West Life Newspaper
OH
December 12, 2007
Westlake couple takes pride in alpaca farm
By Anne Hartman
Here’s a little-known fact about Ohio: It leads the country in ownership of alpacas, llama-like animals native to South America. About 900 farms in the state are home to 18,000 alpacas.
Westlake couple Paul and Ann Misterka regularly passed one of those very farms on Route 83 while driving their daughters to swim meets. After reading an article about the animals in a local paper, the pair considered getting their own brood of alpacas. They proceeded to buy their first in December 2003. Today they own 14 alpacas, and they say they are reaping benefits from owning the animals.
Kalamazoo Gazette
MI
December 13, 2007
An alpaca smack
By Jeff Barr
PLAINWELL -- You just haven't lived until you've kissed an alpaca.
One of these loving llama wannabes gave me a smooch Wednesday afternoon during my visit to the Flying Cloud Alpaca Ranch, and I believe I'm a better man for the experience.
I survived the attack of the alpaca smack.
Actually, it would be hard to call anything these timid, furry creatures do an "attack." They are meek, gentle, peaceful, soft and exotic. And there are 24 of the lovable beings on a 5-acre ranch in Plainwell owned by Gayleen Rollins, a former writer and technical consultant, and her husband, John Rizzo, a retired Western Michigan University professor.
As Rizzo fed his beloved animals, whose ancestors have been domesticated in Peru, Bolivia and Chile for thousands of years, they behaved perfectly. In between chomps of alfalfa and hay, they nuzzled visitors and snuggled among themselves in quite an orderly herd.
Asbury Park Press
NJ
December 27, 2007
Alpaca dreams come true
Waretown woman raises woolly creatures, spins fine fleece
By ALAN GUENTHER
WARETOWN — Karen Halm says she knows why her alpacas hum.
They hum? Yes, alpacas hum.
"And it's not because they don't know the words,'' she says, laughing. "They hum when they're upset, when they're nervous, when they try to get attention.''
The 51-year-old Waretown resident laughs easily now, but about three years ago, her life took a sudden downturn when she was laid off from the telecommunications job she had for more than 20 years. Halm needed a new plan.
A long time ago, she saw a television show about alpacas, and suddenly she remembered what wanted in her life: an alpaca farm.
She'd raise them and spin their fiber into fine clothes, and as an animal lover, she'd have fun doing it.
So she purchased a 12-acre farm off Route 532, and rather hopefully posted a small sign on the roadside saying "Woolly Haven.''
November 2007
The Fayetteville Observer
NC
November 03, 2007
Kissed by an alpaca
By Nomee Landis
CARTHAGE — As a reporter, I never quite know what a day will bring my way.
Take Wednesday, for example. When I rolled out of bed, I had no idea that a few hours into the morning, I would be kissing an alpaca.
Well, technically I wasn’t kissing an alpaca. He was kissing me. On the cheek, mind you. It was all sweet and proper.
This particular alpaca, Cisco is his name, offers a friendly smooch to all willing visitors to the Crystal Pines Alpaca Farm. He is known for his kissing. Hold your head over the fence of his pasture, and Cisco will stroll right up and nuzzle your cheek with his warm, soft — and, thankfully, dry — snout.
Cisco and 19 other alpacas live at the farm, a 25-acre bit of piney heaven situated on rolling hills not far off U.S. 15/501 a few miles south of Carthage. Joe and Ursula Picariello own the farm. They like visitors almost as much as their alpacas, but they’re not as fresh as Cisco. They simply shook my hand in greeting.
The Picariellos retired to the country seven years ago, after leaving behind comfortable lives in a Pinehurst golf course community. They called their house there Crystal Pines. They brought the name to the farm.
Burlington Free Press
VT
November 4, 2007
Spectacular alpacas
By Matt Ryan
ESSEX JUNCTION -- The Lutzes' love for alpacas began as a joke.
"I went down to Ecuador to do my senior thesis," Jennifer Lutz said. "I joked about bringing some alpacas back to put in our front yard. Then the joke got out of hand."
Lutz and her husband, Ian, now have 300 alpacas -- the most in Vermont -- at their Cas-Cad-Nac Farm in Perkinsville. Saturday, they brought some of their animals to the second annual Green Mountain Alpaca Fall Spectacular at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction, which featured hundreds of alpacas from across the country.
"We know every member of our herd by name and by sight," Ian Lutz said.
"One's nose will look a little wider, or one's ears will look a little longer," Jennifer Lutz said.
The Lutzes applied a few strategies to naming the herd.
"You run with themes," Ian Lutz said. "You do Greek mythology one year ..."
"And it depends on the parents," Jennifer Lutz said. "Sometimes we get lazy. If the mom's name is Ice and the dad's name's Pearl, then the kid's name's Icepearl."
