January 2008
Provincetown Banner
MA
January 3, 2008
Alpaca farmer tends her flock of fine woolly friends
By Melora B. North
“Home spun” is an expression you often hear in reference to something home-made. In this day and age, it isn’t often that one can say in all honesty that they have made something start-to-finish from scratch, but in the case of Kathy Mealey of Brewster, it is an absolute truth. Not only does she spin wool to knit hats and sweaters, she raises and breeds the stock from which the wool comes.
“It’s more exciting when you know who you are knitting or wearing,” she says with a laugh. And she’s serious. With a herd of approximately 35 different animals, she has names for all the stock except three Cormo sheep which she simply refers to as the three blind mice and describes them, laughing, as “the dumbest sheep ever.” Which may be so, but they serve a purpose as well — they love to eat grass.
Tahlequah Daily Press
OK
January 15, 2008 03:45 pm
Spinning tales of love
By BETTY SMITH
Margie Ray twists the light-colored alpaca fiber before her small spinning wheel takes it up and forms it into yarn.
“I’m spinning from Annie’s wool,” she said. “I don’t have Annie any more, but I bought her when she was four or five days old, up around Kansas City.”
Whether the fiber comes from a beloved animal, such as Ray’s, or was purchased, members of the Illinois River Fiber Arts Guild put hours of love and creativity into their craft. Guild members have varied interests and many practice a variety of skills, from weaving pieces of fabric to knitting or crocheting.
Some creations achieve the status of art, while others are has homey and practical as a cap or dishtowel.
While working, they share stories.
Ray, who has 150 alpacas and keeps 15 “retired” llamas on her farm between Gore and Braggs, at the old Sourjohn School, told of her adventures with Annie.
She purchased Annie as a youngster, and went to pick her up when she was weaned. Annie had lived in a large pasture until then, with little human contact. So her first experience with people involved having burrs pulled from her lush coat. Needless to say, Annie wasn’t overjoyed to see Ray and her husband, although their intentions were good.
They placed Annie, then the size of a large dog, into the back of a station wagon for the trip back to Oklahoma. Along the way, they had a flat tire. They spotted a small park, and decided Ray would rest there with Annie while her husband got the flat fixed.
But Annie didn’t want to cooperate. She planted her small hooves on the pavement, only finally being cajoled as far as a picnic bench, where she was tied until repairs were made.
Back in Oklahoma, Annie eventually became a friendly part of the family, producing her share of fiber.
In early April, a professional shearer will come to Ray’s place and perform his services. He can shear about 100 alpacas a day. Each provides about 5 pounds of fiber. Ten pounds is exceptional; Ray’s never had an alpaca produce that much.
The Janesville Gazette
WI
Jan. 9, 2008
Alpacas offer both income, pleasure
By CARLA MCCANN
ELKHORN — When Frank Raidl told his golfing buddies that he planned to raise alpacas after retiring, they laughed.
The former Chicago businessman and his wife, Jean, already owned a farm north of the city of Elkhorn and planned on retiring there.
"I had the barns, fields and fences," Raidl said.
And he was looking for an investment opportunity.
Today, Raidl is the one smiling.
The alpacas living on his 40-acre farm nestled along the southern edge of the Kettle Moraine region have brought him joy and a promise of becoming a profitable venture.
By next year, the Sugar Creek Alpacas herd will be established and large enough to become a presence in auction arenas, he said.
Most alpaca breeders are in the business for the long haul. It takes time to build an award-winning herd and earn respect within the industry, Raidl said.
Alpacas also reproduce slowly, with a pregnancy lasting from 11 months to 12 months.
Raidl and partner Earl Paddock started the County H operation in 2004 with four alpacas, three of which were pregnant. The herd since has increased to 15, and seven of the nine females are pregnant.
The partners are confident the alpaca industry will continue to grow and prosper well into the future, Raidl said.
Alpaca hair is as soft as cashmere and warmer, lighter and stronger than wool. Once reserved for Incan royalty, the fleece is coveted by spinners and weavers universally, according to information on the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association Web site. The fleece comes in about 22 basic colors with many variations and blends.
Raidl's herd is guarded and patrolled at all times by two great Pyrenees. The dogs take their job seriously. When the herd made a recent group appearance in the barn, they were accompanied by their guardians.
Among the alpaca herd is gentle Princess Leia and charismatic Luke Skywalker.
Those two are among several named after "Star Wars" characters by Raidl's grandchildren, he said.
On this farm, the alpacas are enjoyed by three generations, which includes five children and seven grandchildren.
"We stepped away from the fast-paced corporate way of life and found alpacas were a great addition to our established rural farm setting," Raidl said.
One of the benefits of raising alpacas is that they require a relatively small amount of acreage and little care, he said.
