|
Summerwind Alpaca is located in the heart of Door County - Wisconsin’s premier vacation destination. Starting in 1995 with two bred suri females on Washington Island, as Windflower Farm Alpacas, this was the 9th alpaca farm in the state. Summerwind farm in Egg Harbor was added in 2001, where visitors are now greeted by a herd displaying a rainbow of colors, from white to black with everything in-between. Now numbering 48 alpacas, the herd is made up of both suris and huacayas. Offspring now grace pastures from “coast to coast”, and new crias appear each year…
Introduced to alpaca fiber in 1975 by a hand-me-down sweater, Bernadette, a knitter “since 4-H”, was intrigued by its unique qualities, its “like-new” appearance, the “buttery” feel, the way sunlight danced on the fibers and the fact that it “wore like iron”… Willy, a caddy during high school in the sixties, was well aware of the alpaca golf sweaters worn by his golfers, who found the open knit to be cozy on a chilly morning and not too warm in the afternoon.
In 1995, word of alpaca importation reached Willy and Bernadette on Washington Island after having seen “Treasures of the Andes” on PBS in February, when a Wisconsin farm was highlighted as a local news feature in April. The couple immediately planned a visit. They were impressed by the animals and their wonderful fiber, leading to a passion to learn about these fascinating creatures. This was the beginning of their alpaca adventure.
Summerwind will be “paring down” the herd to a number which can be accommodated in the snug barns on Washington Island during winter since Willy now teaches Technology there. Check out the packages being offered and begin (or expand) your own alpaca adventure today! |
|