The Lutzes have bred alpacas for more than 10 years. Artisans use alpaca fleece, which comes in 22 shades and is lighter, silkier and warmer than sheep's wool, to make clothing, blankets and art.
Though related to llamas, alpacas are about half the size, and were bred to produce more fleece. Domesticated in South America 5,000 years ago, the animals are relatively new to the United States.
The Columbus Dispatch
OH
November 11, 2007
Alpacas finding homes in Ohio farm country
By Bill Eichenberger
Hailey Bowers, 10, of Marysville, tries to woo a group of suri alpacas with some hay at the 10th annual AlpacaFest at the Ohio Expo Center.
Captain Bly, an alpaca sire, sings to the ladies before making love to them.
Not exactly Barry White, but something called orgling, a soft, guttural sound that puts the female of the species, um, in the mood.
Laura Lee is the owner of Buckeye Country Alpacas in Granville and a co-owner of Captain Bly. She was one of hundreds of alpaca farmers in attendance yesterday at the Ohio Alpaca Breeders Association's annual AlpacaFest at the state fairgrounds.
"Oh, alpacas do have distinct personalities," said Lee, formerly of Upper Arlington. "Some are shy; some are curious; some are downright flirts. You should see them flirt with themselves in a mirror. I've only seen the girls do that. It must be a female thing."
The Daily Herald (Everett, WA)
Baby alpaca star of Silvana farm open house
October 1, 2007
Sharon Salyer
SILVANA -- Weighing about 17 pounds, and, at just over 24 hours old still too new to have a name, the baby alpaca was the star of Sunday's show.
The newborn was on a Silvana-area farm owned by Ruthann McVicker. It was one of eight alpaca farms in Snohomish County and 80 statewide participating in an annual open house.
In addition to seeing a herd of alpacas outside, visitors got a special surprise when they stepped into McVicker's barn. There, the baby alpaca's mother, Chia, stood closely by her newborn, listening to the animal's high-pitched, humming-like sound.
Port Huron Times Herald (Port Huron, MI)
Local farmers acquaint residents with alpacas
Visitors get an up-close tour of furry creatures
October 1, 2007
Milly Montag
CLYDE TWP. - Several local alpaca farms opened their doors this weekend to introduce the public to the small, furry llama-like creature that hails from South America.
Pine River Alpacas in Clyde Township was one of several local farms that provided a peek into the industry during the National Alpaca Farm Day this weekend. More than 1,000 farms participated in the national event.
Visitors were encouraged to stop by the farms, meet the owners and see the animals up close.
According to the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association, the United States has more than 100,000 registered alpacas. The animals, which are cousins to the llama, are native to Peru, Bolivia and Chile.
The Register-Mail (Galesburg,IL)
Alpha farm showcases alpacas for public
Couple couldn't imagine not having livestock around
October 1, 2007
Sherrie Taylor
ALPHA - The appeal of raising alpacas is due largely to the minimal care they require, their quiet personality, the desire for their fleece and the resulting revenue.
Dr. Randy Larson, a retired veterinarian, and wife Jan, named their alpaca farm Kalmar Kolors, after Kalmar, Sweden, where Larson's ancestors originated.
The Larsons have raised the animals for eight years; they joined in National Alpaca Farm Day Saturday with an open house at their farm north of Alpha.
They have 40 animals on their farm, ranging in colors from light beige to black. Randy Larson pointed out there are 22 natural colors of alpaca animals. About 20 of the animals belong to the Larsons, the other 20 they are boarding and for breeding purposes.
Middlebury Campus (Middlebury,VT)
A pack of alpacas
October 4, 2007
Kelly Janis
When was the last time you petted an alpaca?
On Sept. 29, Maple View Farm Alpacas in Brandon, Vt. held one of several annual open houses to allow visitors to satiate their curiosity about these fuzzy, little-known creatures who roam more than 45 farms in Vermont alone.
According to a guide to "breeding for superior genetics" distributed by Maple View Farm, "the alpaca is a member of the South American Camelid family, which also includes llamas, guanacos and vicunas." Until a 1998 agreement between the United States and South American governments curtailed the practice and limited breeding to stock already housed domestically, these gentle, non-aggressive natives of Peru, Chile and Bolivia were imported from their home countries for the economic benefits imbedded in their fibers and ability to be shown and bred.
Business First of Louisville (Louisville, KY)
From fur to fabric - Stuart and Michele Ray open kiosk in Oxmoor to sell alpaca merchandise
September 7, 2007
Sarah Zopfi Hubbard
Stuart Ray and his wife, Michele Ray, have been raising alpacas, a llama-like animal, on their farm in Anchorage for years.
But it was only recently that the Rays came up with the idea to manufacture the fiber from their animals' coats into clothing and merchandise.
The Rays opened the Catalpa Creek Alpacas kiosk in Oxmoor Center on Sept. 1 to sell the merchandise. Eight employees have been hired to staff the kiosk. Located in the Macy's wing, next to the Coach store, Catalpa Creek Alpacas sells alpaca sweaters, blankets, teddy bears and other items.
