Written by Dawn in May 2022

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A couple weekends ago at the Great Western Alpaca Show and Rocky Mountain Alpaca Showdown held in Denver, Colorado, we witnessed the end of an era. Our beloved China Doll, a.k.a. Chi Chi, entered the show ring for her last appearance before she enters her second chapter, her breeding career. As a true professional, she ended on a high note, taking gray female color championships in both shows as well as the walking fleece and capturing the female huacaya Judge's Choice in the RMAS show. She is ending her illustrious show career as a 20x Color Champion and 4x Judge's Choice winner. After 2 1/2 years of showing her, I must admit this was a bittersweet end. So proud of what this girl has accomplished and so grateful and honored to have been the human at the end of her lead, but also knowing this would be the last time for the two of us in the show ring. Despite all of my efforts at training this young lady, it was always very clear that it was her ring and her show and we would do it her way. And for this girl, that was just fine with me.

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As we packed up to leave the show, I watched her walk out the door with another farm to go start her breeding career. While I know she is in the best of hands, and that our absence from one another is only for a few months, it was the first time in a long time that we headed home and she wasn't in our trailer. When she returns later this summer, we hope she comes home with a future "Chi Chi" in her belly, maybe even a new and improved one (if that's possible). It's been a great ride Chi Chi and all I can say is thank you a million times over! Alpacas have a way of getting into your heart but this girl has dug deep, She is a special one for sure! I have a feeling that this girl's greatness has only just begun.