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AN ALPACA YARN
Photo
Beverly DeMario, owner of Pleasant Valley Alpaca Ranch in Girard, feeds her alpacas.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY MADELYN P. HASTINGS
When you arrive at Pleasant Valley Alpaca Ranch in Girard, owner Beverly DeMario will warn: “Watch out — they won’t bite, but they will spit.”
She, her husband, Charles, and their five children have been running the farm since 2003. They now own and breed 15 alpacas, and seven of their females are pregnant.
The alpaca is a member of the camelids, which include camels, llamas and vicuna. They are mostly bred for their fur, which is very soft and used to make scarves, hats, gloves and similar items.
“I thought it would be a good family business with the kids when they were younger and they could learn to help take care of them,” Beverly explains. “I really enjoy animals, and it gives me something to play with now that the kids are grown.”
In Wampum, Pa., Terri Stramba also has found that an alpaca farm is very family oriented.
Although Terri does not breed her alpacas, she has made a business out of processing the fur.
The DeMarios send their fibers to Stramba Farm to get it processed into yarn. Beverly then will go on to sell it at fairs, and Terri sells the yarn in her shop on the farm.
Terri began her business when she fell victim to downsizing in the corporate world. Finding a new job would mean relocation for her and her family.
“I didn’t want to do that,” Terri explains. “So I dusted off the business plan and switched gears. Maybe it was meant to be, because it all came together and it keeps growing.”
Both alpaca lovers, Beverly and Terri can agree that the alpaca business has kept their families together in this time of economic struggle.
“I could easily go back and get one of those big corporation jobs today, but this new quality of life is irreplaceable. Now I get to come home and get greeted by my granddaughter every day,” Terri said.