0:00:02 > 0:00:05Across the country, thousands of farming families work
0:00:05 > 0:00:07tirelessly around the clock.
0:00:07 > 0:00:09Urgh!
0:00:09 > 0:00:10Stop arguing, girls!
0:00:10 > 0:00:11Give over.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14SHE WHISTLES
0:00:14 > 0:00:16But there's one day each year...
0:00:16 > 0:00:17Ay!
0:00:17 > 0:00:20..when they get to leave the daily routine behind.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23Right, here we come, Dorset.
0:00:23 > 0:00:24These are show days...
0:00:24 > 0:00:27A very, very warm welcome to the show.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29..when they come together as a community...
0:00:29 > 0:00:30APPLAUSE
0:00:30 > 0:00:33..to showcase the fruits of their labour...
0:00:33 > 0:00:36I just love showing my girls off.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40..and try to win prizes for their breed champions...
0:00:40 > 0:00:41Smashed it.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43..and award-winning produce.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45That's really nice cheese, that.
0:00:47 > 0:00:49It was very good, darling.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51There will be highs...
0:00:51 > 0:00:53That's what we want to see - red. Red is the best.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55..and lows...
0:00:55 > 0:00:57She's not happy enough to go.
0:00:57 > 0:01:01..for the dedicated farmers who give everything to walk away a champion.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05Fingers crossed!
0:01:10 > 0:01:12Over the last ten years,
0:01:12 > 0:01:17a new type of livestock has started appearing on the fields of Britain.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19More pet-like than anything,
0:01:19 > 0:01:23the gentle woolly South American alpaca have made a huge impact on
0:01:23 > 0:01:25the farming landscape.
0:01:26 > 0:01:30Today, we're meeting two families who started farming later in life,
0:01:30 > 0:01:34but are at the forefront of this next big thing.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42Jean McDonald and Stuart Ramsey and Barbara and Paul Hetherington are
0:01:42 > 0:01:45getting ready to show their prize animals at this year's
0:01:45 > 0:01:47Westmoreland Country Show.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51They may be new to the farming game, but their hopes are high.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53Come on then. Come on.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04The wild rolling hills of the Eden Valley in Cumbria have traditionally
0:02:04 > 0:02:06been sheep farming territory.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10But Barbara is changing all that...
0:02:10 > 0:02:1122.
0:02:11 > 0:02:14Come here. Come on, good girl.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17..with some help from her engineer husband Paul.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20We'll just close him in, if you could, please, Paul.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23For them, it all started with an exotic trip.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30We went out on holiday to Peru, where we saw some alpacas,
0:02:30 > 0:02:34so we came home and we thought, "Hmm, we've got quite a few acres.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38"We'll maybe get an alpaca or two."
0:02:38 > 0:02:41So they bought four alpacas as pets
0:02:41 > 0:02:44and, from the day they arrived, Barbara has been smitten.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47I think there's very few people who own alpacas
0:02:47 > 0:02:49who don't become addicted.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52They've got such individual personalities
0:02:52 > 0:02:54and become very trusting,
0:02:54 > 0:02:56but you have to earn that trust
0:02:56 > 0:02:58and I think that's what makes them quite exciting.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03Are you sunbathing?
0:03:03 > 0:03:05You're so friendly, aren't you?
0:03:05 > 0:03:07Good girl. There.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14Barbara was so taken by them that she quit her job as a nurse
0:03:14 > 0:03:17and decided to set up an alpaca farm.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19Come on, girl!
0:03:19 > 0:03:21To the amazement of her husband,
0:03:21 > 0:03:26eight years on, Barbara now has 180 of them.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30I didn't see it as the business going as big as it has done.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33All credit to Barbara, she's done very well.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35Come on. There we go.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38And as her three children have now grown up and left home,
0:03:38 > 0:03:42she regards her charges as her extended family.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45I know each and every animal.
0:03:45 > 0:03:50A white alpaca with a tiny touch of black around its eye or something.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54Yeah, they are not alike to me.
0:04:01 > 0:04:05Just 85 miles north, in the Scottish Borders,
0:04:05 > 0:04:09there's a smaller alpaca farm with much the same love story.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13No, that's not yours.
0:04:13 > 0:04:17When Jean McDonald retired after 42 years as a pharmacist,
0:04:17 > 0:04:20she was on the lookout for a new challenge
0:04:20 > 0:04:24and, while visiting a country show, she found just that.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27Husband Stuart, who runs a water treatment plant,
0:04:27 > 0:04:29was happy to support her dream.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34We fell into alpacas by accident.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38Basically, they had a package of four boys they were selling
0:04:38 > 0:04:40and I bought them - or we bought them.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45They already had a few acres of land,
0:04:45 > 0:04:48which became home to their new additions.
0:04:49 > 0:04:53And, in the space of five years, Jean has gone from four alpacas...
0:04:54 > 0:04:57..to a herd of 26.
0:04:57 > 0:05:01We got four, then we got another two and it just kind of snowballed.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03Then we got some girls and then we thought,
0:05:03 > 0:05:06"Well, maybe we should start breeding."
