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Maryland Farms Celebrate
National Alpaca Farm Day is
September 29-30, 2007
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photo
by Armstrong Studio |
Select MABA Farms will participate in the first ever “National Alpaca Farm Day” On September 29 and 30, when alpaca breeders from across the United States and Canada will invite the public to come to their farm or ranch to meet their alpacas and learn more about these inquisitive, unique animals. Each farm will welcome guests to join them for many activities--all FREE!
See the list of participating farms below:
What IS an alpaca?
Alpacas, cousins to the llama, are native to the Andean Mountain range of South America, particularly Peru, Bolivia, and Chile. Alpacas were first imported into the United States in 1984. Since then, the alpaca industry has grown steadily, according to the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association (AOBA), the backbone of the alpaca industry. Current estimates total over 100,000 registered alpacas with the Alpaca Registry, Inc. (ARI) in the United States and more than 4,000 AOBA members in North America.
There are two types of alpacas in the United States today. Although almost physically identical, what distinguishes the two types of alpacas is their fiber. The Huacaya (wa-Ki’-ah) is the more common of the two and has a fluffy, extremely fine coat. The Suri is the rarer of the two and has fiber that is silky and resembles pencil-locks. Adult alpacas stand at approximately 36 inches at the withers and generally weigh between 150 and 200 pounds. They do not have horns, hooves, claws or incisors. Alpacas are alert, intelligent, curious, and predictable. Social animals that seek companionship, they communicate most commonly by softly humming. Alpacas are shorn, without harm, every twelve to eighteen months. They produced five to ten pounds of luxurious fiber.
Long ago, alpaca fiber was reserved for royalty. Today it is purchased in its raw fleece form by hand-spinners and fiber artists. Knitters buy it as yarn. Because of its soft texture, alpaca fiber is sometimes compared to cashmere. Making the fiber even more coveted, it has the luster of silk. Alpaca is just as warm as, yet 1/3 the weight of wool. It comes in 22 natural colors, yet can be dyed any desired shade. Containing no lanolin, alpaca fiber is also naturally hypoallergenic. Most people who are sensitive to wool find that they can wear alpaca without the itching or irritation they feel from wool because alpaca fiber is smooth. Additional performance characteristics include: stretch, water repellency, and odor reduction. For travelers, clothing made from alpaca is desirable because it is wrinkle-resistant. To find out more about National Alpaca Farm Day visit www.NationalAlpacaFarmDay.com or contact one of the MABA farms below:
Anne
Arundel County
Ameripaca
Alpaca Breeding Company (A)(F)
www.ameripaca.com
410-867-4204
Call for directions
Galesville,
MD 20765
Twin
Beeches Alpacas
www.TwinBeechesAlpacas.com
410-867-7652
P.O. Box 325
West River, MD 20778
Baltimore
County
My
Lady's Manor Alpaca Farm, LLC (A)(P)
www.alpacalady.net
410-771-4044
16231 Hutchins Mill Road
Monkton, MD 21111
Carroll
County
Arcadia
Hollow Alpaca Farm, LLC (A)(F)(P)
www.arcadiaalpaca.com
410-374-6649
3824 Grave Run Road
Manchester, MD 21102
Frederick
County
Brookmere
Alpacas (A)(F)(P)
www.brookmere.com
301-845-4222
9610 Gravel Hill Road
Woodsboro, MD 21798
Fernwood
Farm, LLC (A)(F)(P)
www.fernwoodfarmalpacas.com
Wilson, Paul & Diana
301-293-3085
4607 Dealuter Road
Frederick, MD 21702
Shear
Elegance Alpacas (A)(F)(P)
www.shearelegancealpacas.com
301-898-3789
12125 Old Fredrick Road
Thurmont, MD 21788
Sugarloaf
Alpaca Company (A)(F)
www.sugarloafalpacas.com
301-606-2133
1347 Buckeystown Pike
Adamstown, MD 21710
Harford
County
Criative
Acres (A)(F)(P)
www.criativeacres.com
410-557-6869
3807 Salem Church Rd
Jarrettsville, MD 21084
Montgomery
County
BlueGenes
Alpaca Ranch (A)(F)
www.bluegenesalpacaranch.com
301-977-4487
5401 Riggs Road
Gaithersburg, MD 20882
Blue
Ribbon Accoyo Alpacas (A)(F)(P)
www.fullaccoyo.com
301-570-0009
4320 Damascus Road
Gaithersburg, MD 20882
Prince
Georges County
Pax
River Alpacas (A)(F)
www.paxriveralpacas.com
301-627-4924
15775 Mt. Calvert Rd.
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Pilgrim's
Reward Farm (A)(F)
www.pilgrimsrewardfarm.com
310-627-2427
15714 Saint Thomas Church Road
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
St.
Mary’s County
Dameron
Alpacas (A)(F)
www.lovemyalpacas.com
301-872-5161
P.O. Box 13
48905 Tom's Way
Dameron, MD 20628
Nobella
Alpacas (A)(F)(P)
www.nobellaalpacas.com
301-475-9139
40280 Wathen Road
Leonardtown, MD 20650
Talbot
County
Skipjack
Suri Alpacas, LLC (A)
www.skipjacksurialpacas.com
410-819-3150
11821 Old Skipton Road
Cordova, MD 21625
Washington
County
Alpine
Alpacas (A)(F)
www.alpinealpaca.com
301-393-5878
10719 White Hall Rd.
Hagerstown, MD 21740
Annapaca
Farm Alpaca Shop LLC (A)(F)(P)
www.annapaca.com
301-824-2840
10702 Mapleville Road
Hagerstown, MD 21742
(A) =
Alpacas for Sale
(P)
= Products for Sale
(F) =
Fiber for Sale
Click here for a printable PDF (220KB) of information about this event and the above farm information. |
