Alpaca farms welcome visitors this weekend

A dozen alpaca farms across the state will be participating in the annual Maine Alpaca Association Open Farm Weekend from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 6 and 7.

By the end of the birthing season this fall, Maine’s alpaca herd is expected to reach a record high of 1,000. According to Raini Perry of the MAA, Maine has become perhaps the most perfect place in the country for raising alpacas.

“Most farmers in Maine belong to the MAA which has reported a record crop this year of baby alpacas, many of which are of the very highest quality nationwide,” Perry said this week.

“Maine’s climate is perfect – the alpaca’s incredibly warm fleece takes them through the winter, and they are shorn in May once a year before the heat of the summer.” Perry said six to eight alpacas can be raised on an acre, and a high percentage of Maine alpaca farmers have the minimum 3 to 4 acres that are required for a profitable ranching operation.

Perry said a growing number of alpaca farmers have opened small stores on their farms to market 100 percent alpaca yarn spun from their herds as well as other high-end alpaca products.

For Open Farm Day, 12 alpaca farms around the state will open their barn doors to the public to show off their animals, sell fleece and yarn, give fiber processing demonstrations and answer questions about the industry. Some farms will have beautiful alpaca apparel, such as sweaters and blankets for sale. A list of these farms can be found at mainealpacafarms.com.

For more information, contact Perry at 993-2025 or Terence Callery at 832-5160.