"It is a natural extension of our farm," Stuart Ray said. "We have been into the farming side of it, and now we feel it is a good time for us to take it a step further."
Okeechobee News (Florida)
Raising alpacas: Cute animals are big business; Lorida farm to celebrate National Alpaca Farm Day
September 16, 2007
Lorna Jablonski,
Saturday, Sept. 29, is National Alpaca Farm Day. Alpaca farms across the nation will open their doors to familiarize the public with the Alpaca, an animal that resembles a sheep in appearance, but is larger and has a long erect neck.
Tri-Town Transcript (Beverly, MA)
An alpaca near you
September 21, 2007
David Rogers
Topsfield - Ask a llama what it thinks of its smaller alpaca relatives and you’re likely to get a whole lot of nothing from the animal. OK, it’s because they can’t talk. But those who raise and breed alpacas have plenty to say about the increasingly popular breed.
“Oh my God, it’s unbelievable,” Kathy Withington of Newburyport said. “They bring to me tremendous joy; there’s a visceral connection.”
Withington and her husband, Tick, own seven alpacas, including Diego and Sueno (which is “dream” in Spanish). The Withingtons got into alpacas less than two years ago, after seeing them at the Parker River Alpaca Farm in Byfield. Their alpacas are housed at the Byfield farm, which is owned by David Sanderson, under the couple’s own farm name: Wildest Dreams Alpaca Farm.
“It’s kind of all the pleasure with none of the pain,” Withington said.
The Today Show
September 27, 2007
Featuring two huacaya and two suri alpacas to promote National Alpaca Farm Day.
On Web Site:
“National Alpaca Farm Day and Bill Johnson at Abenaki Acres Farm: To learn more about the alpacas and farms in your area, you can visit these sites: AlpacaInfo.com and AlpacaFarmDay.com.”
KSL Television & Radio (Salt Lake City, UT)
Woman Finds Joy in Alpaca Farm
August 7th, 2007
Candice Madsen
It's a face Jill Bergman couldn't resist and now Alpacas are her passion. When Jill decided she wanted to go into business for herself, a friend advised her to find something she'd love.
"I went to see one [alpaca] and absolutely fell in love," Bergman said. So she bought one in 2001 and now has a farm full.
Jill's husband is in charge of all the landscaping but leaves the ranch management to her. "I love the animals. I love the animal husbandry. I love the marketing. I love the showing," she says.
Alpacas are raised for their fleece. The industry is fairly new to the U.S., especially Utah, but Jill expects it to take off because of the quality of the fiber. Alapaca fleece is similar to sheep's wool, but it's warmer, more water proof, lighter and more luxurious. That makes it attractive to high-end fashion designers as well as outdoor retailers like REI.
Ipswich Chronicle (Ipswich, MA)
Alpaca mentality
August 16, 2007
Andrea Bulfinch
Ipswich - For some people, the successful caring of a houseplant can be a challenge. But for Richard and Lisa Sommers, owners of Bittersweet Farm on Argilla Road, cultivating a garden of medicinal and cooking herbs and caring for a herd of nine alpacas, has become a passion.
She and her husband consider themselves "land stewards." They're utilizing the 20-acres of land left to her by her late husband to grow herbs that can be used as remedies for a slew of ailments and are doing so in with the most gentle methods they know. Even the alpacas are gentle animals on the land since they have only two bottom teeth and don't rip the grass from the ground.
Deseret Morning News (Salt Lake City,UT)
Couple raising animals for the fiber — and the peace
August 17, 2007
Tammy Walquist
While considering retirement from a career in mining, Clark Otterness was looking for something to keep him busy. He read about an alpaca farm in an airline magazine and thought it sounded interesting.
Both he and his wife, Janet, come from agricultural backgrounds. Janet also majored in art in college, with an emphasis in fiber art, so raising alpacas seemed like a good fit.
The couple researched alpacas online, visited three farms in the area and while on vacation, they visited three alpaca ranches. Before leaving on their trip, the Otternesses had already purchased three alpacas with the intention of boarding them.
By the time they returned, they were ready to start searching for land to begin their alpaca farm.
The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, VA)
YE OLDE ALPACAS
July 7, 2007
Cathy Dyson
Archer, Robin Hood's brother, tries to stay out of trouble, but he can't escape the long arm of the law.
Or in this case, the long neck of it.
As Friar Tuck watches from a distance, the Sheriff doggedly pursues Archer around the forest of Nottingham Hollow.
They aren't actors in costumes, but alpacas with furry coverings.
Their owners, Chuck and Sue Ives, are fans of all things related to their English ancestry, including the legend of Robin Hood.
The Caroline County residents dress in multilayered long-sleeved costumes in 85-degree weather and take their alpacas to the Renaissance Faire on weekends in May and June at Lake Anna Winery.
