We love to open our barn to the public. That’s why we have two major ‘Open Barn’ events each year. The first one is in May, the weekend before shearing. This usually occurs Mother’s Day weekend. What a great treat to bring mom out to the farm, meet and learn about the alpacas and pick out an alpaca for mom to take home! Seriously, we sell our fiber boys to hand spinners or to family’s as pets. On a different scale for mom, we stock a fiber arts and yarn store full of things for mom made from her favorite alpaca’s fiber. We sell fiber straight from the animal, washed and carded into rovings and slivers, spun into a variety of weights of yarn as well as a range of finished products from felted placemats and table runners to knit sweaters, socks, hats and scarves.
Our second annual 'Open Barn' event is held the last weekend of September to celebrate National Alpaca Farm Day. In addition to having our fiber arts & yarn store open, you’ll be able to feed the alpacas treats, learn the differences between the suri and huacaya breeds and feel the difference in fiber softness between month-old cria and adult fiber. You can also make it a great learning experience for kids! Our learning center makes a great way for those curious about alpacas to learn more about their care and feeding and whether an alpaca breeding business would fit your lifestyle, income and entrepreneurial situation.
Spring 2010 Open Barn Event
The winter may have been tough but it’s been a good spring at Sugarloaf Alpaca Company (SAC). Recently, Sugarloaf Alpaca Company’s three entries in the Maryland Alpaca Show (April 16-18, 2010) met with great success. We are Frederick County’s largest alpaca breeder and we were thrilled to win top honors for a light brown suri alpaca named Sugarloaf’s Sveta who earned a blue ribbon in the female yearling class. Her fiber’s fineness, luster, density and locking were noted by the judge as reasons for earning this prestigious recognition. SAC animals also won in two other classes. SAC’s Chancellor took a third place white ribbon for dark suri male alpacas. And, in the highly competitive white huacaya male alpaca class Sugarloaf’s Thunder Boomer was awarded a second place red ribbon. Each of the animals was shown by Nancy Brandt, owner of Sugarloaf Alpaca Company. Winning in the show ring is an affirmation of a breeder’s program and their ability to enhance the desired characteristics of the individual alpaca and the herd overall. In addition to winning in the show ring, Sugarloaf Alpaca Company is preparing a big splash for the spring shearing season. The annual shearing is always preceded by an Open Barn event to allow the public to ‘meet the producer’ of the soft luxurious fiber cherished by the ancient Incan royalty and this year is no different. The 2010 Mother’s Day Open Barn event will be conducted in partnership with South Valley Alpacas and Absolute Alpaca Heaven on May 8th and 9th from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The public is invited to this free event which is being held on the Sugarloaf Alpaca Company farm at 1347 Buckeystown Pike in Adamstown. This year’s event will include new activities and educational opportunities as well as last year’s spectacular show. The Open Barn event will allow farm visitors to meet the alpacas up close and personal. Alpacas enjoy alfalfa and carrots so we’ll have plenty on hand so that you can have them eating out of your hands. Yarn sales have been a big hit during past Open Barn events and this year we have expanded our offerings with new colors and a greater variety of weights. We stock patterns and ideas for trendy products made of alpaca fiber as well as the treasured standbys like alpaca scarves, hats and mittens. We also stock a variety of clothing items made from alpaca fiber which showcases just how luxurious alpaca fiber can be. Farm visitors from last year’s event will recall watching the birth of a baby alpaca - Chester. While there is no guarantee the same will happen this year there are three moms due the week following the Open Barn Event so the potential exists for another birth. At 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM each day the public is invited to attend a free 45 minute seminar to be held on the care, feeding and breeding of alpacas. You’ll learn just how easy it is to own and breed alpacas either as a business enterprise or simply for the love of an alpaca. Halter training demonstrations will occur directly after the seminars. You’ll be amazed at their ability to follow commands as well as jump, run and stand for judging competitions. These skills will be invaluable to the lucky farm visitor who registers for and wins a free pet male alpaca. It’s true, we will repeat last year’s excitement of giving away a pet male to someone who comes to the farm on Saturday or Sunday and register to win (qualifications apply). Sugarloaf Alpaca Company was established in 2003 with a dozen alpacas hand-selected from one of the founders of the American alpaca industry. Since then the herd has grown to more than 85 animals with nearly two-dozen cria, or babies, due this year. Sugarloaf Alpaca Company’s business model includes selling breeding stock to existing alpaca breeders and mentoring new breeders. In addition, the company has herdsires for hire, boards a small number of alpacas for new breeders and sells yarn and other fiber and fiber arts products to the public. Anyone interested in alpaca breeding, yarn or fiber arts are welcome to come visit the alpacas and meet the producers. To arrange a visit at another time contact Nancy Brandt at 301-606-2133 or nancy@sugarloafalpacas.com
