The Suri Network strives to provide educational opportunities to its membership and the interested public. Listed below are several online Masterclasses presented for the benefit of our members. You may click on the links provided to view these presentations. 

On February 19th, 2026, the Suri Network held a Masterclass about the Suri Herd Improvement Program (SHIP). Have you wondered if a SHIP herd evaluation is worth your time and investment? Maybe you’ve considered enrolling but haven’t taken the next step. Or perhaps you tried SHIP once and did not fully see how to use the results.

This second session of the Suri Network Education Committee’s Masterclass series features a virtual panel discussion with Suri Network members who actively use SHIP and believe in its value.

You’ll hear from experienced breeders Bob Figular, Lisa Collura, Tim Sheets, and Bill Vonderhaar who will share:

• What is SHIP, why it matters, and how to get started.
  
• What are the results and how to interpret them.
  
• How to apply SHIP results in a breeding program.
  
• How to use SHIP herd evaluations when communicating with buyers.
  
• What they would tell their past selves if they were just starting out.

If you are new to SHIP, this will help you understand the big picture. If you are already in SHIP, this will help you get more value from the information you receive.
Attendees will be able to submit questions and hear candid, real-world answers from breeders who have been there and learned along the way.

Suri Network members can view the program by clicking below.
Suri Herd Improvement Program (SHIP) Masterclass

On September 11th, 2024, Joe Preston presented, "The Five Rules Of Marketing And Sales- Making The Most Of  Openherd".  Joe shared his insights on marketing and sales, along with how Openherd can be leveraged for maximum benefit. By following his 5 rules for marketing and sales and utilizing Openherd’s platform effectively, you can maximize your marketing efforts and drive sales for your business. Click below
The Five Rules of Marketing And Sales- Making The Most Out Of Openherd

On September 18th, 2024 , Kylie Munyard B. Sc. (Hons) PhD presented, "Want To Breed For A Specific Fleece Colour? Understand Your Animals' Colour Genetics". Dr. Munyard is an Associate Professor of Genomics & Bioinformatics, in a combined teaching and research role and is also the Director of Graduate Research in the Curtin Medical School at Curtin University. The focus of her research is alpaca color genetics, through the use of targeted and whole genome sequencing, transcriptomics and genome wide association studies combined with specialized phenotype analyses such as chemical analyses and spectrophotometry. Click below
"Want To Breed For A Specific Fleece Colour? Understand Your Animals' Colour Genetics".

September 25th, 2024, Nancy Lindemood and Liz Vahlkamp co-presented, "The Story Of Two Fiberpools- Lessons Learned and What To Consider".  In 2023, Nancy helped organize KAA’s first regional fiber pool project with a goal to produce high quality local alpaca socks, at a competitive cost and attractive project margin, while also educating members about fiber traits and processing.

Liz has been involved in collecting Suri fiber from producers for over 10 years to sell to commercial markets and with her experience in 2023 she organized a fiber pool to allow Suri growers to offer commercial products, made from their own fiber, in their farm stores.

"The Story Of Two Fiberpools- Lessons Learned and What To Consider"