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AlpacaNation Q&A with Whispering Pines Alpacas (IN)
Bill & Guna Schnackel
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Timber Crest Road, Nashville, IN 47448
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812-988-7419
AlpacaNation: Tell us about yourself...
Whispering Pines Alpacas (IN): We first became interested in Alpacas in 2000, and serious about the "alpaca lifestyle" after Bill decided to take early retirement in February 2004. Our first contact with alpaca occurred when we attended an educational event sponsored by the Great Lakes Alpaca Association in October 2004 at the fairgrounds in Argos Indiana. We purchased our first animal from Turkey Creek Alpacas in November 2004 at which time we began to look for property for our ranch. We knew we wanted to stay in Indiana and decided to relocate to Nashville, a small artisan town located in the hills of Brown County in southern Indiana..
Bill worked for over 30 years at Purdue University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Oberlin College, the University of Illinois and Eastern Illinois University as a senior level administrator in university housing. Guna taught elementary education in the public schools and home schooled our two children.
AlpacaNation: How long have you been in the alpaca business?
Whispering Pines Alpacas (IN): We purchased our first alpaca in November 2004, but since we didn't have any land, we continued to board and breed her at Turkey Creek Alpacas. We continued to visit farms in Indiana and throughout the country as we travelled. Our plan was to hold off on purchasing other animals until we found property, installed our fencing and built our barn. However, we purchased our second animal while attending a show in Louisville, Kentucky in 2005, but had to board her also. Then we really started focusing on our efforts to find land. We now have seven acres in picturesque Brown County and our herd has grown to 14.
AlpacaNation: How did you become interested in alpacas?
Whispering Pines Alpacas (IN): We had seen the "I Love Alpacas" ads on television and contacted AOBA for additional information. We were looking for something we could do together after Bill took early retirement. We decided the "something" would be raising alpaca after attending an educational program in October 2004. After spending more time visiting farms and participating with farm days, fiber fairs, and shearing days, we have "fallen in love" with alpacas and the alpaca industry.
AlpacaNation: What sets your farm and herd apart from others in the industry?
Whispering Pines Alpacas (IN): Our goal is to raise quality alpaca that are born and bred in Indiana. While we will not focus on any particular color of fiber, we plan to breed for the softest fiber available in the market. In addition, we plan to have our fiber processed and spun in Indiana, and we eventually want to sell our "all Indiana" fiber and products made from the fiber at a small store in Nashville, Indiana.
We chose Nashville because it is an artisan community and popular vacation area which attracts families interested in the arts, camping, hiking and a relaxed lifestyle. We think many individuals will be attracted to the idea of visiting our farm while vacationing and or recreating at Brown County State Park.
AlpacaNation: What steps did you take to prepare for raising an alpaca herd?
Whispering Pines Alpacas (IN): We established a business plan but did not follow our plan in preparing to raise our herd. We bought animals before having our pastures and barn, a decision that has added some stress, especially because we had to sell an older house in one city before establishing our farm in Nashville, Indiana. We difinitely recommend setting up your barn and pastures before moving ahead with establishing your herd. There is no way we could be doing this if we were not both retired.
AlpacaNation: What is your greatest achievement or favorite memory since you started raising alpacas?
Whispering Pines Alpacas (IN): Since deciding to become part of the alpaca industry, we have met a group of incredible people who are alpaca owners and breeders. Everyone has been willing to share their expertise and has been very helpful as we have selected our animals and are setting up our farm. We have experienced a wide variety of opinions that have provided a solid foundation upon which we are building our farm.
We have also found that the more we are around these amazing animals, the more they grow on you.
AlpacaNation: Describe your first alpaca purchase... would you do anything differently today?
Whispering Pines Alpacas (IN): We bought our first alpaca after attending an educational seminar and deciding we wanted to pursue the "alpaca lifestyle". We did so before finalizing our business plan and before we had purchased our farm property. We wanted to be sure Hurricane Lili was a part of our foundation herd and did not appreciate how much time it would take to finsish and sell our house and relocate. We miss not being able to see Hurricane on a regular basis - she is being boarded at least 2 hours from us. The distance has impeded our ability to develop a relationship with her.
We have been able to spend time with the 7 animals that we purchased in May as they are being boarded closer to Nashville. We find that the animals are getting more comfortable with us with each visit. We look forward to getting our alpaca together in one location and moving forward with our breeding program and having the time to share our experience with potential breeders and people interested in purchasing our fiber.
AlpacaNation: How did you decide on your farm name? Is there a special meaning behind the name?
Whispering Pines Alpacas (IN): We found some beautiful wooded acreage in Brown County just outside Nashville Indiana. The acreage has beautiful white pines around the perimeter. While sitting by our fire pit listening to the wind blowing through the pines, we settled upon the name "Whispering Pines", a new home for happy, humming alpaca.
AlpacaNation: How do you see your farm and alpaca business growing over the next 5 to 10 years?
Whispering Pines Alpacas (IN): Since we are retired, our goal is to grow our herd to between 12 and 20 animals and then to maintain annual sales that allow us to remain at that herd size. We are exploring the option of expanding the size of the herd should our son decide to join the business.
We are also exploring the idea of purchasing additonal farm land so that we can grow hay formulated for the alpaca industry and then supplying hay to the farms in the region.
Finally, we hope to develop a store in Nashville Indiana that features products produced from Indiana raised alpaca.
AlpacaNation: What advice would you give to those just getting started in the industry?
Whispering Pines Alpacas (IN): Start while you have ordinary income as the tax benefits are much greater than when you start after retirment. Be sure you have some pasture space and a barn before you start purchasing animals if you plan to actively participate with the business.
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