a sad heart that we lost service sire, Sriracha of Linden Hills to a bowel torsion. Sriracha was such a sweet and beautiful, elite-fleeced alpaca. This breeding to Tic Tac will be our only offspring produced by Sriracha here on this farm... and on September 4, 2024... he and Tic Tac delivered! We welcome a beautiful, appaloosa female-- Rare Gem Cholula. Cholula has bundled of curls from day 1 and the sweet, calm disposition of both her parents. Thank you dear Sriracha for your legacy cria.