Adventures on the Farm

We entered into 2025 with plans to open up the farm as we normally do each spring. As we started to approach spring, I began my annual planning and prep work. Well, let me just say things don’t always go as planned.

What happens when fourteen international alpaca breeders come together for a two-week adventure in Peru? You get a bucket list trip of pure goodness.

When Wood-TV in Grand Rapids asked to come to the farm, we were more than eager to welcome them. What we didn’t realize was baby Otto was going to fall in love with the reporter Rachael Ruiz. And Otto wasn’t alone. Jalapena was just as smitten and wouldn’t leave her side.

Today we wrapped up the 2024 4-H fair at the Northwestern Michigan Fair in Traverse City. It’s been months of practice and a week of competitions, fair food, laughter, and

The Alpaca Owners Association has announced its 2024 board of director candidates and Jason is running. He had not planned to run, however, he received a call asking for him

Amber blessed our lives and we know she blessed the lives of all those who visited our farm and met her during tours. She was a one of a kind, beautiful soul who was full of spunk, sass, and sweetness. Until we meet again sweet Amber.

Things never go as planned, and so is the story of Lilly Grace’s delivery and baby Ryan’s entry into the world. Don’t worry, it’s a happy ending.

This last weekend we opened our farm up and invited the public in for two days of alpaca giggles, treats, and photos. We like to do this right before shearing

We’d like to provide some farm updates for everyone as our busy season of summer is kicking off. Babies are coming, shearing is happening, and we have a winner for our big giveaway.

Jason, Hunter, and I would all like to extend a big thank you to everyone who we were fortunate to encounter this last year. From our alpaca buyers and tour visitors to those who shopped in the store or covered our farm in the news – we are grateful to you.

Alpaca birthday parties can be great fun. No matter what the weather, you can have tons of fun just feeding and hanging out with the alpacas on the farm.

It appears the larger our alpaca herd grows, the happier the alpacas become. I am apparently adopting herd mentality, because the more alpacas we own, the happier I become.

Last week was busy and completely full of 4H fair activities for the Northwestern Michigan Fair in Traverse City. It was our first year at the fair, and I can safely say, it will not be the last.

On May 25th, Gina and Bill brought Princess, Dolly, and Reba to our farm. We were all thrilled with the new arrivals and were also excited for Princess to deliver her cria.

When she went into labor on May 15th, it was a completely different story. While she did wait for my husband to leave, she slowed her birth down and waited for assistance. She did so because her baby wasn’t positioned correctly and she knew she was in trouble.

While their primary role has been heat preservation, the sheep pajamas make the lambs look adorable and they help us quickly tell one lamb from another.

I may not be able to wear my barn boots in my house anymore, but I do still take the time to visit the sheep and see the baby lambs grow.

And then I started to interact with the sheep and my opinion shifted. To my utter surprise, the sheep were also like pets.

I didn’t know what to expect when we adopted Faith and Stormy, but I’m sure glad we took the chance and brought our adopted alpacas home. Now that they are farm residents, I simply cannot imagine what life would be without them.

And thus began our adventure as alpaca farmers. We brought home Ariana, Anastasia, Kalista, and Sienna in January. Baby Adele will arrive in late March once she is ready to leave her mama.

Looking back that magic was a bit of family magic. Nothing of this magnitude can happen on its own. It was the family that helped prep land, raise beams, and build roofs. It was the cousins and uncles who crawled high, hammered nails, and provided physical and moral support.

As soon as I arrived, I knew this was home. The wide-open space backed up against woods, a creek, and a little pond. Across the street was a friendly horse farm with a welcoming white picket fence. It was everything I was looking for and it was exactly what I wanted to call home.