Cute and curious, the Alpacas in western New York are sure to warm your heart this weekend as six local farms take part in the 4th National Alpaca Farm Days.
Saturday the 25 and Sunday the 26, people will be able to get up close and personal with many alpacas across the region for free.
Alpacas are a cousin to the llama and are indigenous to South America. Most Alpaca items are imported from there, however the cottage industry is picking up pace.
“The goal is to have enough Alpacas so we can support (the demand) … but we can’t supply enough right now,” said Paul Mager, co-owner of Mager Mountain Alpacas in Little Valley, N.Y.
Mager Mountain has been up and running since 2002 and now has 30 Alpacas, along with two guard llamas.
“The llamas guard Alpacas from coyotes, dogs and even people … they are very intimidating creatures,” Mager said.
Besides featuring the sweet and soft animals, people can also receive information about raising alpacas and the expenses they carry.
Mager Mountain will be featuring a talk with Cathie Bridges, a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) from R.A. Mercer and Co. PC at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Bridges will be talking about the specific tax benefits that Alpaca owners and breeders can receive. People will also be able to shop at the “So Soft Gift Shop.”
In addition to the gift shop, the Mager’s will be having a refreshment area where all proceeds will be going to “Smile Train Charities,” which provides money for children in born with cleft lips and palates.
Right here in Ellicottville, you can turn onto Sugartown Road and be immersed in alpaca life at Sugartown Farms.
“People drive by and see the animals in the field, but they don’t see the science behind it all,” said, Timm Herman, co-owner of Sugartown Farms.
A lot of work and planning goes into breeding the softest alpaca fiber. To help make the softest fiber possible, the Herman’s have eight alpaca herdsires, which are champion alpacas that are literally the stud of the group.
Timm and his wife, Helen, have been breeding, raising and selling alpacas for the past eight years. Herman says this is a fairly new industry in the United States, but it is slowly starting to become more popular.
In Portville, N.Y. you’ll find another farm dedicated to breeding alpacas.
Never Ending Alpaca Farm started up in 2004 with two pregnant females and now has 33 alpacas, including seven crias, which are baby alpacas.
As this is Jerry and Kathy Scutt’s first year participating in National Alpaca Farm Days, they are very excited to show off their alpacas to all those who will come and see.
“When people come here they can expect to see how gentle the animals are and how curious … they are so beautiful and so soft,” Kathy Scutt said. “The animals just love little kids.”
The Scutt’s will be selling alpaca products and having a “skirting” demonstration that shows how to make fleece out of alpaca fiber. They try to offer as much western New York products as possible. The Scutt’s compete with their alpacas on a national and worldwide scale.
“We even won some blue ribbon,” Scutt added.
The Scutt’s will be open rain or shine and give tours on appointment.
This weekend West Winds Alpaca Ranch in West Valley, N.Y. will be offering people all across the region the chance to see 55 alpacas at its open house.
In that 55, the Joneses, co-owners of the ranch, have seven crias to show off.
However, Sue Jones does warn that petting and feeling the alpacas are on their terms.
“If they want attention they’ll come to you, otherwise they kind of keep their distance … they are more interested with children because they are less ominous,” Jones said. “They are more on their level.”
Alpacas tend to stand about 3 feet at the shoulder, but can get to 5 feet or taller because of their long necks. People will also be able to enjoy the ranch’s gift shop, West Winds Andian Treasures, named after the Andes Mountains in which alpacas are native.
Humming Herd Alpacas, LLC have been raising alpacas for the past five years and have been active with the National Alpaca Farm Days since the first year.
This year, Shannon and Dane Stocker have 41 alpacas and one guard llama. Twenty of the alpacas are female and are pregnant. They are expected to have their crias by next fall.
But not to worry, the alpacas will still be out and about for all to see.
“Three of the boys come right up and give you kisses,” Shannon Stocker said. “Sting Ray is one of our bigger boys and he’s just a gentle giant. He’s just so cute … He’s real good with the kids and lets them dig their hands into his fleece; he’s really dense.”
The Stocker’s will have different demonstrations about alpaca fleece and be selling refreshments and alpaca items.
Shannon Stocker’s stepfather, a CPA and alpaca owner, will be speaking to potential alpaca farmers during their open house hours. For the kids they have pumpkin painting, different activities with alpaca fiber and children can enjoy coloring in alpaca pictures.
Last, but not least Hy-Haven Farms will be allowing the public to enjoy their alpacas this weekend. Open since 2001, Hy-Haven Farms has grown from starting off with 5 alpacas to now owning 25. Before getting alpacas, the farm raised goats for 15 years, but when that became too much for owner, Debby Carlson, she switched to alpacas. Besides the farm, Carlson also owns and operates Hy-Haven Criations.
At the store, people can purchase homemade scarves, gloves, socks and other items all from the very alpacas she owns.
You can find all the farms and alpacas listed above in various places around western New York.
· Mager Mountain Alpacas, 69 Mountain View Drive, Little Valley – open Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
· Sugartown Farms, 6277 Sugartown Road, Ellicottville – open both days from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
· Never Ending Alpaca Farm, 1285 Lillibridge Road, Portville – open house hours are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday
· West Winds Alpaca Ranch, 5486 Twichell Road, West Valley – open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days
· Humming Herd Alpacas, LLC, 3380 Route 39, Collins – open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
· Hy-Haven Farm, 516 Johnson Hollow Road, Cuba – open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information about National Alpaca Farm Days in general, visit www.alpacanationalfarmdays.com.
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