Looking for a fuzzy, earth-friendly way to turn a profit on a small farm? Alpacas, the camelid cousins to llamas, may be just the ticket.
“We wanted to raise livestock that we didn’t have to do in to get their product,” said Bill Henry of Burlington, Washington. He and his wife, Susan, have four and a half acres of land that easily accommodate their herd of 20 alpacas. “They’re very easy to raise and very inexpensive to raise,” says Henry, and “they seem to do well basically anywhere.”
If you would like to know more about these fleecy critters and expect to be near Monroe, Washington in early April, check out Alpacapalooza, April 7-8 at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds, for two days of peace, love and livestock. For additional information, visit the Alpaca Association of Western Washington.
