Island Alpaca Farm welcomed more than 100 members of the public last Friday to see the shearing of the newest additions to their herd: nine baby alpacas, or cria, as they are known to alpaca farmers.

Fun and informative, the shearers, who visited from Unity, N.H., explained the process to onlookers: “You start from the top of the back and work towards the belly,” said Jozi Best, who has been shearing alpacas for over a decade, or more than 2,000 alpacas each year. “Shearing the alpaca stimulates the growth for a strong winter fleece.”

Also trying his hand at the shearing was the Island’s own Philippe Morin, who did a fine job shearing the newest of Island Alpaca herd members, Spock, Jolly and finally Cassiel. “It is a fairly simple procedure, requiring a bit of patience and a lot of focus,” he said.

On hand were Island Alpaca farm assistants, Phoenix Russell, Sandy D’Amico and farm owner Barbara Ronchetti. Barbara Dutton, a farm volunteer, offered fleece samples from the newly shorn alpaca.

Island Alpaca is expecting a final herd member, Zora, early this month.

Look for the newly coiffed creatures, and their final cria birth, at the farm, open daily through Sept. 13, and every Thursday through Sunday thereafter. For details, see online at islandalpaca.com, or call 508-693-5554.