Tim and Tracey Hey – Farm owners
Tim grew up on an alpaca farm in Tasmania, Australia where he was involved with many aspects of his family’s herd called Van Diemen Alpacas. At the age of 18 Tim attended the University of Tasmania and graduated three years later with a science degree majoring in Aquaculture. Soon after graduation Tim worked in a technical and scientific role for the largest Atlantic Salmon producer in Australia, while still being heavily involved with his family’s alpaca herd and the Tasmanian region of the Australian Alpaca Association.
In 2002 Tim left the aquaculture industry and came to England to further his alpaca career. He had the pleasure of visiting Peru and Australia many times selecting alpacas for import into Europe and Australia. Tim had the privilege of selecting some of the best alpacas ever to enter Europe and Australia. These alpacas included Wessex Rural Alianza Wiracocha (Supreme Champion Alpaca – Royal Bath and West Show 2005), Cedar House Hugo (Supreme Champion Alpaca – Royal Sydney Easter Show 2006), Wessex Adonica (Supreme Champion Alpaca – Royal Show, South of England Show, East of England Show 2005), EP Cambridge Top Account, EP Cambridge Imposing, EP Cambridge Tidemark and many of our own prize winning herd.
In 2006 Inca Alpaca was born when Tim and Tracey imported stock to join their growing UK alpaca herd. Stock came from Tim’s family’s herd and they purchased more elite females and herd sires in Australia and South America. Now Amberley Farm hosts over 350 alpacas of which over 250 are black in colour.
Tim is a qualified BAS judge who has judged in the UK, Europe, Canada and Australia and he is also a judge trainer. Having recently retired from the board of directors of the British Alpaca Society, Tim is still involved in Alpaca Welfare discussions with DEFRA and the Dorset County Show.
In 2006 Tim married Tracey who is originally from the Bournemouth/Ringwood area and they now have two children, Oliver and Georgia.
Tracey worked for many years for the corporate bank JP Morgan Chase until leaving in 2007 shortly before the birth of her son Oliver. Although Tracey held a managerial position within foreign exchange she spent a lot of her spare time involved with craft, art and design. Being extremely creative Tracey was able to work on marketing within Inca Alpaca as well as design and develop her own business Tracey Hey. As well as running Alpaca Pals Tracey is heavily involved in Inca Alpaca as she takes care of all records, accounts and plans the husbandry regime.
To read more about how and why Tim started breeding black alpacas in Australia click here.
Leah Dear and Jasmine Doyle – Stock Managers
Leah and Jaz joined the team here at Inca as their love of animals was too strong to ignore. Both have a depth of agricultural knowledge and experience in rearing livestock.Both are keen to forge a long career in the alpaca industry alongdide their dog training and dog grooming businesses.
We are incredibly lucky to have Leah and Jaz here at Inca as their keen eye and attention to detail ensures the alpacas have ideal care.