0:05:06 > 0:05:08And, since then, things have just grown.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14But, for both families,
0:05:14 > 0:05:18the big challenge now is how to make their living out of their livestock.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22They have only been farmed in the UK for two decades,
0:05:22 > 0:05:24even though their magnificent wool
0:05:24 > 0:05:28has been prized for thousands of years.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32However, centuries of breeding with other species, such as llamas,
0:05:32 > 0:05:35means that their wool is no longer as perfect as it once was.
0:05:37 > 0:05:42But if you can breed a pure alpaca, it can fetch up to £30,000.
0:05:46 > 0:05:47So, back in Cumbria,
0:05:47 > 0:05:52Barbara works hard to manage her breeding programme.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54Put your ears forward.
0:05:54 > 0:05:56A perfect alpaca is so valued that
0:05:56 > 0:06:00she buys in premium males from around the world.
0:06:02 > 0:06:03This is Samurai, he's a stud male.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05We just brought him in from New Zealand.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08He arrived in May.
0:06:08 > 0:06:12He's about to be mated with their female - Snooty-Boots.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14Skipping there.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19- OK.- Just catch you up.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22Where are you? There you are. Hello. Marvellous.
0:06:24 > 0:06:25The male's cry...
0:06:25 > 0:06:27ALPACAS CRY
0:06:27 > 0:06:29..will help the female to produce eggs.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33When you buy a breeding alpaca from the other side of the world,
0:06:33 > 0:06:35expectations are high.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38We usually just let the boys stay for about ten minutes,
0:06:38 > 0:06:41ten to 12 minutes, and then we'll take him back to his paddock.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50Come on, good boy. That's enough.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58All they can do now is cross their fingers and hope for the best.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11Aside from the breeding,
0:07:11 > 0:07:13the other big chore is to look after the babies,
0:07:13 > 0:07:15or cria as they are known,
0:07:15 > 0:07:18but this former nurse revels in it.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22We weigh every day for the first week.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24Very important, that first weighing,
0:07:24 > 0:07:26because we need to make sure that the cria
0:07:26 > 0:07:28has had its colostrum from its mum.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33This one was born at 2.15 yesterday.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37A little girl. She was 8.1 when we weighed her when she was dry.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43She's... It's got plenty of life, hasn't she?
0:07:43 > 0:07:46It has. 8.2 I'm going to say.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50She's put on 100g, that's fine, just overnight.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52So delighted this is a little girl.
0:07:52 > 0:07:56It's the third girl in a row for Anaria.
0:07:56 > 0:08:00And, again, one of our star lines.
0:08:00 > 0:08:05Her last three cria have all been champions.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07Come on, good girl.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09The new-borns are very demanding
0:08:09 > 0:08:13and thankfully Paul is around at the moment to step in to help.
0:08:13 > 0:08:17Come on. This is Hip-hop, who we are bottle-feeding.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20We are using full fat goat's milk,
0:08:20 > 0:08:24which is the closest thing you can sort of get to alpaca milk.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27Normally, after we have bottle fed them a couple of times,
0:08:27 > 0:08:30they'll go to their mothers looking for milk,
0:08:30 > 0:08:33but Hip-hop never kind of got that relationship with her mum.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36So we're having to bottle feed her now.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41And the aim of all this hard work is to breed
0:08:41 > 0:08:44more champions like this one.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47This is Beck Brow Explorer,
0:08:47 > 0:08:50he's actually the boy who's made our business what it is today.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53He's the sire of many, many champions.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56Done us proud.
0:08:56 > 0:09:00Barbara's horde of prizes show she's already on the right track
0:09:00 > 0:09:03and hopes are high for this year's show.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15Two hours to the north,
0:09:15 > 0:09:18Jean and Stuart are also grappling with this passionate hobby that has
0:09:18 > 0:09:20grown into a business.
0:09:22 > 0:09:2626 alpacas cost a lot to feed and care for.
0:09:27 > 0:09:28To help fund the farm,
0:09:28 > 0:09:33they've decided to design their own alpaca wool products.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36Processed fleece, it has the quality of cashmere, so it's very,
0:09:36 > 0:09:40very soft to touch, but it's harder wearing.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43But setting up a fashion label is not as easy as it sounds.
0:09:43 > 0:09:49Realistically, you get a scarf made up, you've got to be charging £150.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51It's a lot of money.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53I'm sure down in London it would go like that,
0:09:53 > 0:09:56but up here in the Borders it's a bit more difficult.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58Determined to succeed,
0:09:58 > 0:10:01Stuart's turned to other ideas of what to do with their livestock.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05There is a meat market, which is just starting out.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10The top restaurants are looking for alpaca.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13But there's one slight hitch...
0:10:13 > 0:10:16- I'm a vegetarian.- A vegetarian and I wouldn't be here I think,
0:10:16 > 0:10:18if I did eat it, so...
0:10:22 > 0:10:25The need to diversify to survive on the farm
0:10:25 > 0:10:28inspired one very left of field idea.
0:10:30 > 0:10:34Stuart and Jean soon found there was quite a demand for alpacas to be
0:10:34 > 0:10:38ring bearers on people's special days.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44We had these lovely alpacas in these pictures from the day I got married.
0:10:44 > 0:10:46- That's brilliant, though. - That's a really good one.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50- Yeah.- They just lifted the mood as well because of the rain, like...
0:10:50 > 0:10:53- That's a nice...- That's a lovely one.- That's a lovely shot as well.
