New Hampshire | Nodrog Farms

Contact Information

125 Mallego Road
Barrington, New Hampshire, 03825

603-664-7206

Email Nodrog Farms

www.nodrogfarms.com

Services Offered

  • One-on-one mentorship
  • An opportunity to show at the local county or state fair
  • An opportunity for a 4-H or FFA club to meet at my farm
  • An opportunity to show an alpaca at an AOA show or participate in the Youth Judging program

Experience

My name is Megan Long, as a family member owner of Nodrog Farms, I have been working with our alpacas since bringing them on the farm in 2009. Throughout high school, I participated in alpaca halter, showmanship, and obstacle courses at local AOA sponsored shows. While in college, I began to judge numerous alpaca showmanship, public relations, and costumes contests with our local alpaca 4-H club, as well as a host of other alpaca fiber workshops and alpaca training days at various youth events. This was enjoyable being able to work hands on with the youth while pursuing my higher education in obtaining my bachelor’s in Child Development and my master's degree in Child and Adolescent Psychology.

Early on, it become apparent that the general public believes owning a herd of alpacas is too expensive for the average family farm. To help offset this misconception, in the spring of 2014 our farm donated one of our alpacas to our local alpaca 4-H club, with the hopes of encouraging alpaca ownership amongst families. From 2014 through the fall of 2021, I enjoyed working with the alpaca 4-H youth at numerous state events, including New Hampshire Sheep & Wool Festival, Deerfield Fair, and the New Hampshire Farm & Forest Expo.

In the fall of 2021, with the help of our local feed & grain store, we were put in contact with Dover High School’s FFA -Animal Science program. They were looking for a couple alpacas for the school year. As of October 1st, two of our female alpacas have been on loan and living at the barn located at Dover High School in Dover, NH. This allows the students to care for and learn about alpacas during the 2021-2022 school year. This spring, I have been doing a 6-week workshop with the students in the program about alpaca fiber processing. In addition, later this spring, we will be bringing our male alpaca to the school barn for breeding with one of our females. This male alpaca will stay at the barn until the end of the school year to teach the students about breeding and to ensure conception. It is our hope for the program to have their very first cria at school in the 2022-2023 school year. The students will be given the opportunity to experience breeding, pregnancy, birth, weening, halter training, etc. Our farm goal in partnering with the Dover High School’s Animal Science and FFA chapter is to make alpaca farming accessible for students who are interested in owning their own herd when they grow up, i.e., the next generation of alpaca farmers.

Since our partnership with Dover High School, we have had one of their senior students, Cailey LaRoche became extremely interested in working with our farm and has become a valid member of our team. Ms. LaRoche is a part of Dover’s FFA Chapter and just recently won Outstanding Chapter Officer Award. Our farm sponsored Ms. LaRoche to attend the Green Mountain Alpaca Show in November 2021 to gain hands on experience in showing alpacas and networking with alpaca farms across the east coast. In February of this year, our farm attended New Hampshire Farm and Forest Expo and Ms. LaRoche was able to attend the event and was recognized for her professionalism and knowledge on the alpaca species. We would like to share a video of Ms. LaRoche receiving her award in regards to her work within the Dover FFA and her outstanding work with Nodrog Farms.

Expectations

This family and youth should know the responsibilities that comes with alpaca ownership such as timeliness, dedication, being willing to get their hands "dirty" and love for the species. It is important that the family is aware of the commitment that they will be making for the farm.

Transportation Provided to Alpaca Shows

Yes

Additional Information

Ample opportunities for the youth to learn.

Mentor Farms for Youth

Disclosure

Please be advised that Alpaca Owners Association, Inc. (AOA) does not assume any risk of, and will not be liable for, any injury, illness, damage, loss, claim, liability, or expense, of any kind, that you or your guests may experience or incur in connection with your participation in the mentor program.