| The Story of the Golden Eagle
Alpaca Farm |
John & Iris |
It all began in late August 2008, when John was looking around the internet and happened upon an Alpaca site. Being an inquisitive person, he started researching alpacas and having an interest in owning a farm, became convinced this was our next life's challenge. As he explained it, here was an opportunity to live a relaxed enjoyable life, around great animals and we would be able to do this late in life as well. |
VAOBA Alpaca Expo
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We next visited a farm in Moyock, NC for a farm visit and Iris' first visit with an alpaca. What is not to love about these great animals? While we stood in the barn with the owners, one of their really friendly alpacas was standing in the circle with us. Next, John visited a farm in Smithfield. By now, he was convinced. In late October of 2008, we went to Lexington, VA for the Alpaca Expo. While there, we took in a seminar from Lou Eustance, of French Hollow Alpacas on "Jump Starting your alpaca business". We also spent some good time talking to Lou afterwards about the business, and plan a visit to her farm in Cambridge, NY. Iris came home convinced this was the right thing for us. |
Our Herd
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For the next month we visited several other farms in the area and began to look for a farm of our own. In the meantime, we bought 2 white maidens, who will be bred in the fall, and a bred medium grey lady. They were agisted (boarded) on their respective farms until we were closer to owning a farm. |
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We found our farm in late April 2009 and closed on it at the end of May. We moved onto the land on June 15, 2009 and immediately began fencing the first set of pastures. Our first alpacas came here on August 28, 2009. Joy (female), and her two sons, Essence and Tequile are in residence and will soon be joined by 4 more alpacas and our Guard Llama, Chocolate Chip. Our females are bred for Spring delivery except for Joy who will be bred in December to a sire to be determined. |
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We are getting ready to seed over the pastures with winter rye, and lime applications as well as work on the orchard and blueberry patch. John will also soon begin fencing the pastures in front and alongside the house, so by Spring we will have alpacas on 3 sides of us! |
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