Plenty to learn from alpacas on Holmes County Farm Tour stop at Spring Ridge Alpacas
Some farm tours turn their attention to the actual art of turning soil and raising cattle, with crops and dairy as the only focal point of the tour. For Holmes County organizers of the fifth annual Holmes County Farm Tour, the idea was to make a wide variety of stops that have either a direct or indirect impact on the agricultural industry in Holmes County.
One fine example of that diversity is Spring Ridge Alpacas, which will be stop number seven on the tour that traverses northwest Holmes County this year during the Saturday, August 20 event, sponsored by the Holmes County Farm Bureau.
Spring Ridge Alpacas is located at 14695 TR 469 near Lakeville, and owners Denny and Connie Snell are eager to showcase the 53-strong herd of alpacas they consider their extended family.
“It’s amazing how alpacas all have their own unique personalities,” said Denny Snell. “It’s been really fun to raise these animals and see each personality trait come shining through. They are a really playful animal, and at times they can get quite comical.”
The Snells began raising alpacas in 2002, when a breeder sold them two head and told them that they would never be a very big farm.
“They were pretty sure that we would only be good for two animals, but we got bitten by the bug and found out that we really enjoyed it,” said Snell.
Since then, they have been raising the animals for their fleece, which is highly sought, and they have been a breeding farm, supplying a number of new alpaca farmers with their first few animals. The bulk of their animals are Huacayas, the most common breed of alpaca. They have recently branched out into the realm of Suri, a smaller breed that looks like it wears dreadlocks, and whose fleece is extremely shiny.
The Snells hope that their efforts coincide with the nation’s move to become more of a sustainable fiber market. Snell said that in order for that to happen, the U.S. needs about one million animals, although as of now, the count is somewhere around 400,000. The hope is that when the market comes to fruition, the Snells will be in a good position to be part of the efforts to supply high-end fiber to artisans.
But with the efforts of farms like the Snells, alpacas are poised to grow in population, and new farmers like Aussie Bob are a testament to that.
Aussie Bob is Bob Boyack, a professional race mechanic from Australia who will be at Spring Ridge Alpacas for the tour. Boyack and his wife, Julie Horn, were introduced to alpacas by the Snells. The reason they wanted to get involved with alpacas was because they felt that the animal would be a good form of animal rehabilitation for their MRDD clients they work with in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Boyack told the Snells three years ago that they could only afford one animal. Denny Snell said that because they are pack animals, they would only thrive if they went in pairs, so the Snells gave the owners of Hobo’s Alpacas a second one for free.
In the past three years, Hobo’s has blossomed into a 50-head herd, and the couples have been famous friends ever since.
“Bob is such a treat to talk to, and they have done such a wonderful job with their animals,” said Snell. “They have really gotten on board and seen such growth.”
Whether as pets, or for use in breeding, alpacas make for compelling animals. Snell said the breeding aspect of alpacas is always an adventure, and they do all of their breeding in their own barn, chasing males down a ramp to the awaiting females, never really knowing what kind of results to expect.
One thing is certain, however: Should any of the people trying to induce the breeding process get in the way of a worked up female, they are likely to get a face full of spit.
“These animals are uncanny in their accuracy to spit,” said Snell. “There have been way too many times when we have ended up in the line of fire, but that is part of what these animals do, and part of the fun of raising them. There is never a dull moment. They are fairly docile animals, until they want to establish their dominance in the herd or are breeding. When they start trying to prove their dominance between males, they start out playing, and before you know it, they are getting pretty rough, then they are screaming and spitting and it becomes a full blown fight.”
Taking part in the educational portion of the farm tour is why the Snells are so excited about the opportunity coming up. Snell said that sharing their experiences and their knowledge about alpacas is something they truly enjoy doing, especially over a nice cool glass of ice tea on the back porch.
Part of the educational experience will be showing people tools of the trade, like the tumbler, which pulls out impurities from the fleece before it is wound. Another exciting part of the stop will be The Spin Doctor, Nancy Davenport, who will be spinning wool, and even allow patrons to take a turn at the wheel.
In addition, Jim Bentliff will be on hand to help Snell demonstrate Snell’s newly designed alpaca sling, which allows owners to hoist their alpaca off the ground so they can work on trimming their fleece or examining the animal safely. The contraption is new to the market, and already has captured the fancy of alpaca farmers nationwide.
