Amy Bliss-Miller

Amy Bliss-Miller came into the alpaca world in 1996 after an interest in learning more about various fibers led her to a large fiber fair near her home in Michigan. Big Oak Alpacas was formed in 2000 and her family has enjoyed the presence of alpacas in their lives ever since.

Amy has a Bachelors of Biological Science from Central Michigan University. She studied Herpetology on remote Beaver Island in Lake Michigan and Marine Biology at the University of Oregon’s Coos Bay Marine Station. She has experience in the breeding and hand-raising of parrots as a small side business and has always been surrounded by animals of all shapes and sizes. Amy and her husband Nathan have experience managing large alpaca farms in Ohio and New Jersey and now manage their small herd of huacayas in beautiful Gig Harbor Washington. When not judging, Amy enjoys practicing yoga and kayaking in the serene Puget Sound just blocks from her home. In the summertime, the family enjoys long weekly hikes in the Olympic or Cascades. She and Nathan have two young sons, Soren (14) and Lars (12).

Amy is entering her fourth full year of judging across the United States and Canada. She thoroughly enjoys having the opportunity to see how the suri and huacaya alpaca continue to improve and evolve through the diligent efforts of breeders. She firmly believes that shows should be fun and informative events for judge and exhibitor alike. She continues to expand her knowledge with yearly AOBA Judging Clinics,  and providing professional herd evaluation services to always “keep her hands in the fleece”.

Diana Timmerman

Diana was born in Germany and moved to Colorado when she was eight years of age and has remained in Colorado. After training and working as a Paralegal in both Corporate and Criminal law Diana and her husband, Tim, started Aussie Acres Alpacas in 1994. Alpacas became Diana's full-time business and she has never looked back at the corporate world. At the present time Diana and her husband Tim, maintain a small herd of Huacaya alpacas, specializing in exceptional gentics and seedstock.

In 2001, Diana received her certification as an AOBA Certified Halter, Performance and Fleece Judge for Huacayas and Suris. In 2004, she traveled to Peru to further her education by training with the International Alpaca Judging School and received her IAJS Judging Certification. Diana has over 14 years experience breeding and showing alpacas, along with over 25 years experience raising other breeds of livestock. Her love for alpacas and her commitment to fleece education was the inspiration that led to the purchase of The Alpaca Breeders Fiber School, LLC (ABFS). Diana does find time to spend with her husband Tim, her son Jeff and his finance Jenessa. Diana served on the Advisory Board for the Mid-America Alpaca Foundation, on The Board of Directors of The Alpaca Breeders of the Rockies, is a faculty member and owner of the Alpaca Breeders Fiber School, LLC and past leader of the Leading Llamas and Alpacas 4-H Club. She is a member of AOBA, ABR, IAJS Advisory Council and the Suri Network.