0:10:53 > 0:10:54- That's a lovely picture.- Yeah.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56I mean, you can see, really, from Mark's face...
0:10:56 > 0:11:00- Yeah...- ..and my face, like, we just loved every moment
0:11:00 > 0:11:02and they are really friendly and gentle as well
0:11:02 > 0:11:05- when you're feeding them the carrots.- Yeah.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07- Fantastic.- Much appreciated.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09Thank you.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14Hiring out for weddings made them think differently
0:11:14 > 0:11:18about their alpacas and they soon hit upon another big idea.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20Right, if you just want to come through.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22Jean and Stuart have started to
0:11:22 > 0:11:26take alpaca treks through the beautiful Scottish Borders.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30Right, we've got a selection of alpacas here to choose from.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33Bendrago is the fawn one. He's a lovely boy.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36I always say to people when they come, you know,
0:11:36 > 0:11:38"What made you want to come and do an alpaca trek?"
0:11:38 > 0:11:44And invariably about 98% of people say, "I love alpacas."
0:11:44 > 0:11:48But even these gentle creatures have a touchy side.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50They can kick, they don't kick very often,
0:11:50 > 0:11:53so just don't touch them on the bottom...
0:11:53 > 0:11:58and don't let one boy sniff the other one on the bottom in front -
0:11:58 > 0:12:01or else the leg will come out.
0:12:01 > 0:12:05With warnings in place, the trek heads off up the hillside.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07Everybody OK?
0:12:10 > 0:12:13We are here for a vacation and we have alpacas at home,
0:12:13 > 0:12:18that's why we've said, "Let's go on an alpaca trek in Scotland," right?
0:12:20 > 0:12:23But after the steep climb, everyone needs a break.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28Ginger ninjas.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30Three years he's been up there.
0:12:41 > 0:12:46Once back down, it's time for a few well-earned carrots...
0:12:46 > 0:12:48and Jean's party piece.
0:12:51 > 0:12:52So gentle.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55Although it's not as easy as it looks.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57LAUGHTER
0:12:58 > 0:13:02It was great. It's something that I never imagined I would do.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04And he was well-behaved.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08Jean is working hard to build her farm.
0:13:10 > 0:13:14But the main aim is still to breed award-winning alpacas.
0:13:23 > 0:13:28Back in Cumbria, Barbara's countdown to the show is on.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32She can't take 180 alpacas with her, so it's decision time.
0:13:32 > 0:13:34Come on, girls!
0:13:34 > 0:13:37Come on!
0:13:37 > 0:13:40I don't think there would be an alpaca industry at this point
0:13:40 > 0:13:43without shows. At the moment,
0:13:43 > 0:13:46the prices the alpacas fetch are really based on how well
0:13:46 > 0:13:49they're doing in the show ring.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52We like to try and win.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56One of the main reasons I like to show is it feels like you're getting
0:13:56 > 0:13:59approval that you're making the right breeding decisions.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02The shows are getting more and more competitive,
0:14:02 > 0:14:05so it's more and more difficult to win the top prizes.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10Top champions can earn thousands as breeders,
0:14:10 > 0:14:12but who will they take?
0:14:17 > 0:14:20Alpacas come in 22 shades.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22There are black, brown,
0:14:22 > 0:14:25grey and all the whites.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28Some are big, others are small.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31Some are even shaggy.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35The perfect alpaca probably doesn't exist.
0:14:35 > 0:14:36Lots of us will think we have it,
0:14:36 > 0:14:40but there's always something to improve upon.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44Never know where you're going to find a cat. Come on.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46After months of careful consideration
0:14:46 > 0:14:51and a final good look round, Barbara has her show team.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54She selected a good range of colours and ages,
0:14:54 > 0:14:57but some of these girls are still pretty new to performing in public.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01They're doing OK, these three girls,
0:15:01 > 0:15:03but they're not any of our champions.
0:15:03 > 0:15:08We're just taking some different females to see how they do.
0:15:08 > 0:15:12- Come on.- With help from friend and fellow alpaca keeper Kim,
0:15:12 > 0:15:15Barbara's also chosen the boys she wants to take to the show.
0:15:15 > 0:15:17In you go.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21And there's one she is particularly hopeful about.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24The brown boy is On The Money.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27That's probably my best hope and we're hoping we'll get the
0:15:27 > 0:15:29Brown Championship Male with him.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33You shouldn't count your chickens, but he's done well in the past.
0:15:34 > 0:15:39Now all Barbara can do is hope she's made the right decisions.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41Come on, boys.
0:15:41 > 0:15:45You can only do your best. So, yeah, we're always a little nervous.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49Paul is there to support, but leaves it all to her.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51When it comes to the alpacas, Barbara's the boss.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53Come on!
0:15:53 > 0:15:55She's very, very good.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00She was a sister in an intensive care unit, so she had a very,
0:16:00 > 0:16:02very good job, a very responsible job.
0:16:02 > 0:16:07To give all that up to breed alpacas was definitely a gamble,
0:16:07 > 0:16:11but it's one that has paid off and now we're doing very well.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13She's got a very successful business.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21Much like Barbara, back in Scotland,
0:16:21 > 0:16:23Jean and Stuart are also getting ready.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30No, no, no, no.