“Our main goal is to share the joy we have had in dealing with these animals,” said Snell. “We’ve gotten so close to them that they are like part of our extended family now.”
One fine example of that diversity is Spring Ridge Alpacas, which will be stop number seven on the tour that traverses northwest Holmes County this year during the Saturday, August 20 event, sponsored by the Holmes County Farm Bureau.
Spring Ridge Alpacas is located at 14695 TR 469 near Lakeville, and owners Denny and Connie Snell are eager to showcase the 53-strong herd of alpacas they consider their extended family.
“It’s amazing how alpacas all have their own unique personalities,” said Denny Snell. “It’s been really fun to raise these animals and see each personality trait come shining through. They are a really playful animal, and at times they can get quite comical.”
The Snells began raising alpacas in 2002, when a breeder sold them two head and told them that they would never be a very big farm.
“They were pretty sure that we would only be good for two animals, but we got bitten by the bug and found out that we really enjoyed it,” said Snell.
Since then, they have been raising the animals for their fleece, which is highly sought, and they have been a breeding farm, supplying a number of new alpaca farmers with their first few animals. The bulk of their animals are Huacayas, the most common breed of alpaca. They have recently branched out into the realm of Suri, a smaller breed that looks like it wears dreadlocks, and whose fleece is extremely shiny.
The Snells hope that their efforts coincide with the nation’s move to become more of a sustainable fiber market. Snell said that in order for that to happen, the U.S. needs about one million animals, although as of now, the count is somewhere around 400,000. The hope is that when the market comes to fruition, the Snells will be in a good position to be part of the efforts to supply high-end fiber to artisans.
But with the efforts of farms like the Snells, alpacas are poised to grow in population, and new farmers like Aussie Bob are a testament to that.
Aussie Bob is Bob Boyack, a professional race mechanic from Australia who will be at Spring Ridge Alpacas for the tour. Boyack and his wife, Julie Horn, were introduced to alpacas by the Snells. The reason they wanted to get involved with alpacas was because they felt that the animal would be a good form of animal rehabilitation for their MRDD clients they work with in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Boyack told the Snells three years ago that they could only afford one animal. Denny Snell said that because they are pack animals, they would only thrive if they went in pairs, so the Snells gave the owners of Hobo’s Alpacas a second one for free.
In the past three years, Hobo’s has blossomed into a 50-head herd, and the couples have been famous friends ever since.
“Bob is such a treat to talk to, and they have done such a wonderful job with their animals,” said Snell. “They have really gotten on board and seen such growth.”
Whether as pets, or for use in breeding, alpacas make for compelling animals. Snell said the breeding aspect of alpacas is always an adventure, and they do all of their breeding in their own barn, chasing males down a ramp to the awaiting females, never really knowing what kind of results to expect.
One thing is certain, however: Should any of the people trying to induce the breeding process get in the way of a worked up female, they are likely to get a face full of spit.
“These animals are uncanny in their accuracy to spit,” said Snell. “There have been way too many times when we have ended up in the line of fire, but that is part of what these animals do, and part of the fun of raising them. There is never a dull moment. They are fairly docile animals, until they want to establish their dominance in the herd or are breeding. When they start trying to prove their dominance between males, they start out playing, and before you know it, they are getting pretty rough, then they are screaming and spitting and it becomes a full blown fight.”
Taking part in the educational portion of the farm tour is why the Snells are so excited about the opportunity coming up. Snell said that sharing their experiences and their knowledge about alpacas is something they truly enjoy doing, especially over a nice cool glass of ice tea on the back porch.
Part of the educational experience will be showing people tools of the trade, like the tumbler, which pulls out impurities from the fleece before it is wound. Another exciting part of the stop will be The Spin Doctor, Nancy Davenport, who will be spinning wool, and even allow patrons to take a turn at the wheel.
In addition, Jim Bentliff will be on hand to help Snell demonstrate Snell’s newly designed alpaca sling, which allows owners to hoist their alpaca off the ground so they can work on trimming their fleece or examining the animal safely. The contraption is new to the market, and already has captured the fancy of alpaca farmers nationwide.
“Our main goal is to share the joy we have had in dealing with these animals,” said Snell. “We’ve gotten so close to them that they are like part of our extended family now.”
Published: July 26, 2011
