Our Herd

The Alpaca is a member of the Camelid family of herbivores.  It’s Old World cousins are the Dromedary and Bactrian camels.  In the New World of South America it has lived with its cousins the Llama, Vicuna and Guanaco.  Along with the Llama, the Alpaca was domesticated by the ancient Incas; the Llama predominately as a beast of burden, the Alpaca to provide fleece for clothing.  Each grows long thick coats, providing excellent insulation for life in the Andean highlands of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Chile.
PictureElvis
The youngest of the herd, Elvis loves to eat from our hand.  Very playful, he is always trying to engage one of his herd mates into wrestling up and down the hills.
PictureSundancer
Sundancer is currently the only Suri Alpaca in our herd.  Curious and very vocal, he is a constant companion wherever I go taking care of chores around the barns and fields.
PictureMidnight Magic
Magic is the herd elder.  From their first day at the ranch, he assumed the role of alpha, keeping watch from up on one of the slopes as the herd grazes and goes about their day.  Quiet and gentle, he has a calm composure, taking everything in stride.
PictureCinnamon
Cinnamon is large as the average Alpaca goes, weighing in at 198 lbs.  Very aloof and regal, he is the descendant of champions, his grandsire was an internationally recognized show champion.  Strong willed and independent, he is not shy to let others (including us) know that he will do as we wish, but only when it suits him.
PictureSnowmane
Snowmane is the other young adult of the herd.  Precocious and assertive, especially at feeding time, he is not too shy to take advantage of an open feed bucket if given the chance.  At times playful, he is more than willing to chase and wrestle with Elvis.
PictureNapoleon
Napoleon is the second oldest in the herd.  Quiet and unassuming, he projects a live and let live attitude with his herd mates.  He loves a good sunspot out in the field to lay down and enjoy the day.
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Cisco is a beautiful chocolate brown with auburn 
highlites.  A mature show competitor, he loves feeding from our hands and being petted.
Quicksilver is a stunning white and silver combination.  Very lovable, a companion of Cisco's, like Elvis he likes to eat separate from the herd with me sitting nearby.
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Paris also brings us a soft pearly white fine quality fiber.  A very self-assertive one, he has shown a desire to guard his mates, keeping a wary eye on the herd dogs.  Paris provides a thick soft fleece in beautiful white, but also great for dying!
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Dark Knight is very friendly and loves having me scratch his back.  He is alert, and keeps a constant vigil on what is going on in and outside the fields.  Dark Knight gives us a thick, rich natural black fiber.
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White Knight is a precocious, assertive young adult who is definitely not shy about keeping the older guys away from his food!  White Knight gives us a beautiful, shiny true black fiber.  He's not very lovable, but will eagerly accept treats from your hand.