0:16:30 > 0:16:35The most important thing to do is to get the alpacas used to being on a
0:16:35 > 0:16:38halter so they can be led around the show ring.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43And Hejira's a bit rusty.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46Maybe we should have done a bit of practising!
0:16:48 > 0:16:50Hey? Yes.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55Despite their herd being small,
0:16:55 > 0:16:58Jean and Stuart's alpacas have already won prizes
0:16:58 > 0:17:01at shows up and down the country.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03Good girl.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06For a small breeder, the shows have been very successful for us.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09I think we've been punching a little bit above our weight, really.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12We've just been really lucky with our breeding
0:17:12 > 0:17:14decisions have paid off.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17We are getting firsts and seconds and champions.
0:17:21 > 0:17:24As their farm has been well represented on the show scene,
0:17:24 > 0:17:28Jean and Stuart have been up against Paul and Barbara before
0:17:28 > 0:17:33and, in tomorrow's show, they will have an alpaca in the same category.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35Two of our alpacas are in competition with Barbara.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38- They are in the same class.- They are in the same class as Barbara's.
0:17:38 > 0:17:39As one of Barbara's, yeah.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42So we've only been up against them once and got beaten,
0:17:42 > 0:17:44but we'll see what happens in the second fleece,
0:17:44 > 0:17:48but I think I'll put my money on them, but don't tell them!
0:17:48 > 0:17:51We'll definitely win!
0:17:51 > 0:17:53- OK.- That's a joke, by the way!
0:17:56 > 0:17:59But there's a lot to do before the competition begins.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06Stuart still needs to gather these potential winners
0:18:06 > 0:18:08and their son Kieran is on hand to help.
0:18:22 > 0:18:26Come on, Caolila. Come on, my darling. Clever girl.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28And Jean is worried one of their best chances
0:18:28 > 0:18:32may be kicked out because she will be deemed the wrong colour.
0:18:35 > 0:18:41We have one which we're taking as a grey female,
0:18:41 > 0:18:46but we're not sure that she'll be passed as a grey female.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52If she isn't passed as grey,
0:18:52 > 0:18:55she could be disqualified or moved into a different category,
0:18:55 > 0:18:59leaving them with only two in the competition.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03Hejira! My goodness, you are being grumpy.
0:19:05 > 0:19:09Thankfully, one thing neither family will have to worry about is a huge
0:19:09 > 0:19:13amount of grooming to get these woolly bundles a prize at the show.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18It's absolutely against the rules to shampoo.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22If you shampoo the alpaca, then you will be disqualified from the ring.
0:19:23 > 0:19:28We can trim the top knots here and the main reason for that is so that
0:19:28 > 0:19:31they can see, cos sometimes the fleece does grow over their eyes,
0:19:31 > 0:19:34but she's fine. If there's anything dirty under the tail,
0:19:34 > 0:19:36we can cut that away, but other than that
0:19:36 > 0:19:41she has to go to the show however she turns up that morning!
0:19:50 > 0:19:54It's finally time for both families to head off to the show.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57All year round they've been building up to this day.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01Right. Come on. In you go.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04Barbara and Kim get the females on first.
0:20:04 > 0:20:06Well done!
0:20:06 > 0:20:08They have to separate them from the males,
0:20:08 > 0:20:10so they remain calm on the journey.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14Two down. Good boys, well done.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16Now her boys are loaded up.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19Come on.
0:20:19 > 0:20:21Come on, darlings. Good girl.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24All loaded and they're off.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27Next stop, the Westmorland Show.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45The Westmorland County Show is beginning to stir.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48At over 200 years old,
0:20:48 > 0:20:50it is one of the longest running
0:20:50 > 0:20:52and biggest one-day shows in the country
0:20:52 > 0:20:56and a huge event for the UK alpaca community.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08As dawn breaks, the alpaca tent is already a hive of activity.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15Jean is feeding her animals and there is much to be done.
0:21:15 > 0:21:22I must get their numbers sorted out and get them eventually put on them.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24I then have to think about...
0:21:24 > 0:21:28I have to get the catalogue to see where we are in the running order.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32Nice to see you, Caroline!
0:21:32 > 0:21:37As well as showing, Barbara is also today's chief steward...
0:21:37 > 0:21:39She's entered in mid-fawn.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41Yes. Thank you.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44..while Stuart will be helping to run the ring.
0:21:44 > 0:21:48- Good morning.- This means he has to check all the alpacas in.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50586.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52Yeah, solid beige.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54717.
0:21:56 > 0:22:01Around 35,000 alpacas are registered in the UK.
0:22:01 > 0:22:07- Yes, that's fine.- Though, thankfully, not all are here today.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09I think there's about 85, 90,
0:22:09 > 0:22:13so we've got to get it done within the next 45 minutes.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16So it's a little bit hectic this morning, but it always is.
0:22:19 > 0:22:24Today's judges are Jay Holland, who is training up Jo Bridge.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28To become an alpaca judge under the British Alpaca Society,
0:22:28 > 0:22:29we're required to go through a series of courses
0:22:29 > 0:22:31and it takes us at least four years
0:22:31 > 0:22:34and six apprenticeships before we qualify.
