Judges’ Bios

Mike Safley

mike safley

Mr. Safley was born and raised in Oregon. He attended the University of Oregon and served in the U.S. Navy Seabees, doing two tours of duty in Vietnam.

Mike Safley was elected president of the fledgling Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association (AOBA) in 1990 and the Alpaca Registry (ARI) in 1996. While serving as president of AOBA, he conceived of and became the first editor for Alpacas magazine. He has been instrumental in the development of policies and practices for both AOBA and The Alpaca Registry, Inc. (ARI). Mike has written several brochures for the alpaca industry which continue to be printed by AOBA today including: The Alpaca Investment, Fleece to Fashion and Alpacas the Color brochure. He is also the author of Alpacas: Synthesis of a Miracle, Ideal Alpacas from Myth to Reality, The Alpaca Shepherd, and The Alpaca Chronicles.

Over the last 20 years, Mike has conducted seminars and lectures worldwide to audiences in England, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United States, and Peru. He has been a judge at alpaca shows in the United States, Australia, Canada, and Peru. The major shows include the AOBA National, MAPACA, The All American Futurity, Alpaca Western Extravaganza, The North American Alpaca Show, The Great Western Alpaca Show, The Kentucky Classic, Estes Park Wool Market, and the Santa Fe Alpaca Show.

Paul Cullen

paul cullen

Paul Cullen was born in London and spent his early years working in central London as an engineer in the communications and IT industries. As his career progressed Paul and his family lived in Malvern, Worcestershire, for many years, prior to moving to Devon in 1998 following his retirement from the IT industry.

Paul and his wife Teresa became involved with alpacas in 2000, starting a small breeding herd on their farm in Devon. Following a visit to Canada in 2001 they imported a number of breeding females and working males which formed the basis of their current herd today. Currently Paul and Teresa run approximately 90 alpacas and are also involved in retailing alpaca wool and clothing, together with other alpaca fibre products.

Paul qualified as a British Alpaca Society halter and fleece judge in 2004 having successfully completed all levels of the BAS training courses under the tuition of Amanda VandenBosch. Paul also successfully completed the AOBA training workshop in the USA during 2005 and is currently enrolled in the AOBA Apprentice Judge Programme for halter, fleece and performance classes.

Since qualifying Paul has judged shows in the UK such as The South of England, The Royal Norfolk and the Devon County as well as a number of regional events throughout the country. He also judged the first National Alpaca Show in Sweden during the spring of 2007, together with the first alpaca show to be held in Brittany during the summer of 2007.