As the character "Mistress Ives," the good wife of the alpaca herdsman, Sue Ives tells visitors how Sir Francis Drake, the English navigator, first saw the animals.
They were on a Spanish ship, and Drake "relieved" the owners of some of their "long-neck-ed sheep."
He took them to Queen Elizabeth, hoping to gain her favor by perpetuating a herd.
Unfortunately, he picked all males.
The Iveses had a similar situation when they moved from New Hampshire in 2000. They bought five acres near Woodford, hollowed out pastures and bought some adult alpacas.
When the alpacas started having babies, or crias, Robin Hood came first in 2004, followed by one merry man after another.
Sue Ives wanted a girl for practical--and sentimental--reasons.
When the couple finally got one, Ives found she couldn't name her after Robin Hood's girlfriend, as planned.
"Maid Marian sounded like such an old name, and I couldn't give such an old name to such a cute little bundle of joy," she said.
She christened her Lady KampBell instead. (There's a long explanation, involving a sire named Angus, a shire in Scotland and two veterinarians.)
More females have come along, but there's still a lot of testosterone among the Alpacas of Nottingham Hollow.
The animals are known for their gentle nature and for not needing a lot of space or intensive care. That was perfect for Chuck Ives, who works full time at Peumansend Creek Regional Jail, and his wife, who oversees the farm.
WLTX-TV 19 (Columbia,SC)
Alpaca Farms Cropping Up in South Carolina
July 10, 2007
A Peruvian native is making its way to South Carolina. Alpaca farmers say theirs is a growing industry.
A relative of the llama and camel, alpacas are bred for their fleece. The soft, strong, and warmer-than-wool qualities make it sought after by textile workers. The fleece is also hypoallergenic, and lightweight.
At Boyce and Jean Blanks’ farm on Mineral Springs Road in Lexington, the gentle creatures have won over the hearts of their owners and passers-by.
"Most people think they're llamas because they do resemble a llama, but we have also had people ask us what kind of dogs they are. That's humorous," said Boyce, with a smile.
The Blanks began breeding three years ago, and have roughly 20 animals in their pasture. They say the alpacas make ideal livestock: they are easy to take care of, have a gentle disposition, and are relatively clean.
Oneida Dispatch (Oneida,NY)
BMR Acres hosts alpaca program
July 26, 2007
Stephanie Tanner
CANASTOTA - Nearly 120 children were given the opportunity to learn about life on an alpaca farm on Wednesday when Brian and Mary Ellen Rose of BMR Acres hosted the Canastota Children's Council Summer Enrichment program.
The Roses, who own the 23-acre farm in Canastota, were on hand along with a group of eight volunteers to teach the children all about alpacas-South American animals related to the llama valued for its wool-and share many activities with the crowd.
Children had the opportunity to make crafts, meet the animals on the Roses' farm, and gain a hands-on knowledge of the many uses for alpaca fiber.
Showing the youngsters how alpaca fibers are spun into yarn was Claudia Chandler of Croghan, N.Y. Chandler, who creates the yarn using an old-fashioned spinning wheel, told the group about the benefits of using alpaca fleece.
"Alpaca fiber is durable and warm. A lot of people who are allergic to sheep's wool are allergic to the lanolin and there is no lanolin in alpaca fiber. So it's a nice alternative," she said. She explained that alpaca's fibers are quite long as opposed to a fiber like cotton, so anything made from alpaca yarn is sturdy and long-lasting. She also said that the fleece from yearling alpacas is finer and softer.
The Daily Item (Sunbury, Pa.)
Less wool, more cool
Exotic creatures enjoy sheared comfort
June 4, 2007
John Finnerty
KANTZ, Pa. — Toronado the alpaca certainly didn’t look comfortable, splayed across the floor of a barn at Patchwork Farm Alpacas with his legs held fast by ropes.
Carl Geissinger sheared, clipped and peeled away layer after layer of long-fibered woolly fur.
On Monday morning, Toronado had carried more than 10 pounds of wool on his back, the outer-most layer a dull white.
And as May gave way to June, the hot weather had definitely been getting to Toronado, said Jane Korbar, who with her husband, Stan, owns Patchwork Farm Alpacas.
The alpacas will carry anywhere from 5-12 pounds of wool.
“Can you imagine wearing a 12-pound wool coat right now?” Mrs. Korbar asked.
The Korbars had set out a kiddie pool for the alpacas to seek some reprieve from the heat, she said, and “Tori” had figured out that the best sort of comfort came from just lying in the pool.
By the time Mr. Geissinger was done, Toronado was relieved of his year’s worth of wool and wore instead a pale red coat that left him looking more like a deer than the cartoon-version of a sheepdog that he’d resembled minutes earlier.
And the alpaca had become so relaxed as his coat was removed, that when Mr. Geissinger was done Monday afternoon, a handler had to give the animal a little nudge to rouse him when it was time to stand up and head back out to pasture to make way for Thoreau, the next alpaca in line.