0:22:35 > 0:22:39You have to be around alpacas to really get into alpacas.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42They're calming, they take the stress away from life.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45Everything has to be done at their pace.
0:22:45 > 0:22:47I'm an insurance broker that had a midlife crisis
0:22:47 > 0:22:50and went into alpacas, what do you want to know?
0:22:53 > 0:22:56With the first judging rounds approaching,
0:22:56 > 0:22:59the big challenge of the day is to make sure all the alpacas
0:22:59 > 0:23:02are in their correct colour category.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08So out comes the colour chart.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10See the light, do you want the judge to check it
0:23:10 > 0:23:14- because the light in here is pretty bad?- Yeah, that's fine.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17But the overcast weather is making the tent dark,
0:23:17 > 0:23:23so the alpacas have to be taken outside to check their colour.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25He's a light brown.
0:23:25 > 0:23:29- He is. Brown. - Light brown.- Brown.- OK.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31It was close.
0:23:34 > 0:23:39Jean's big worry is her alpaca Mischief Maker.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41She wants her to be accepted as grey,
0:23:41 > 0:23:45but the dim light means the stewards haven't been able to agree
0:23:45 > 0:23:47on what colour she is.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51So a steward takes her out into the light to be assessed.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00Oh, are you all right, sir?
0:24:03 > 0:24:05I can't see any black in there.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07He's got very dark skin.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10They've got no black fibres, no brown fibres.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13Lights.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17Decision is made.
0:24:17 > 0:24:21Mischief Maker can't compete in today's grey category.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23She will have to go into the whites.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31We won't actually take her in the ring in the light class because we
0:24:31 > 0:24:36already have two females in the light female class,
0:24:36 > 0:24:42and she probably wouldn't do particularly well in the light class
0:24:42 > 0:24:45because our other girls are so much better than her.
0:24:47 > 0:24:49But you just have to live with these things.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51You just accept them.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53That's the rule, so you just accept the rules.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58OK, I think we're nearly ready to go.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03As competition time approaches,
0:25:03 > 0:25:05the show is officially opened to the public.
0:25:07 > 0:25:11Over the next few hours, around 30,000 people will get a true taste
0:25:11 > 0:25:13of the countryside and its industry.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15Is it nine o'clock yet?
0:25:15 > 0:25:19Yes. Have we got a mic anywhere?
0:25:19 > 0:25:22Despite the ominous skies, Barbara, as chief steward,
0:25:22 > 0:25:25still needs to address the alpaca owners.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30Good morning and welcome to sunny Westmorland Show.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34I'm going to hand over to Mr Jay Holland,
0:25:34 > 0:25:40who is our judge for today and he's being apprenticed by Mrs Jo Bridge.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43- Thank you.- Good morning, everybody.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46Thank you for coming. Thank you for inviting Jo and myself here to judge
0:25:46 > 0:25:49the alpacas today.
0:25:49 > 0:25:51We've got the ring steward, who is about somewhere.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54I think Stuart is ring steward with us here today,
0:25:54 > 0:25:57so he's going to be your best friend in the ring for the entire day,
0:25:57 > 0:25:58as opposed to Jo and I,
0:25:58 > 0:26:02who are probably going to be your worst enemies.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05Thank you all very much again and we'll see you in the ring.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13Finally, they are ready.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16But just as the alpaca owners are getting set for the first category,
0:26:16 > 0:26:19the Great British weather decides to work its magic.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25And a classes start as the heavens open.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28Well, the weather hasn't been very kind to us.
0:26:28 > 0:26:30The rain is quite persistent here.
0:26:31 > 0:26:35This rain couldn't have happened at a worse time.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38You can't show them out there in this
0:26:38 > 0:26:42because they get soaking wet and the judge can't see the proper qualities
0:26:42 > 0:26:46of the fleece because it just becomes a soggy mess.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51So, after all their preparations,
0:26:51 > 0:26:54there's a chance the farmers won't be able to show at all.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59We're going to give it another half hour or so,
0:26:59 > 0:27:01hope the weather picks up,
0:27:01 > 0:27:04it's forecast to, and we'll just start a little late.
0:27:07 > 0:27:11But the rain does anything but let up, and just gets heavier...
0:27:12 > 0:27:14..and heavier.
0:27:14 > 0:27:18It's a bit wet for everyone, isn't it?
0:27:18 > 0:27:20Yes, it's too wet. We'll start inside.
0:27:20 > 0:27:21They're only small classes.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24So, this is going to be the collecting ring just here.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27Barbara's putting a plan in place.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29The rain is just getting worse.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31We've got a lot of alpacas to judge,
0:27:31 > 0:27:33so were going to do the first classes of grey and black
0:27:33 > 0:27:35inside the tent.
0:27:37 > 0:27:41But the next problem is the judges will need as much light as possible
0:27:41 > 0:27:43to examine the fleece.
0:27:43 > 0:27:45She also has an idea for this.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47Any helpers, please?!
0:27:47 > 0:27:50Just to take the tent sides down, thank you.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53So it's all hands to the pumps.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56We're going to put the show ring at this end of the tent,
0:27:56 > 0:27:59at least for the first few classes, while the rain is so hard.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02So we'll open it up, so we can have some daylight for the judges and it
0:28:02 > 0:28:05will all be lovely. It'll be fine.
