National Alpaca Farm Days at Curly Eye

September 28 and 29–Local alpaca breeders will offer alpaca products and opportunities to meet alpacas Saturday and Sunday, September 28 and 29, from 9 a.m. till 3 p.m. The event at Curly Eye at 6701 W. Gillespie Bridge Road will feature the huacaya alpaca breed, including opportunities to interact with the alpacas, kids’ activities, and also alpaca products to keep mid-Missouri warm and snug this winter.  Farm owners Gary and Mary Licklider will be on hand to provide information about the animals.

Many are surprised to learn that there are alpaca farms in the area. Curly Eye is an alpaca farm that Gary and Mary Licklider started in 2002.  Curly Eye is also the location of Heartfelt Alpaca Creations, a collaborative of Mary Licklider and other local women who purchased a FeltLoom™ in 2010 and market their felted alpaca products nationally. Heartfelt is currently for sale. The three owners, Linda Coats, Mary Licklider, and Diane Peckham, have raised and enjoyed alpacas for many years, and the they look forward to continuing to enjoy alpacas in retirement after Heartfelt has sold.

The gentle nature and disease resistance of alpacas make them easy to keep. The Lickliders spend about 20 minutes each morning and evening taking care of the 14 animals at Curly Eye.

Alpaca fleece is harvested without harming the animals to produce warm, luxurious apparel. The untold number of benefits from its fleece appeal to spinners and weavers like Linda Coats of Coats High Ridge Farm: “Soft, warm, strong, colorful with or without dye, hypo-allergenic, washable–it’s a wonderful product.”

Since its introduction to the United States about 40 years ago, the alpaca industry has grown in popularity with farmers and retailers all over North America. Alpacas are quiet, gentle animals that have proven to be a good long-term investment.

Almost all the other US supplies of this kind of luxury fiber, like cashmere, are from foreign sources. If all the North American alpacas were sheared at once, their fiber would keep a commercial mill busy for only a few weeks.  Because of this gap between supply and demand, the value of alpaca products is expected to hold constant for the foreseeable future. Admission is free. For information contact Mary Licklider at 573-819-4695 or alpacas@curlyeye.com.