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AlpacaNation Q&A with Alpaca Creek Farm
Jacki Robert & Richard Kensky
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1745 Saundersville Road, Hendersonville, TN 37075
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615-828-6419
AlpacaNation: Tell us about yourself...
Alpaca Creek Farm: Jacki has worked full time for General Electric as a project manager since 1999. Prior to that, in the insurance industry for 16 years. Alpacas are a part-time business for now, but it would be nice if it worked into an early retirement from corporate world. She lives in TN with her fiance, Richard, and an 11 year old African Gray parrot, a gray tabby, an orange tabby, 3 parakeets, 10 adult koi fish, 1 adult pond gold fish, about 40 baby 1-year old koi and a groundhog that lives under the barn. Passions include Alpacas and all animals, travel, movies and chocolate!!
AlpacaNation: How long have you been in the alpaca business?
Alpaca Creek Farm: Since 2003
AlpacaNation: What sets your farm and herd apart from others in the industry?
Alpaca Creek Farm: The quality of my herd and the service I can provide to new breeders. I have some of the best bloodlines in the nation and always "breed up" for my females. This maintains the continued quality of my herd. I practice the best health care - following processes suggested by Dr Norm Evans. I remember what it was like to start this business and the continued questions that need answers. Buying an alpaca is just the beginning. I want to make sure new breeders KNOW how to handle their new alpacas and can run their business. Service is key. Buyers usually don't know what they need to get started - from supplies to memberships to websites to handling. It can be very confusing and overwhelming. I've worked with many new breeders and there is always something that comes up that they hadn't planned on. I try to make sure my customers understand all the next steps when they get their babies home and am ALWAYS available to them for help and support.
AlpacaNation: What advice would you give to those just getting started in the industry?
Alpaca Creek Farm: Do your homework and understand what is available to an alpaca breeder, what you want your farm to be about and if your finances can afford it. Then, find a breeder that is doing what you want and work with them to copy it. If you want show animals - buy from a breeder with show animals and follow their advice. If you want fiber animals, buy from a breeder that specializes in fiber animals and follow their advice. Don't buy fiber animals and expect their cria to be show animals. Spend the money on "breeding up" for your females. Don't scrimp on health care. Make sure your girls are mature enough to be bred BEFORE they are bred (ultrasound) and make sure your moms are recovered enough from birth to breed again - don't become a factory. Learn how to handle your animals (Marty McGee class). Buy only from a farm that will give you service after the sale. Check references. ENJOY your animals, the business and the lifestyle.
AlpacaNation: Do you have a favorite Alpaca? Why is it your favorite?
Alpaca Creek Farm: I love all my alpacas and I have a special attachment to each of them. I do have some favorites. Probably the top of the list is Legend. He is absolutely adorable and I've spent so many hours walking with him and just talking. He has gorgeous eyes and the softest little mouth. He is so gentle and easy to handle. He's really a joy to be around. Athena is also one of my favorites because she always comes up to me when I walk in the pasture or barn. Remington was my first cria born to my farm, so he's special in that way and his mom, Garnet, was my first alpaca purchased, so she's so special. Mystic is really great to walk with and talk to. I could list all kinds of wonderful and special things about every single one of them. But Legend is my all time favorite. This spring we had 5 new babies. Justice and Alyssa are fast becoming 2 of my favorites! They are SO sweet!!! I love the interaction. I also got a male - Doc Holiday - this year that is very sweet!
AlpacaNation: What is your greatest achievement or favorite memory since you started raising alpacas?
Alpaca Creek Farm: My best memory is really a collage of "firsts" - my first alpaca kiss, when I saw my first cria from my herd, the first time I walked my own alpaca, the first time I showed my alpaca in the ring, the first time I skirted my own fleece for show, the first time I applied an oral medication, the first time I had to give a shot, the first time I taught an alpaca how to walk on a lead, the first time I halter trained an alpaca. The list is endless.... Every day holds a favorite memory!
AlpacaNation: How did you become interested in alpacas?
Alpaca Creek Farm: We were first introduced to Alpacas in 2001 while on vacation in Peru. Seeing them graze in the wild around Machu Picchu was amazing! I got to see them up close during one of the local tours and fell in love. The following year, we vacationed in Washington State and passed a large farm with hundreds of these wonderful creatures grazing in their pastures. In early 2003, I saw an ad on TV talking about alpacas as a business. After lots of Internet research and a few trips to local farms, we were hooked. We made our first purchase in March 2003. We now have 22 wonderful alpaca with more on the way.
AlpacaNation: What has been the most helpful advice you have received from your veterinarian?
Alpaca Creek Farm: He went through my barn and pointed out some things that I should change or correct to make it safer for the alpacas. For example, my vet pen just had a wire gate on it- he recommended putting a sheet of plywood over it so they don't try to kick and get their feet caught. Also pointed out some feed bin hangers and a sitting area that had spaces big enough for them to get their leg caught. He also told me not to be afraid of calling him!
AlpacaNation: Describe your first alpaca purchase... would you do anything differently today?
Alpaca Creek Farm: I had a great first experience. I purchased from a breeder that had a great reputation and provided excellent service (still does!). Their farm philosophy matched mine and they had the types of animals I wanted to have. I told them what I could spend and what type of animals I wanted. I was able to trust them to supply exactly what I wanted. I purchased 6 girls from them. I didn't know enough to be able to tell what was a "good show animal" or what good bloodlines were, but they explained why each of my girls was a good fit and they were correct. I would do 2 things differently. The first, is make sure I had enough quality land. We had 5 acres at first with little pasture (mostly trees). I thought it would work. I learned quickly that I was wrong and we moved to more suitable acreage. The second is not to spend too much money on the barn - I built a little fancy and they don't need it. They need a basic shelter. I would have spent the money on other, more appropriate, things.
AlpacaNation: What has been your biggest lesson learned in terms of breeding?
Alpaca Creek Farm: Nothing is predictable. You can increase your odds, but you can't count on an outcome. You can't breed for color - breeding a black to a black doesn't always produce a black. Every cria will not be a girl. Every boy will not be a herd sire. Not all breedings will take the first time. A dam will not have a cria every 12 months (more like 18 months). Not all dams should be bred back right away. Not all cria will be show quality - no matter how great the parents are. Not all girls are magically ready to be bred at 18 months - some mature slower.
But, I think this is one of the exciting parts of the business.
AlpacaNation: Any embarrassing moments you would like to share?
Alpaca Creek Farm: At a show this year, I took an alpaca in the ring that I thought I had worked with enough. I was wrong. The judge tried to touch her and she bucked, she knocked down the ring helper and was extremely hard to control. The judge said she had never disqualified an alpaca before for being uncontrollable, but she was close to doing that with me. She was great in explaining why - it's dangerous for the judge and the other alpacas in the ring (and their handlers). It was a great lesson learned, though. I know so much more about what I need to do to train them to go into the show ring - it's more than just walking them on a lead. There are socialization things that need to be done as well.
AlpacaNation: How did you decide on your farm name? Is there a special meaning behind the name?
Alpaca Creek Farm: We started our farm at our previous address (Miller's Creek), so picked Alpaca Creek to go with our street address. The only creek we have now is when it rains too much!!!
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