Big year for alpaca sales at Barnstorm Farm
We've been encouraged this year to find an uptick in the alpaca market. Not only have we sold five animals, with more sales pending, but the buyers have been every bit as excited as we were to share life with these soothing animals.
One of our two founding dams, Pim, moved to Ellensburg in August, taking her beautiful all white baby, Annapurna, with her. Esteban, our first born, a nice gelded gray, went with them. The new owners and their three children have had a pizza party and a sleepover in the field and are working with the animals every day. They hope to show Annapurna next year.
Deacon and Phantom, shown above and below with our new sign, are moving to a huge field and forest overlooking Campbell Lake in Skagit County. Both gelded, they will be put to work keeping the fields low – one of their favorite tasks. Gelded males make good "fleece boys" for knitters who have enough pasture to "grow their own." They also make good companion animals for other herd animals, such as a lone horse. We'll have two more pet boys ready to go in the early spring.
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Other animals for sale include Alexi, a light brown two-year-old who has just been bred, and Midori, a yearling who is medium brown with a white tip on her nose. We may also consider selling Estrella, a beautiful fawn, and her new son, and possibly Alejandra, our lovable Dr. Seuss character. It's not easy to let them go. We have to remind ourselves that this is supposed to be a business. Contact us for information and prices.
Two ribbons at Northwest Alpaca Showcase
Our delightful Mazie placed fifth in medium browns at the Northwest Alpaca Showcase April 24-25 in Pasco, WA. Phantom placed sixth.
Yarn sold out! Introductory price truly was too low
Our 2009 yarn was spun in the U.S. and sold out in months. We'll sell skeins of gray, cinnamon and deep brown yarn again next year. We hope before Christmas. Our most popular producer was Esteban, a beautiful gray gelding now for sale. Contact us to get on a yarn list. We are down to two blankets from the Pendleton project but may be able to get more warm, soft throws on request.
Barnstorm Farm's century-old barn gets historical recognition and dance
Barnstorm Farm's gambrel-roofed barn was named to the Washington Heritage Barn Register. We hope someday to get a grant to help offset costs to restore the weathered south side of our circa 1905 structure, but for now we're very happy with the plaque. Some 150 friends (coming from Australia, Oregon, Montana and across the road) joined us for a good old-fashioned barn dance that featured 87-year-old fiddler Lee Stripling