NILES - Hayley Hares became entranced with alpacas since the moment she laid eyes on them at the Cayuga County Fair this past summer.
Since that moment, the 12-year-old from Skaneateles researched the llama-like animal endemic to South America in the hopes of adding two to her family's dairy farm.
“They can be a good, long-term friend,” said Hayley's sister, Audrey, 17.
“Longer than cows,” Hayley added.
Hayley, Audrey, their sister Kelsey, and mom, Denise Minturn, traveled to the Song Meadows Alpacas farm in Niles, owned by Cindy and Karl Cuykendall, for National Alpaca Farm Day Sunday, despite the thick fog soup that enveloped the region and the pitter-patter of rain drops hitting the cool pavement.
Song Meadows Alpacas farm hosted a two-day event for the National Alpaca Farm Day. Cindy said there was a steady stream of people coming by on Saturday as the rain let up.
“I think this is cool so people can get to know the animals better,” Kelsey said. “Some people don't even know they exist.”
That is the point of the event, Cindy said. People oftentimes confuse alpacas with llamas, and the National Alpaca Farm Day, established two years ago by the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association, endeavors to correct that misunderstanding and raise awareness for alpacas, and for what they are raised for.
“We tend to be more European-based rather than South American-based,” she said. “We don't learn about alpacas much even though they've been around for thousands of years.”
Cindy showcased two alpacas, 7-year-old Abigail and her one-month-old baby, Piper.
Once a year in the springtime Cindy sheers her herd of alpacas, and from the fleece creates scarves, shawls, sweaters and hats. Underneath a white tent pitched on the grounds of her farm in eyes' gaze from the alpacas' pasture, she displayed her work and the instruments used to create them to the handful of people who braved the weather for the two-day event.
Knitting is one of Kelsey's hobbies, and so she was especially interested at all the uses of alpaca fleece.
“It's cool because how they do it because they can get different textures and forms do to different projects,” she said. “It's really unique.”
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net
“They can be a good, long-term friend,” said Hayley's sister, Audrey, 17.
“Longer than cows,” Hayley added.
Hayley, Audrey, their sister Kelsey, and mom, Denise Minturn, traveled to the Song Meadows Alpacas farm in Niles, owned by Cindy and Karl Cuykendall, for National Alpaca Farm Day Sunday, despite the thick fog soup that enveloped the region and the pitter-patter of rain drops hitting the cool pavement.
Song Meadows Alpacas farm hosted a two-day event for the National Alpaca Farm Day. Cindy said there was a steady stream of people coming by on Saturday as the rain let up.
“I think this is cool so people can get to know the animals better,” Kelsey said. “Some people don't even know they exist.”
That is the point of the event, Cindy said. People oftentimes confuse alpacas with llamas, and the National Alpaca Farm Day, established two years ago by the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association, endeavors to correct that misunderstanding and raise awareness for alpacas, and for what they are raised for.
“We tend to be more European-based rather than South American-based,” she said. “We don't learn about alpacas much even though they've been around for thousands of years.”
Cindy showcased two alpacas, 7-year-old Abigail and her one-month-old baby, Piper.
Once a year in the springtime Cindy sheers her herd of alpacas, and from the fleece creates scarves, shawls, sweaters and hats. Underneath a white tent pitched on the grounds of her farm in eyes' gaze from the alpacas' pasture, she displayed her work and the instruments used to create them to the handful of people who braved the weather for the two-day event.
Knitting is one of Kelsey's hobbies, and so she was especially interested at all the uses of alpaca fleece.
“It's cool because how they do it because they can get different textures and forms do to different projects,” she said. “It's really unique.”
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are No comments posted.