0:28:06 > 0:28:10The side is quickly opened up and the tent fills with light...
0:28:12 > 0:28:14..and wind.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17It's going to blow everything away now,
0:28:17 > 0:28:21but that's fine. We alpaca breeders keep going, whatever the weather!
0:28:21 > 0:28:24Oh, here come the judges.
0:28:26 > 0:28:30Finally, this year's alpaca competition can begin.
0:28:30 > 0:28:34Years of careful breeding and selection have all led up to this.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38The alpaca is primarily a fleece animal,
0:28:38 > 0:28:40that is to say we use the fleece for all manner of things,
0:28:40 > 0:28:44so most of my marks and my awarding goes to the fleece.
0:28:47 > 0:28:51Judge Jay will be looking for animals with good bone structure,
0:28:51 > 0:28:56including strong and straight legs, and a straight back.
0:28:56 > 0:29:00But it's the fleece that attracts the majority of points.
0:29:00 > 0:29:04It must be an even, consistent colour and be made up of strong,
0:29:04 > 0:29:06yet fine strands.
0:29:09 > 0:29:12The show industry with the alpacas is what makes it a business.
0:29:12 > 0:29:17The pedigree is what makes them sought after.
0:29:17 > 0:29:21They're what creates the prices, really.
0:29:21 > 0:29:23And everyone's very competitive
0:29:23 > 0:29:26and when you win they want a little bit of that!
0:29:28 > 0:29:31Because Barbara still needs to keep an eye on the rain situation,
0:29:31 > 0:29:35her friend Kim is stepping in to help with showing today.
0:29:35 > 0:29:37- Nice and quiet, OK?- OK.
0:29:41 > 0:29:44Her first entrant is her beloved brown Tutu.
0:29:47 > 0:29:49She's up against four others.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52Good girl.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57Barbara's put a lot of her energy into this alpaca.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00A win would show her she's on the right track.
0:30:04 > 0:30:07See, that's just unhappy on its back leg because of where it is.
0:30:07 > 0:30:08Yeah, I think it is, yeah.
0:30:08 > 0:30:14But, with alpacas, it's all about the quality of fleece.
0:30:14 > 0:30:16Turn her a little bit, so we can use whatever natural light
0:30:16 > 0:30:18- we're getting.- Absolutely.
0:30:26 > 0:30:28- OK, thank you.- Thank you.
0:30:28 > 0:30:30Our pleasure.
0:30:32 > 0:30:34Well done.
0:30:38 > 0:30:42- This one...- He's got... He's an interesting one.
0:30:45 > 0:30:46This is an interesting class.
0:30:49 > 0:30:51Decision time.
0:30:51 > 0:30:54- We're done.- Do you want me to rosette them?
0:30:54 > 0:30:57Thank you. I've got to remember this now.
0:30:57 > 0:30:59OK, so we're going to go from this side.
0:30:59 > 0:31:00Thank you.
0:31:01 > 0:31:06After what looked like an uncertain start, Tutu takes first place.
0:31:06 > 0:31:07Hello.
0:31:07 > 0:31:10Just as an ecstatic Barbara had hoped for.
0:31:10 > 0:31:13- Thank you, congratulations. - Thank you very much indeed.
0:31:13 > 0:31:16Well done, Tutu.
0:31:16 > 0:31:19A smashing little brown female, well-deserved of a first.
0:31:19 > 0:31:21Good brightness, lovely soft handle,
0:31:21 > 0:31:24lovely uniformity of colour throughout.
0:31:24 > 0:31:26And that's not the end of the accolades.
0:31:26 > 0:31:28These are the only brown females,
0:31:28 > 0:31:31so we're going to award the championship to...
0:31:31 > 0:31:34our first place alpaca, so congratulations. Congratulations.
0:31:34 > 0:31:36- APPLAUSE - Thank you very much indeed.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39- Thank you, well done.- Thank you.
0:31:40 > 0:31:45It's a great start for Barbara and Kim is particularly chuffed.
0:31:45 > 0:31:47First, it's brilliant, and it doesn't matter
0:31:47 > 0:31:48that it's not your alpaca.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50It's just so scary being in that ring,
0:31:50 > 0:31:54but when they point and they go "first", it's like...
0:31:54 > 0:31:56Well done, Tutu, she was great.
0:31:56 > 0:31:58Yeah, really, really good.
0:31:58 > 0:32:01We will be celebrating probably down the pub tonight.
0:32:01 > 0:32:05My friend's staying, so we both like a glass or two of wine,
0:32:05 > 0:32:10so I think it's well-deserved and always a hard run-up to the show.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28Back in the tent, the wet hasn't dampened their enthusiasm.
0:32:29 > 0:32:33Alpaca fans are pouring in and the judgings are in full swing.
0:32:35 > 0:32:39There's no rest for Barbara, as she prepares for her next entry.
0:32:47 > 0:32:48So this is Beck Brow On The Money -
0:32:48 > 0:32:50he is my hope of the day.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53He's won couple of championships before, but, as I said,
0:32:53 > 0:32:56there's always competition here. You're not going to be sure about,
0:32:56 > 0:32:59haven't seen them in their second fleeces, so fingers crossed.
0:33:02 > 0:33:04And into the ring they go.