Business First of Buffalo (Buffalo, NY)
Entrepreneur builds business on alpaca fleece
June 8, 2007
Tracey Drury
It's been three years since the Hellwig family purchased their first alpaca. Today, the Attica family owns nine of the animals, which they breed and use for fleece. The next step may be a retail and educational store, Alpaca Outfitters.
Dan Hellwig runs Hellwigs' Son Raised Alpacas with his wife, Patricia, and son Zachary, whose interest in alpacas as a toddler influenced the business from the start.
"We want to open up a farm store and want to be able to show people who come by what alpaca can be made into," Dan says.
Lahontan Valley News (Nevada)
Curious camelids get their ears lowered
June 12, 2007
Kim Lamb
Alpacas stand with 18 pairs of curious eyes fixated on the shearing barn at William and Suzette Benecke's Top Gun Alpacas at their farm on Strasdin Lane west of Fallon. Ears erect, the curious camelids listen with intent to the whir of the shear's clippers. It's haircut day.
Steve Murray, professional shearer and alpaca owner and breeder from Cottonwood, Calif. cuts swaths of alpaca fiber with mastery while the animals lay motionless with the assistance of Brad Benecke on a silver tarp covering the stable floor. Murray travels throughout the spring to farm after farm as shearers are in high demand. He should shear approximately 1,500 by season's end.
As the alpaca fiber falls away in mats, twins Mattison and McKenzie Benecke fill plastic garbage bags with the silky soft fur that they add to a pile at the stable entrance.
The fiber will be sent away to a processor where it will be cleaned, carded and spun into yarn or made into product. Alpaca fiber is stronger, warmer and softer than wool, hypo-allergenic and comes in 22 natural colors. "We can also sell the fiber raw in roving that has been cleaned and are ready to spin," Suzette Benecke said.
Daily Collegian (Massachusetts)
South American animal grown right at home: Hadley Farm breeds alpacas
May 14, 2007
Krista Cosco
This is the place where the unique alpaca roams. It is just off the road going to the University of Massachusetts that is a city within itself; where the word zoo is used to describe social lives rather than the home of these animals. Here is where students learn veterinary principles, while still able to see the brick of the library and the cement of freshman towers - the intersection of college life and wildlife which seem to be one in the same.
Here is the Hadley Farm, home to the rare alpaca and gateway to the University.
…
The Hadley Farm seems like any other farm. It has green grass, stables, animal droppings and an enormous American flag hoisted up in the center. It houses animals, has that distinct smell of horses and the sounds of donkey yelps and horse trots reverberate through each barn.
The Hadley Farm, however, has something no other barn has - the nation's first undergraduate Camelid Studies Program. The Camelid (the species name for alpacas) Study at UMass is run by Dr. Stephen Purdy; its goal is to teach undergraduate and graduate students about the veterinary practices for the development of healthy animals. Dr. Purdy is an experienced camelid practitioner and has a vast amount of knowledge about the animals. Students of the Camelid Program are taught hands-on at the farm by Dr. Purdy and get to work with the animals directly.
Reno Gazette-Journal (Nevada)
Valley couple warms up to alpaca ranching life
May 18, 2007
Matt Farley
For most livestock ranchers, a sick or injured animal means loading the creature into a trailer for a long drive into the nearest town or calling the local vet for an expensive house call. For Mike and Kathy Hall, it just means leading an agreeable ball of fuzz into the back seat of a Plymouth minivan.
Over the last four years, the Halls have run Tahoe Breeze Alpacas on a 13-acre ranch in Gardnerville. Their stock, South American relatives of llamas and camels bred for their fleece, are rarely heavier than 190 pounds and generally behave like half-speed dogs.
Friendly, docile and hardy, alpacas are the perfect livestock for a small ranch, Mike Hall said. Plus, they're small enough to ride shotgun, he said.
…
From an initial stock of four, Tahoe Breeze has grown to house about 40 alpacas at any given time, Hall said. The Halls were first introduced to alpaca ranching at a farm exhibition near their former home in Ventura County, Calif. After their two sons moved out, they began to seriously consider leaving Southern California, Mike Hall said.
"It just kept getting more and more crowded," he said. "I was lucky enough to take early retirement from the Teamsters, so we were able to go someplace else."
After taking livestock classes and attending alpaca seminars around the West, the Halls bought two pair of huacaya alpacas from a breeder in Hillsboro, Ore. The community is "one of the alpaca capitals of the United States," Hall said.
The two types of alpaca, huacaya and suri, are almost identical biologically. But they produce different kinds of fleece, Hall said. Huacaya hair tends to be crimped and woolly, while suri fleece is silkier and pencil-like, with a part along the animal's spine.
The Courier-Journal (Kentucky)
Alpaca show wraps up
May 20, 2007
Katia Dozier couldn’t wait to see the alpacas.
