Shearing Day is from noon to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 14 at Island Alpaca. The event features the newest alpaca babies, also referred to as cria, getting their first shave. August, after all, can be hot, especially for those with fur.
Admission is $5 per person.
For more information, visit islandalpaca.com or call 508-693-5554.
Island Alpaca will be holding a Thanksgiving weekend open house from Nov. 22 through 25, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
Island Alpaca is a 20-acre farm that hosts an untold number of alpacas and one llama. Visitors can wander about on their own self-guided tour through the grounds and inside the post-and-beam barn where everything alpaca, from sweaters to hats, dolls and socks, awaits. For anyone feeling especially ambitious, the alpacas themselves are for sale. After all, Christmas is just around the corner.
There are seventy-two alpacas grazing the daisy-dotted acreage of Island Alpaca Company in Oak Bluffs. But chances are, the first animal visitors seen upon walking into the enormous barn on the property won’t be one of them.
Newcomers often furrow their brows, puzzled, and ask the staff if the tall shaggy creature with the skinny legs, big ears and knowing, curious face is a male alpaca.
“This is Sudrina,” the staff answers. “She’s our llama.” The only llama.
Alpaca Award
She started in the corporate world and gave it all up for alpaca. Now Barbara Ronchetti will be honored for Building a Better Mousetrap.
The award, presented by small business counseling group Cape Cod SCORE, is given to 15 small business that have survived five years of operation and appear headed for long-term success. Ms. Ronchetti, who began the Island Alpaca Company in 2004, was selected by the Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce.
Alpacas in January
The Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom organization announced this week that a photograph taken at the Island Alpaca Farm will appear in its 2012 calendar. The photograph by farm owner Barbara Ronchetti shows alpacas in the snow. The picture will grace the January calendar page. To order a calendar visit aginclassroom.org.
Island Alpaca’s well-decorated herd sire, Estrada, won a first place position in his age and color category for his fleece from the Empire Alpaca Association Fleece Event and Fiber Symposium in Syracuse, N.Y. recently. He also was awarded the highly coveted championship (all age groups) in a class of 36 alpaca. All but three alpaca were younger competitors to Estrada, an overwhelming number to challenge for most older alpacas.
