1996
The early beginnings of Tiger Lily Ranch. The first purchases of alpacas.
Carol Poole
OWNER
Hi and welcome to the home of Tiger Lily Alpaca Ranch! Since 1996 I have been in love with these majestic animals. I had thought after all this time I would know all there is to know about Alpaca but that is not true, I learn something new all the time.
My journey started with the purchase of a male and female and the start of Tiger Lily Alpaca Ranch. The male was nothing to look at but that female was outstanding for her time. Her name was Breannah, she was a solid black female with perfect confirmation and did an amazing job raising her young while being pregnant with another one and keeping her body condition excellent. I got very lucky because in 1996 if it breathed and walked the cost was $25,000 no matter the quality. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I wanted to own the best that I could afford. The passion for making the breeding decision to make that “perfect alpaca” is still something that I am striving to do.
I believe strongly in educating myself as well as my clients and customers. I have gained so much knowledge sitting on numerous boards giving me a good understanding of the Canadian Alpaca industry. I am proud that I was the chairperson for the Canadian Show Committee helping to make the Canadian Show Rules one of strong integrity. Since 2001 I have been helping organize halter and fleeces shows where I believe is a great way to educate oneself about the confirmation and fleece characteristics of the alpaca. In the early 2000 I was hired to Chief Steward alpaca shows in the USA, where I would check in all of the alpacas into the show looking for any disqualifying traits. Then in 2019 I traveled to Peru with the Queshu Benefit where we traveled into the highland looking at alpaca and vicuna herds.
To further my thirst of knowledge I applied to the AOA board of directors to become an alpaca halter and fleece judge, and was accepted in 2019. I have started on this journey and the knowledge has been tremendous.
Kelly Kokoski and I joined forces in 2005 and have been business partners ever since. Her farm is Spruce Park Alpacas and my farm is Tiger Lily Ranch but together we are TIGER LILY ALPACA RANCH, which is a perfect blend for us to be more competitive for our clients and customers. We pride ourselves in strong customer service with excellent aftersales support.
Kelly and I are always paying close attention to our “brood” females, believing that they are the cornerstone of our breeding program. It’s the high standand of care and knowledge that gives our alpacas the edge where it be in the showring or out in the pasture. Our alpacas always rise to the top.
Tiger Lily Alpaca Ranch offers alpacas for sale in all price ranges of different quality standards. Each of our alpacas will be healthy, halter broke and UpToDate on all their vaccinations when they come home with you. I am always just a phone call away if you are in need of anything. Please consider us for your next alpaca purchase.
Kelly Kokoski
BUSINESS PARTNER
I, Kelly Kokoski of Spruce Park Alpacas, was born & raised on a mixed farm near Foam Lake, Sk. and continue to live on a mixed farm but closer to Foam Lake and is where Rob and I have raised 2 children.
I have always considered all livestock a passion of mine and to no surprise to many that know me, that I would venture into another type of livestock.
It was mid winter of 2000 and because we didn’t have Amazon or Facebook I actually read the Western Producer and was intrigued by an alpaca ad. That was the first time I heard of them and found myself researching and it certainly peaked my interest. The fact that they were relatively easy to look after, weren’t raised for meat and their end product (beautiful natural fibre) was something that would be good for our young children who were 8 and 7 at the time and a good fit for my interest in crafts. I was also drawn to the fact that they were considered an ideal livestock for Women due to there size, easy keep and gentle nature. This really got the gears turning!!!
Early that spring, we reached out to a few breeders, visited a few farms and instantly was mesmerized by these beautiful animals. In the end, it was Carol (Tiger Lily Ranch) that offered the ideal pkg. of 3 bred females, 3 fibre males and 1 breeding male that we decided on and “Spruce Park Alpacas” was established.
I have always been grateful to Carol for her after sale support and soon become friends. Because we strived for a common goal and thoroughly and meticulously spent many hours discussing breeding choices we decided to collaborate as “Tiger Lily Alpaca Ranch”.
I strongly believe in participating in Shows and have helped organize the Lloydmister Alpaca Showcase and now the Saskatchewan Alpaca Premier Event held in conjunction with one of Canada’s largest livestock shows “Agribition”.
Participating in shows gives you a good indication of where your breeding program may be lacking or leading and many contacts are made.
I am currently president of our provincial club “Saskatchewan Alpacas Breeders Network” and several years as board member.
I honestly can say that taking that BIG step of purchasing Alpacas has brought me so much joy. I will continue to be an ambassador for these beautiful animals as I confidently believe that they have so much to offer and will continue to be an integral livestock. It has been incredible to watch this fledgling industry grow and the leaps and bounds of advancement of quality in the short 22 years of owning alpacas. I can’t wait to see what’s to come!!