With her parents chasing closely behind her, the 5-year-old quickly ran into the Kentucky Exposition Center earlier this afternoon so she could catch a glimpse of the animals.
"Look, mommy! There’s a baby alpaca!” Katia said, pointing to a 10-day-old alpaca owned by Debbie and Mike Perdue of Taylorsville.
Katia and her parents, Kayla and Kent Dozier, were among hundreds of people who attended the 16th annual national conference of the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association.
The four-day event, which ended at 4 p.m. today, gave breeders a chance to sell animals, trade secrets and swap sweaters and other alpaca-fleece products. Admission to the show is free.
Alpacas weigh about 150 pounds and stand about 3 feet tall at the shoulder. A relative of llamas, they are bred for their fiber, which is soft and lighter than wool and comes in a variety of colors. The animals originated in South America and were first introduced to the United States in 1984.
The Citizen (New York)
Alpacas all the rage in Martville
May 24, 2007
Beth Noyes
Alpacas are a new breed of livestock beginning to flourish state- and nationwide.
The Rice family will be celebrating their fifth summer with these long-necked, fiber coated mammals by hosting its open house this Saturday, presenting everything from free food to hay rides, brand-new babies called crias and lots of fuzzy merchandise made from alpaca fiber, called fleece.
“It's a level of cashmere. It's wonderful, (you can make items) like bedroom slippers,” Kathy Rice said.
The event will also include a petting area along with tons of literature about breeding and raising alpacas.
The Rice farm, as part of the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association and the Empire Alpacas Associated of New York Farms, will be armed with every bit of material pertaining to alpacas one would ever wish to know.
“We'll have all kinds of background information,” Kathy said. “This is not all just for sales. We want to educate the public, have them ask questions,” added her husband Larry.
Anderson Independent Mail (South Carolina)
Alpaca owners shed light on industry
Business changing from breeding to sheering
April 8, 2007
By Liz Carey
For the past three years, Lyle and Sue Baskin have worked hard to bring their new dream to life.
At their first try at the Alpaca Show at T. Ed Garrison Livestock Arena in Clemson, all three of their new baby alpacas took either first or second in their categories.
It was an indication of how far the two and their farm have come.
Alapacas of Riverside Farm is a small farm in Clyde, N.C., just west of Asheville. The Baskins moved there when life got too complicated.
After living and working in Miami, Fla., for most of her life, Sue Baskin had had enough.
“You could never relax,” she said. “My husband was driving 45 minutes each day to work. I was working all the time. There just wasn’t any downtime.”
….
“These animals have made me well,” Mrs. Baskin said. “When we moved here, I couldn’t walk. We had to buy an RV to get me from Miami because I couldn’t sit down. … But now with all the walking up and down the mountains to take care of them, I am healthy again.”
Detroit Free Press (Michigan)
A soft side for alpacas Ortonville
Couple raise cute, cuddly critters for fun and profit
April 9, 2007
L.L. Brasier
When Phil Maybee retired from his GM engineering job more than 10 years ago, he and his wife, Judy, sold their Waterford home and bought land in Ortonville where they could "relax and enjoy nature."
"I was thinking I might plant a few trees," he said.
Then his wife came across a story on raising alpacas.
Today, the Maybees own nearly 70 of the sweet-faced South American camelids -- think llamas, only smaller and cuter -- so there's not much relaxing that goes on at Pebble Brook Farm, their 15-acre spread. The Maybees are one of the largest alpaca breeders in the state, so they're busy seven days a week.
The Spokesman Review (Washington)
Alpaca showcase
Breeders, farms to take over Kootenai County Fairgrounds
April 17, 2007
Linda Juergensen
Though they are becoming more common in our country, alpacas are quite unique animals. There are currently about 15 Alpaca farms in the Kootenai County area.
There are two types of alpacas: Huacaya and Suri. Huacayas have a teddy-bear like appearance, unlike the Suri, which have long, wispy strands of fiber somewhat similar to dreadlocks.
Alpaca fleece is one of the world's finest and most luxurious natural fibers. It is as soft as cashmere, but warmer. It is lighter and stronger than wool. Alpacas range in colors from true black to shades of brown and gray, up to a pure white.
The Daily Herald (Washington)
Alpaca lovers raise the cute critters for yarn
March 27, 2007
Kristi O'Harran
It's wonderful knowing what I want for Christmas already. Just get me a few pairs of alpaca socks.
That would be so luxurious around my feet. I stroked alpaca fleece socks on a Silvana ranch owned by Ruthann McVicker. Her beautiful mountain-view farm is bordered by white rail fence and sits amongst other farms on gently rolling green fields.
My mission this time: alpacas.
They were cute, with brown eyes and silly hair hats. Breeder Alise Schmitt from Marysville boards her brood on the Silvana farm that covers almost 8 acres.
