I read an article recently in my local newspaper titled, 'I'm an Alpaca Farmer.' While I had never even met this family of farmers, their hospitality along with desire to do their homework first spoke to me though the article. I admire the entire family in their effort to learn before committing to another living being.
Besides the article informing me they loved visitors, Benson Alpaca Meadows is down the road from WoollyShire Farm. So I got on Facebook and searched for their farm, I sent a message and only hoped they were serious about visitors.
Lickety-split a farm visit was set! Nerves and excitement was oozing from my soul.
Judy & Burt were our tour guides and the tour began with admiring their goats and bragging about how the goats left no prisoners in the war against the once covered poison ivy pasture. Winning!
Along the way, we were met by a sun bathing cat and an assortment of chickens working the leaves for bugs.
Then came the alpacas with their guardian llamas. I have never met an alpaca or a llama. Normally, the larger the animal the more intimidating they become to me. Maybe it was their top knot hairdo or the lone piece of hay hanging from their mouths, but I felt safe with a side of curiosity.
Bunny Ears
Judy and Burt showed us the different fleeces between the alpacas and enlightened us on what crimp and diameter is. Alpacas are sheared once a year and shearing day is coming up on April 6th. If you want to come to the farm and help with shearing, you can contact them at Benson Alpaca Meadows.
The alpaca and llamas were not into being petted (I can relate), they were into sniffing us. When we were in the all boy's pasture, the boy's came with a piece of hay jutting from the mouth and encircled us. Prez the llama got his large nostrils next to my face and took a deep whiff. Glad I showered. Paparazzi is taken seriously in these parts. When I whipped out my camera, TSA was jealous of the alpaca's inspection skills. For a moment, I was sure it was getting snatched from me.
What amazed me most is not one of them moved in a fast fashion which would have spooked me. Totally not an alpaca expert but there is a lot to be said about the caretakers when an animal is calm around strangers. Trust is paramount.
Thank you Judy and Burt at Benson Alpaca Meadows for extending your farming knowledge and letting us be groupies for the day.
For my readers, you can purchase Alpaca goods, visit their farm, sign up to help on shearing day or support a local business by following their page at Benson Alpaca Meadows.
Lone piece of hay