0:33:11 > 0:33:13As the judges check the fleeces,
0:33:13 > 0:33:17one of Barbara's rivals seems to have an issue with colour.
0:33:17 > 0:33:19- Interesting.- Interesting.
0:33:21 > 0:33:26Judging has to stop while they check the all-important chart.
0:33:26 > 0:33:30I'm just going to go and compare it to the animal.
0:33:30 > 0:33:31It's close.
0:33:31 > 0:33:36If he's in the wrong class, he will be disqualified.
0:33:36 > 0:33:38- It looks too dark to be there.- Yeah. - Yeah?
0:33:38 > 0:33:40It's close.
0:33:40 > 0:33:44But his colour is good to go and, finally, Barbara can present.
0:33:44 > 0:33:4616 months, sheared end of May.
0:33:46 > 0:33:49Oh, good boy! That's it, fantastic, thank you.
0:33:49 > 0:33:51Is this a new trick you've taught them?
0:33:51 > 0:33:53- Yes!- Sat like a dog!
0:33:53 > 0:33:55Come on, stand up.
0:33:55 > 0:33:56- That's it.- Thank you.- Thanks.
0:33:56 > 0:33:58OK, right.
0:34:02 > 0:34:04I'm going to go, yeah, one, then two, three, and four.
0:34:04 > 0:34:06Yeah, that's it.
0:34:08 > 0:34:09Where is my man?
0:34:11 > 0:34:13I've got no hesitation in placing the championship on this alpaca here
0:34:13 > 0:34:15first today. Beautiful alpaca.
0:34:15 > 0:34:18Thank you.
0:34:18 > 0:34:21- Very worthy championship. Thank you very much.- Thank you.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27Beck Brow On The Money is a little pet of mine and the fact that he got
0:34:27 > 0:34:31the male brown champion and was very highly commended,
0:34:31 > 0:34:35so that's what I wanted and a good day.
0:34:47 > 0:34:51The alpacas are not the only animals in competition today.
0:34:51 > 0:34:55Across the show, there's a whole range of farmers hoping to do well.
0:34:59 > 0:35:01In another corner of Westmorland,
0:35:01 > 0:35:05there is one farming family who are real veterans.
0:35:05 > 0:35:09This is the Robinson family and they've been exhibiting at the show
0:35:09 > 0:35:11for 140 years.
0:35:14 > 0:35:16Today, 75-year-old Henry,
0:35:16 > 0:35:18his son James and grandson Robert
0:35:18 > 0:35:21are showing their prize shorthorn cattle.
0:35:25 > 0:35:28The family are a wonderful example of where alpacas
0:35:28 > 0:35:29could end up one day.
0:35:34 > 0:35:35They set up Stickley Farm
0:35:35 > 0:35:39just a few miles from the show site in 1875.
0:35:46 > 0:35:51I'm the fifth generation, Robert the sixth and Dad the fourth.
0:35:54 > 0:35:58We farm just under 300 acres and we are carrying probably more stock
0:35:58 > 0:36:00than we ever have done.
0:36:00 > 0:36:02It's hard work.
0:36:02 > 0:36:06but so long as you lo... People like it, though, they love it.
0:36:06 > 0:36:08You can have some real rubbish days.
0:36:08 > 0:36:11You know, I can have some horrendous days,
0:36:11 > 0:36:13but then, when you get fantastic summer's mornings,
0:36:13 > 0:36:16you're getting the cows in at five, six o'clock in the morning,
0:36:16 > 0:36:19when everyone else is in bed, the sun is shining,
0:36:19 > 0:36:21the swallows are flying around the cows' legs,
0:36:21 > 0:36:23you wouldn't really want to be doing much else.
0:36:23 > 0:36:29This picture was taken by James' great-grandfather Henry in 1914.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34And this is the farm just over 100 years later,
0:36:34 > 0:36:38with Henry's descendants still working the land.
0:36:38 > 0:36:42You've got to grow to survive. You can't...you can't just stay,
0:36:42 > 0:36:45you've always got to be trying to improve everything.
0:36:45 > 0:36:47COWS MOO
0:36:47 > 0:36:50We've always milked cows here, but every farm used to milk cows and
0:36:50 > 0:36:54every farm used to have chickens and pigs and grow crops and everything,
0:36:54 > 0:36:57but you have to specialise really to survive.
0:36:58 > 0:37:00And the Westmorland Show has been
0:37:00 > 0:37:03a big part of the family business for generations.
0:37:04 > 0:37:09The family started showing there 141 years ago
0:37:09 > 0:37:10and we've been going virtually ever since.
0:37:13 > 0:37:16It's a day out, but we don't get to see much of the show!
0:37:16 > 0:37:18We're working all the time.
0:37:20 > 0:37:24We are almost part of the furniture down there now, so it is good.
0:37:24 > 0:37:27Westmorland Show is one of the best that there is in the country really
0:37:27 > 0:37:30for focusing on agriculture.
0:37:30 > 0:37:31It's definitely a farming show.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34A farming show for the public to enjoy, though.
0:37:39 > 0:37:43The Robinson family's legacy is something that the alpaca farmers
0:37:43 > 0:37:46aspire to, but there's a huge industry to build first.