"Our herds together number nearly 40, and there are 13 babies on the way," Schmitt said. "What began as a business relationship has blossomed into a great friendship as well."
McVicker, with JRAM Alpacas, LLC, was widowed about two years ago. She is retired from a job in telecommunications. In the tidy barn, she pried open Sable's mouth. A nice male alpaca, he seemed gentle. Funny, they have no top teeth, but a mighty set of bottom chompers, good for clipping grass above the root.
The Sandy Post (Oregon)
‘Studs’ bare all for alpacas
Local breeders use calendar to raise major funds
Mar 14, 2007
Marcus Hathcock
It’s a well-known fact in today’s culture that showing a little skin sells, and it’s an idea that’s not lost on the Columbia Alpaca Breeders Association (CABA).
The group – made up of more than 80 breeders in the Upper Willamette Valley, including several from the Sandy area – recently had its most successful fund-raiser to date after 12 of its most adventurous, middle-aged men stripped down to their birthday suits for a “stud” calendar that has become a hot local commodity.
Last fall, members of CABA’s events committee met to discuss plans for the organization’s annual winter social, and it quickly became apparent that the group’s vision for the event was bigger than its budget.
“We wanted this particular band for the winter social, but it cost $1,000,” said committee member Yvette Jacoby of Sandy. CABA was scraping for cash just to pay for the dinner, let alone the band.
“Our little group never has any money,” said Sandy Poutala, another Sandy-area CABA member who runs Cedar Springs Alpacas on Lusted Road. “We needed to think of some way to actually pay for the band.”
They determined that they would auction off the breeding services of 12 of CABA’s herdsires (alpaca studs) during the social to raise money for the band. To raise awareness and build hype for the social, the committee talked about producing a calendar that would advertise the stud services that would be auctioned.
“Everybody does a calendar in the alpaca business,” Poutala said. “We needed to sell something that would pique people’s interest.”
She suggested adding some “calendar girls” to a calendar, but after some pizza – and a little wine – that idea quickly gave way to visions of middle-aged men in their birthday suits.
PR Web (California)
Alpaca Direct Reports Huge Surge in Demand for Luxury Knitting Yarns
Knitters stepping up to Luxury Alpaca Yarns and fast, easy online shopping at Alpaca Direct.
March 14, 2007
Alpaca Direct http://www.alpacadirect.com, an online provider of Alpaca apparel and knitting yarns, today announced strong demand for luxury knitting yarns like Alpaca, Silk and Pima Cotton. The online retailer has seen a strong upward adoption of higher quality natural fiber yarns as more knitters take on challenging heirloom projects while participating in this rapidly growing national pastime.
Quality alpaca yarn is lightweight, soft as cashmere and warmer than wool. American knitters are beginning to discover the many unique benefits of Alpaca Yarn. This natural hollow-core fiber is lightweight and thermal regulating, making it a perfect fit for creating versatile sweaters, ponchos and socks that can be worn throughout the year. "The response has been phenomenal! When our clients discover alpaca, they become lifelong customers!" says Kelley Hobart one of the founders of the Silicon Valley dot com venture. Alpaca apparel and yarn has been somewhat of a secret among Alpaca owners since most retailers have not offered natural fiber alpaca products due to its exclusiveness and limited availability.
Toronto Star (Toronto)
Nancy's helpers all pack a smile
Furry creatures elicit glee from special needs children during therapy session
Mar 06, 2007
Carola Vyhnak
Nose to nose, Juwann and Ozzy stare into each other's eyes. Juwann's mouth widens to a smile, his eyes sparkle.
It is a magical moment between boy and ... alpaca.
As an Ontario farm resident, Ozzy is unusual enough. But as a therapy animal in a special needs class, an alpaca is rare indeed.
Nancy Hutchinson, his owner and an animal-assisted therapist, calls the black 4-year-old a "superstar" for his ability to connect with people and willingness to be handled.
"Alpacas don't usually like to be touched and fussed. But Ozzy isn't your typical alpaca. When he's on a lead, he's so gentle and personable," says Hutchinson, who uses tactile stimulation in her therapy work in schools, hospitals and retirement homes.
Ozzy's recent visit to Bobby Orr Public School in Oshawa proves her right. He makes the rounds of teacher Jennifer Conners's class, gently nibbling pellets from outstretched hands, patiently accepting kisses and tentative touches on his fuzzy lips and fluffy top-knot.
Cerebral palsy prevents his speech, but the look of delight on 9-year-old Juwann Pemberton's face says it all. He's shy and cautious at first but after half an hour he's a changed child.
Grinning from ear to ear, Juwann pilots his walker out of the classroom and down the hall as Ozzy steps delicately on two-toed feet behind him.
"It gives him a sense of independence," Conners says. "It's a wonderful sensory experience for these kids – the touch, the smell, the fur. A lot of kids don't have an opportunity to be around animals so this visit brings a lot of excitement and joy for them."
