A decade ago, Jeanne got a ‘hankering’. She and our oldest daughter, Natalie, rode horses and wanted a farm. We started the ‘hunt’ and in seven months, looked at 24 properties and considered 5 of them. Finally, a friend found us this farm. Of course, we lived in a travel trailer in the driveway for 9 months with 3 home schooled kids, 3 dogs and 3 cats while we rehabbed the house and buildings - but that is another story!
We had always intended to make the farm a profitable business and thought it would involve horses until we experienced their growing labor and up keep. Then, Jeanne went to the Pennsylvania Farm Show and met Darwin Kell. She had been interested in alpacas but never found anyone who knew the financial facts about the business. Darwin changed that!
The decision to enter the alpaca business is only the beginning. We then had to learn about alpacas. What kind did we want to raise? How do you choose an alpaca for investment purposes as opposed to a pet? What do you need to know about caring for them? So many questions! Darwin patiently coached us and seven months later, we brought home 5 Suri maidens, preferring Peruvian Suris with Accoyo bloodlines. (See About Alpacas)
We found that our past experience was very beneficial to us. Jeanne is a registered nurse with a background in medical oncology, complimentary medicine, nutrition, herbs and experience with horses and other animals. Ross is a chemist, turned medical doctor with specialty boards in Rehabilitation Medicine, Pain Medicine, Spinal Cord Injury and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (which explains why he never got on a horse!). Natalie rides and shows horses, has a natural rapport with all animals and has experience as an equine trainer.
Finally, we named our business, created a corporation and began to learn about financial management. We went to seminars, conferences, read books and talked with experienced breeders and found that this is a very supportive community. We now have 21 alpacas with 6 cria expected in 2009.
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