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AlpacaNation Q&A with Cozy Acres Alpacas
Tyler & Kathy Erlandsen
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34456 405th Ave., Le Sueur, MN 56058
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952-994-4560
AlpacaNation: Tell us about yourself...
Cozy Acres Alpacas: Tyler and I (Kathy) both grew up in a city and lived in a metropolitan area until 2002. We discovered Alpacas in 2001 and both of us became very excited about the possibility of raising these wonderful animals, along with the potential investment opportunity it proposed. When we made the decision to get started, we began brainstorming on what our farm should be called and where we should be located. Cozy Acres Alpacas existed actually before we found our farm. So the search for a farm that matched our name, was a tough one. We found the perfect place and we want to keep our small farm feel where we know each alpaca by name, know their behaviors and have a "cozy" place to feel comfortable in.
AlpacaNation: How long have you been in the alpaca business?
Cozy Acres Alpacas: We purchased our first two alpacas in November of 2001.
AlpacaNation: How did you become interested in alpacas?
Cozy Acres Alpacas: Kathy was reading an article in Women's Day magazine while getting her hair permed! She brought home the website that was published and we both looked online at the farm that had been profiled.
A few months later, we ran into the alpaca booth at the Minnesota State Fair. We eagerly asked questions and talked for a few hours with the folks running the booth. We took a brochure that had many MN farms listed, and decided to visit a few over the next few weekends.
On September 14, 2001 (feeling the need for some peace in our lives), we stopped at a farm where a cria had been born just hours before. After seeing this beautiful little girl, it was over!
AlpacaNation: How did you decide on your farm name? Is there a special meaning behind the name?
Cozy Acres Alpacas: We were driving along one day trying to determine our name and kept throwing different ones out. This one popped out and it stuck. We want to have a place that people feel comfortable in and cozy just seemed to be the right name to fit!
AlpacaNation: What advice would you give to those just getting started in the industry?
Cozy Acres Alpacas: Visit as many different alpaca farms as possible. Take notes, write down what you do like, what you don't like about each farm, etc. to help you with the decisions that will come down the road.
AlpacaNation: Do you have a favorite Alpaca? Why is it your favorite?
Cozy Acres Alpacas: We would both agree that Skye is our favorite alpaca right now. She is friendly, interested in what is going on at all times and has a beautiful face. She has a sister, Myste, that is also becoming one of our favorites.
AlpacaNation: Describe your first alpaca purchase... would you do anything differently today?
Cozy Acres Alpacas: First purchase was based on emotions! We arrived at the last farm we were scheduled to visit on a weekend and they had just had a cria arrive four hours beforehand. We fell in love with her and signed a contract three months later.
Hind sight is 20/20 - so to do anything differently would have been just continuing to do more research. With this industry, you learn a lot as you go and over time realize different things to do as you move forward.
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