0:37:51 > 0:37:55Back in the tent, things are looking a little brighter,
0:37:55 > 0:37:58so the judges decide to take a risk on the weather.
0:37:58 > 0:38:01- If we're going to go out, go out. - Do it now, shall we go now?- Go out?
0:38:01 > 0:38:03- Yeah.- Go out?- Shall we?
0:38:03 > 0:38:06- Go out?- Yeah, go out, go out. Yeah, we are out.
0:38:06 > 0:38:09We're going to go to the main ring outside, please.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12With the sun poking through the clouds,
0:38:12 > 0:38:14it's time for the next category
0:38:14 > 0:38:19and this is the one where Jean and Barbara finally go head-to-head.
0:38:21 > 0:38:23We all want to win and do our best,
0:38:23 > 0:38:27but I think the smiles are genuine, and there's a lot of new people
0:38:27 > 0:38:29coming into the industry all the time,
0:38:29 > 0:38:31and we like to see them do well.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34Do I look nervous?
0:38:37 > 0:38:42Barbara has just one animal in competition, while Jean has three.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48But the alpacas' lovely personalities
0:38:48 > 0:38:50can sometimes turn to stubbornness.
0:38:50 > 0:38:52Come on.
0:38:56 > 0:38:59- Oi, oi, oi.- That's not the language is it, really?
0:39:01 > 0:39:02LAUGHTER
0:39:02 > 0:39:03Sorry!
0:39:03 > 0:39:05- Thank you.- Thank you!
0:39:10 > 0:39:11- OK.- Thank you.
0:39:19 > 0:39:25Jean and Barbara are strong business allies, but also rivals in the ring.
0:39:25 > 0:39:27With the judges still deliberating,
0:39:27 > 0:39:30they know only one of them can walk away with the prize.
0:39:34 > 0:39:36And, finally, a decision has been made.
0:39:36 > 0:39:39I'm listening, watching and learning.
0:39:39 > 0:39:41OK...
0:39:41 > 0:39:42Please.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45And Jean has won first place.
0:39:45 > 0:39:46Congratulations, well done.
0:39:48 > 0:39:52Not only that, but her other alpaca has taken the second prize.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59But after her triumphant morning,
0:39:59 > 0:40:02Barbara has to make do with fourth place.
0:40:04 > 0:40:05We are awarding the Championship,
0:40:05 > 0:40:09which will go to our first place number 40, so congratulations.
0:40:13 > 0:40:17It's a great result for Jean, who's only been showing for six years.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22Brilliant result, yeah. Really good result.
0:40:22 > 0:40:24Can't be anything else when you get first and second
0:40:24 > 0:40:26and then you get the Championship as well.
0:40:28 > 0:40:31While Barbara is philosophical.
0:40:31 > 0:40:33She did more or less as I expected.
0:40:33 > 0:40:36I thought she would come third or fourth, somewhere around there.
0:40:36 > 0:40:38And actually, second, third and fourth
0:40:38 > 0:40:42were all sired by our own stud male Beck Brow Goldmine,
0:40:42 > 0:40:45so, er, it was nice that clients did well as well.
0:40:49 > 0:40:50HORSE WHINNIES
0:40:56 > 0:40:59The afternoon continues with a series of other awards...
0:40:59 > 0:41:01Thank you very much, thank you. Congratulations.
0:41:04 > 0:41:06..culminating in the overall champion.
0:41:06 > 0:41:08APPLAUSE
0:41:08 > 0:41:10Jean comes a very respectable second.
0:41:11 > 0:41:15And, once again, Barbara has to settle for fourth place.
0:41:17 > 0:41:19However, it's a strong result for both
0:41:19 > 0:41:23and another feather in the cap for their breeding ambition.
0:41:25 > 0:41:29We're not averse to a glass or two of bubbly.
0:41:29 > 0:41:31Both girls did really, really well.
0:41:31 > 0:41:33They'll get apple for a change instead of carrots.
0:41:39 > 0:41:43The Westmorland one-day Show is coming to an end for another year.
0:41:45 > 0:41:47Thousands of people have passed through its gates
0:41:47 > 0:41:50and enjoyed the best that the countryside has to offer.
0:41:52 > 0:41:57And for the alpaca owners, it has been well worth all the effort.
0:42:06 > 0:42:08We were ecstatic with the results.
0:42:08 > 0:42:10We couldn't have asked for anything better.
0:42:14 > 0:42:16It's nice to let people see what we're breeding.
0:42:16 > 0:42:19A number of people have come up and, not only congratulated us,
0:42:19 > 0:42:21but wanted to see what we're breeding,
0:42:21 > 0:42:22so it's all good for our business.
0:42:25 > 0:42:29A great day overall. Didn't win the overall Championship of the show,
0:42:29 > 0:42:33but we won four colour champions, so we're very happy with the day.
0:42:37 > 0:42:40The weather's not been the kindest. We're all a bit muddy.
0:42:40 > 0:42:44Despite the hiccups, it's all been smoothed out and a good show.
0:42:44 > 0:42:46I think everyone's enjoyed it.
0:42:46 > 0:42:49- Congratulations.- Thank you and thanks for all the help.
0:42:49 > 0:42:51- And say well done, alpacas. - Cheers!- Cheers, everybody.
0:42:51 > 0:42:52LAUGHTER