Tiger Lily Alpaca Ranch How it all Began – Our Motto
Carol and Kelly still adhere to their farms motto – Breeding Only The Best – which was drawn directly from the Mission Statement of their breeding program written over seventeen years ago: To breed the very best alpacas that they could.
Their life with alpacas began with Carol in April of 1996 with the purchase of a solid black female and a male. Kelly then purchased her first alpaca from Carol at Tiger Lily Ranch in 1999. From there, they grew their friendship and started Tiger Lily Alpaca Ranch in 2005. Carol and Kelly have kept the number of alpacas that they breed to approximately ten solid, strong very high quality dams. These exceptional females serve as the backbone of the Tiger Park Breeding Program.
Tiger Lily Alpaca Ranch – The Alpaca Industry
To get a feel for the alpaca industry Kelly and Carol has served on numerous boards including The Canadian Alpaca Breeders Association, the Saskatchewan Alpaca Breeders Network and as the Chair for the show committee for Alpaca Canada. Currently Carol and Kelly both serve on the Saskatchewan Alpaca Breeders Network Board of Directors and both Chair the Halter and Fleece show at the Canadian Western Agribtion. Carol also is on the Canadian National Alpaca Sale and Futurity Committee.
Having alpacas has been everything that they had dreamt it would be and so much more. Both of our families have been very involved with the alpacas making this two very strong family adventures.
HCLA Bolivian Ice Man brought them the “Ice Age in 2005 and gave them the winner of the 2009 CNASF West, with Supreme Champion Huacaya“ Tiger Lily Samantha Ice. For years Ice Man was the basis of their strength in color, brightness, fleece character, strong confirmation and presence.
Keystone Events in the Evolutions of Tiger Lily Alpaca Ranch
Tiger Lily Alpaca Ranch – Our Alpaca Legacy
Since the 2009 passing of Ice Man they have hand selected a few males of exceptional quality and pedigree. TNC BB King of the Hill was one of these males and he has not disappointed as BB has produced some of the most amazing colored fleeces! In 2013 BB was sold to Germany“ their first overseas sale. When BB was shown in Germany this summer, at the age of six, he brought home the Black Championship ribbon!
Although Ice Man has passed on, his legacy lives on in his progeny. Tiger Park Nixon Ice and Tiger Lily Nitro Ice, are phenomenal chips-off-the Ice Man genetic block and are taking over for him. To know Tiger Lily Alpaca Ranch is using Tiger Park studs brings Carol a fantastic feeling of accomplishment.
In October of 2013 they decided they would take their show string from a small town in SK, all the way to Orangeville, Ontario, to the CNASF East Futurity. The five alpacas had a fourday trailer ride to the fairgrounds but it was well worth the trip. Their very successful show winnings included Brown Champion “Tiger Lily Legend” and Fawn Champion “Tiger Lily Pandora”. Quite a feat for a farm having only twenty-six alpacas. These two alpacas are the son and daughter of Tiger Lily Samantha Ice further proof that Ice Man genetics are still running strong in their herd.
Tiger Lily Alpaca Ranch – Saskatchewan Proud
Kelly and Carol believe that the strength of their breeding program comes from their seed stock of very HIGH quality females. These females have taken us to the next level and we couldn’t be more proud. If you combine that with the strength in their studs you can see why these two small town Saskatchewan girls are achieve great things.
In 2019 Carol started her journey to become an international alpaca judge – attending her first show in Germany. Then in 2020 Carol was asked to apply to be on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Western Agribition – the largest Livestock show in Canada. She got award a director position in June of 2020 and continues on the board of directors. So many great things are happening with Carol and Kelly and their alpacas – its just fun to watch the adventure unfold.
In the history of their alpaca ranch they have always focused on quality not quanity. As Carol says, “I strongly believe that owning the best you can is better then owning the most.”
CLRC & ARI Registered Alpacas
Alpacas for Sale – We maintain a choice selection of reasonably huacaya alpacas. We offer both double and single registered breeding stock.
Award Winning Breeding Program
One of Canada’s winningest Huacaya breeding programs.
Worldwide Shipping
Tiger Lily Alpaca Ranch has experience in the import and export of alpacas intercontinentally and overseas.
Agistment
Agistment gives new people the opportunity to “ease into” breeding alpacas while gaining confidence and planning for their new farm.
Quarantine Services
Tiger Lily Alpaca Ranch features a CFIA approved quarantine facility on site.
24/7 Support
We are always glad to offer after sale support and can advise on anything from shearing and breeding strategy to pasture layout and fencing.
