The Goulburn and Murray valleys' alpaca breeders have returned with a swag of awards from the Victorian Alpaca Colourbration Carnival in Bendigo on August 22 and 23.

Entrants from Cobram, Barooga, Dookie and the Strathbogie Ranges all carried home awards from one of the largest alpaca shows in Australia.

Event co-ordinator Deborah Patti said this year's carnival exceeded expectations.

"It was a 100 per cent improvement from last year - it was absolutely amazing," Mrs Patti said.

In the International Year of Natural Fibre, she said it was fantastic to see so many entries despite external factors such as the drought.

"It seems we've got the right formula, we cater for coloured breeders and show the alpacas against their coloured peers," she said.

Northern Victoria was well represented on the winner's podium.

Cobram's Wendy Hart and her Huacaya alpaca Wyterrica Pilot were victorious in the junior grey category, as was Jenny Hall and Beau Beza from the Strathbogie Ranges with their grey suri Lambada ET in the intermediate female category.

Picking up second places were fellow Strathbogie breeders Robyn Betts with Geronimo in the senior adult male category, and Julie Wilkinson with Chersam D'Angelo who picked up second in the adult male fawn category.

Also finishing second was Barooga's Gail Donald with her alpaca Rosemount Pompey in the intermediate black male category.

Mrs Donald said it was a thrill to finish strongly in only her fourth year in alpaca breeding.

"There was a large field of 12 in our category so it was great to go so well," she said.

Losing to the eventual supreme champion, Mrs Donald said it wasn't the end of the world to finish second.

"The judges said it was extremely close between us and the winner, so it was a good weekend for us."

The sentimental favourite for the show was 11-year-old Yabba North girl Grace Hardie with Marionville Edgar, who took out third place in the senior 30-month and over male category.

Grace's father Russell said he was amazed by Grace's talent.

"She has this rapport with the animals - she's the youngest registered breeder in the state," Mr Hardie said.

The Yabba North farmer said he "wilted" after being pushed by Grace into getting an alpaca.

"We drove past a farm near Katandra and Grace was saying `Dad can we stop and look at the alpacas?' - we now have 16."

Mr Hardie said the family was "in awe" of Grace's efforts.

"It's a family affair but she is certainly in control," he said.