Welcome to Alpaca Meadows, owned by Matt and Julie Petty. We have been raising alpacas in Mansfield, Ohio, since 2002.
How did we get started, you might ask? We visited an alpaca farm one summer with our children, thought it looked like something we would enjoy, and quickly began to fall in love with alpacas. Our children were young at the time, and involving them in this family endeavor was a wonderful experience—one that benefited all of us in many ways. We still feel blessed each day to look out and see our pastures filled with these beautiful animals.
People often ask what in the world made us get into the alpaca business. Looking back, I think it was simply one of those things God put in our path, along with the people and the trials placed in our lives at just the right time. Life on a farm keeps us humble, reminds us that we are not in charge, gets us outdoors to appreciate the beauty of the world around us, and teaches us compassion.
The Alpacas Who Touch Our Hearts
Over the years, there have been many alpacas who have left a lasting impression on us. One was a male cria (an alpaca baby) we called Nightrider.
Once in a great while, a cria needs a little extra help. When Nightrider was just a few days old, he needed a plasma transfer. Sedated for the procedure, he lay on my lap for several hours—and I’m pretty sure he remembered!
After that, he regularly sought me out. We would “Eskimo kiss,” and he always made my day. Even after a round of antibiotics and shots twice a day, he still liked me. I think animals somehow know when we’re trying to help them. That little guy certainly touched my heart.
His is just one of the many stories I could tell about our alpacas. They don’t ask for much, but they give so much in return.
Life With Alpacas
It’s amazing to watch nature unfold. A cria is born, struggles to its feet, finds its mom, and begins nursing—usually all within about an hour. Each alpaca has its own personality and disposition, making them endlessly intriguing to watch.
Alpacas have a way of slowing us down and bringing a sense of calm to our busy lives. I’ve been known to sit in the pasture on a Sunday morning with a cup of coffee, my crocheting, and my camera. It’s so serene.
One morning, I watched a mama deer and her two little ones meet a group of alpaca moms and crias from opposite sides of the fence. It was one of those precious little moments in time that farm life gives you when you least expect it.
And when the babies run, the work stops! We watch, amazed and entertained, as the crias race and pronk around the pasture.
Life somehow feels simpler here. The alpacas bring us little stress and much joy.
Learning to work with their luxurious fiber has been an unexpected pleasure, too. Being able to nurture my creative side and turn the fiber our animals grow into yarn, felted creations, and other handmade pieces has been a wonderful bonus.
I love the quote, “Find something you love to do, and you’ll never have to work another day in your life.”
I have found that something.
Come Experience Alpaca Meadows
We invite you to come visit us in Mansfield, Ohio. Spend some time watching the alpacas in the pasture. Listen to them hum. Watch their beautiful fleece move in the wind as they run. If you’re lucky enough to visit when we have babies, enjoy watching the crias play.
Take some time to slow down, enjoy the outdoors, and experience these gentle and curious animals for yourself. You’ll soon understand why we have enjoyed the alpaca lifestyle for so many years.
Who would have guessed that one family visit to an alpaca farm all those years ago would lead us here?
We certainly didn’t—but we’re very glad it did.
Ready to experience the farm for yourself? Learn more about our farm visits, Guided Farm Tours, Alpaca Walks, Picnic With Alpacas, Farm Events, and Fiber Arts Classes.