No, you didn’t just see a llama as you passed that farm on Rt. 19. That was an “Alpaca.” Several years ago I had no idea these fleecy little fellas existed. Then I had a conversation with an Alpaca enthusiast. (Yes, there are lots of those out there.)
From what I can tell, Alpacas look like smaller versions of a llama with better personalities. They seem to be vying for the family pet designation; they are loyal, affectionate, have feet that are closer to a dog’s paw than a hoof, live 15 to 20 years, and provide their owners with fiber to make the most beautiful winter garments. If they could just do something about being “housebroken”, they might get to spend more time with their humans.
Genesee County is fortunate to have so many farmers who believe that raising Alpaca’s can be fun and profitable. These ancient livestock were originally domesticated by the Inca people over 5,000 years ago, and prized for their cashmere-like fleece. Unlike the llama, they are not built for carrying weight, and are shorn in the spring. They usually have just one baby (called a “cria”) each year, and woe to the person who tries to harm a young Alpaca – their mothers, as well as the entire heard, are protective and devoted.
Most of the farms around here either sell products made from their Alpacas, or supply stores such as The Hobby Horse in Le Roy, NY, or Northwoods Alpacas Farm Store in Bergen, NY. The fleece from one of our little friends can come in 22 different colors such as fawn, brown, white, jet-black, silver, steel blue, rose-grey or a red that is the only natural fiber of its kind. Just imagine slipping under a cape that is as soft as cashmere, several times warmer and three times stronger than wool. And it won’t weigh you down, or cause an allergic reaction. Perhaps that’s because the fiber doesn’t have any lanolin or other greases. (A big plus for farmers who have to clean the fiber. It may not seem like a big deal to you now, but just try cleaning sheep’s wool that contains lanolin and waste material! Ugh.)
Visiting a farm in Genesee County is usually just a phone call away. Alpaca enthusiasts love to share stories about their pets – uh, livestock. Give them a call and they’re sure to say “Come on over!” If you want to visit several farms you could take a tour on “National Alpaca Day” (September 29 & 30, 2012.) Most farms have an open house and activities.
I hope you visit our farms, and just for fun, send me a picture of your favorite Alpaca (you can be in the picture if you’d like.) Please put the Alpaca’s name, farm and your name in the e-mail. We may use it in our next travel guide! Send your fun Alpaca shots to: direland@geneseeny.com
Here’s a list of the farms in our county:
Northwoods Alpacas 6499 North Lake Rd, Bergen, NY 585-494-1371
Alpaca Delights 10311 Bethany Ctr. Rd, E. Bethany, NY 585-344-2983
Alpaca Odyssey & Mercantile 8100 Marble Rd, Pembroke, NY 585-542-3939
Alpaca Play Pen, LLC 10869 Bowen Rd, Attica, NY 585-591-2520
Enchanted Forest Alpacas 7477 Selden Rd, LeRoy, NY 585-768-7219
Triple B’s Alpaca Farm 1892 Sharick Rd, Darien Center, NY 585-547-9271
See you at the paddock!
Dawn Ireland-Monsees
Dawn enjoys sharing her knowledge of the hidden gems in Genesee County, as well as promoting the rich artistic heritage found here. If you come to visit, you’re likely to find her in a play, leading a ghost walk, performing music, woodcarving, writing . . . well, you get the idea.
Why drive 100s of miles to see a wonder of the world? Niagara Falls is an easy 45 minute drive from Genesee County!
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