The Daily News Journal (Tennessee)
Soft retirement: Former soldier invests in wool
February 18, 2007
Nancy De Gennaro
With a bucket in one hand and a handful of feed in the other, Bob Sneed of Christiana greets his furry, four-legged retirement investments — a herd of alpacas — with a grin.
"It's not often you get a chance to hug your portfolio," Bob joked as he reached out to pet one of his beloved alpacas. "Some of them meet you nose to nose," Bob added as he demonstrated the endearing gesture with one of his favorites named Mirage. "Sometimes they'll eat right out of your hands, too."
After retiring from the United States Army, and then working in a couple of other careers for a few years, Bob decided it was time to move "back home to Tennessee" to be near family. So four years ago he and wife, Cristine ("Cris"), bought a 23-acre property deep in the heart of Christiana, a rural community located at the south end of Rutherford County.
But the Sneeds also wanted a lucrative way to cushion their retirement income.
"We recognized we needed to do something to protect our income and increase our investments," Bob explained as he continued to feed the hungry critters that poked noses through the fence line for food. "I knew I wanted something fun and easy to maintain and (something) that had a tax advantage like any agricultural adventure."
Farming was out of the question and cattle seemed too much trouble.
So, like a good businessman, Bob did his homework and stumbled upon the idea of raising alpacas. They visited farms: ones that were going out of business, ones that were doing well, large farms and small farms.
"We were trying to get a feel (for the business) and (we) thought it would be a fun venture," Cris said.
Then, two years ago, they opened Hayfield Alpaca Farm. They started small, but now have a total of 17 alpacas, with several more on the way.
Telegraph (London, England)
Prada makes her oddest move yet
February 21, 2007
Miuccia Prada's latest catwalk offering is impenetrable and experimental, writes Hilary Alexander. Miuccia Prada has given the world some fairly radical fashion statements in the last two decades. She has prompted trends which have been called "ugly chic" and "frump chic", wildly at odds with a celebrity and bling-obsessed culture.
But the collection she showed in Milan last night was her most impenetrable yet.
Strange colours and even stranger colour combinations; fabrics which looked as if they had been stamped out by a plastic injection moulding machine; and shapes which were, for the most part, shapeless, all passed by in a bewildering display.
Alpaca, one of the most expensive fabrics in the world was dyed and treated to look like fake fur.
Winston-Salem Journal (North Carolina)
FARM LIFE: Woman leaves corporate world for alpacas
February 25, 2007
The long necks on the livestock at BelleauWood Farm were the first clue that visitors weren't gazing at goats or sheep or cattle.
The insistent humming sounds and the occasional resounding "wark" were also evidence that these weren't typical barnyard animals.
The furry creatures are alpacas, an exotic animal growing in popularity in this country.
At Erin McCarthy's Mecklenburg County alpaca farm recently, visitors were lucky enough to see her herd of 230 increase by one when a baby alpaca, or cria, was born.
Orlando Business Journal (Florida)
Searching for the golden fleece;
Local alpaca farmers aim for bigger herds to beef up profits.
January 1, 2007
Chris Kauffmann
Alpacas may have faces only a mother could love, but their cashmere-like fleece fetches a pretty penny -- which could explain why they're now a $1 billion-per-year industry.
In fact, there are about 8,000 alpaca farms with 94,000 animals in America -- including 140 farms in Florida raising nearly 1,000 alpacas, says the Nebraska-based Alpaca Registry Inc. The average alpaca farmer has fewer than 10 animals.
The News Journal (Delaware)
Fleet and fleecy
January 24, 2007
Al Kemp
Pretzel sees her world through inquisitive eyes the size of half-dollars. Looking into them is like peering into limpid, just-melted pools of bittersweet chocolate.
Pretzel is an alpaca -- one of those curious creatures that appears to combine the qualities of llama, sheep, mountain goat and "Precious Moments" figurine into one unlikely package.
More remarkable still, if Pretzel had feathers, she'd look a lot like the cartoon Roadrunner.
Pretzel also has a microchip implant near her shoulder, because she's one of those most highly prized alpacas: a certified Suri alpaca.
Suri alpacas produce a fine fleece with a rich, silky sheen, compared to the fleece of Huacaya alpacas, which is crimped and fuzzy.
Hartford Courant (Connecticut)
Finding Opportunities with Alpacas
January 25, 2007
Julie Shapiro
Steve Gallagher didn't set out to be an alpaca farmer. But five years ago, as he was looking for business opportunities, he stumbled across alpacas.
He and his wife, Karen, liked these llama cousins because they are no more expensive to feed than dogs, don't need to be walked and are much quieter, Gallagher said. Also, the expenses related to alpacas are tax write-offs.
Gesturing to his barn at Hunter Hill Alpacas, he said, "It's nice to have this as an office, and those animals as co-workers.''
