4-H | Alpaca Meadows

Alpaca 4-H Program 2020

Four kids from local 4-H clubs came to Alpaca Meadows this summer, adopted alpacas to work with and prepare to show at the Richland County Fair. This gives kids an opportunity to learn about alpacas and select alpacas as a 4-H project, without the commitment of owning one. Kat Krietemeyer showed Shiya, Anna Irwin showed Annalise, Arica Uplinger showed Amelia, and Carson Abbott showed Alvira. Impressive how well they all cleaned up for the fair!

Though nervous about how to re-open our farm in a safe way during a pandemic, I’m happy we were able to offer this opportunity to a few kids whose activities have been cancelled everywhere they turn (along with the rest of the world). Parents and kids seemed to all enjoy the diversion and a chance to focus on something besides what’s going on in the world right now.

10 Reasons to Raise Alpacas

Why did we start raising alpacas? We fell in love with them, and the alpaca lifestyle! There are soo many more reasons to choose to start an alpaca farm…here’s just ten of them!

1. Love of the Animals

Like I said, we fell in love with the animals! When we visited that first alpaca farm and saw those intriguing looking animals, it was love at first sight! There is a peacefulness about these gentle animals, with their long elegant necks, large eyes, long lashes, and gentle humming. Alpacas continue to transfix us, making them irresistible for those of us who have taken the “taken the plunge.”

Inside the Barns at the Richland County Fair

From Richland Source
By Brittany Schock

MANSFIELD, Ohio – Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was the Richland County Fair. Guests may wander through the barns looking at the cute animals, but few are aware of the hard work put forth by junior fair members weeks and even months in advance.

For 15-year-old Laurasen Combs, her fair project began with the birth of her alpaca – and it was hard work from the very beginning.

“I really like the challenge, so I picked her because she was the hardest one to work with out of the whole herd,” said Combs. “She was the baby no one could catch and was the most ornery.”

Combs’ risk paid off, she won first place in obstacles and second in showmanship with her alpaca. She explained showmanship is judged on how well handler and animal work as a team, but obstacles are all about trust as the animal is led through various structures designed to simulate being out on the trail.

Laurasen Combs at the Richland County Fair — 15-year-old Laurasen Combs won first place in obstacles and second place in showmanship with her alpaca at the Richland County Fair on Wednesday. Brittany Schock, Staff Reporter

“I only ran through obstacles with her twice, but we worked on trust a lot,” said Combs. “I sat in the pasture and her on a long lead, and I’d pull her close to me and let her go. That was she doesn’t associate me with work and not having fun, and having to constantly do what she’s not used to.”

Selling Alpacas is Bittersweet

Oliver Twist We sold two of our Fall babies last week, Oliver Twist and Sultan, to a young boy who plans on doing alpacas for his 4-H project. It’s what we do, raise alpacas and sell alpacas but it is definitely bittersweet, we wait so long to have our babies, then raise them up and … Read more