Open Barn? Say no more. I know, you feel the same way too. This beautiful Colorado fall morning my husband Mark and I (lovers of all things agricultural) set off on our much awaited "Open Barn" day trip to the Stargazer Ranch in Loveland, CO. We wanted to experience the feel of...yes...an alpaca farm. You know, the animals you see on those commercials that show the white fluffy lamb like baby alpacas grazing in green meadows that beg you to leave behind corporate life for the simpler more peaceful pleasures of raising this fleeced livestock. Well, we were taken by it and had to go check it out. We of course took our two year old grandson Noah on the outing.
Upon arriving, we were greeted by John who welcomed us and made us feel quite at home. As we entered the grazing pasture, we met John's very hospitable wife Cindy. I could tell within moments that I was going to enjoy my visit. Many of the alpacas walk right up to you. The urge to restrain your hand from reaching right out to pet the silky looking fleece is soundly defeated. The feel of the fleece these oddly beautiful creatures possess is like petting butter. You want to just hug it and then you remember you are hugging livestock. Ok, pause. The animals have fleece in colors ranging from pristine white to ebony black and all colors of beautiful brown in between. As we walked through the pasture there were plenty of places to just sit and watch these interesting animals while enjoying the magnificent scenery. These alpacas definitely have the life! They live on twenty green acres and enjoy views of the Rocky Mountains every day!
During my visit with Cindy, she shares that she and her husband left the corporate world quite a few years ago to devote themselves to full time ranching. They appear to have become quite successful at managing "the herd." Cindy tells me that the genetics mapping of each alpaca is something that is just getting well established over the past few years. This mapping gives breeders access to genetic history so they can breed animals with the most favorable traits which include things like fleece fineness. The alpaca produces a luxury fleece. The fleece of an alpaca is measured in microns and is sold by the ounce. According to one alpaca association, "No other animal produces fiber that has the softness of cashmere, the luster of silk, the lightness of goose feathers, the durability of wool, and the warmth of a cozy fireplace. The alpaca has been domesticated (as versus its kin llama, which is primarily a work animal) and carefully bred for over 5,000 years as a luxury fiber-producing animal. Alpaca wool has been prized for centuries for its incredible combination of softness, lightness, and warmth."
Cindy and John also breed and sell alpacas. Cindy shows me both the Suri alpacas that have shiny long fleece and the Huacaya that has a more sturdy, fluffy fleece. Both are fine for spinning.
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| Noah bonds with the animals. |
We spent the better part of the morning at Stargazer Ranch and thoroughly enjoyed our visit. We came away refreshed and with dreams of a more back to the land lifestyle and look forward to watching alpaca ranching grow. Cindy and John were so knowledgeable and kind. For anyone interested in alpacas, they would be a "must know" couple. Their Stargazer Ranch website is http://www.alpaca.net/index.htm.
