Meet the herd - the girls!
I thought I would take a few moments to introduce each member of our herd to you. And since ladies go first, let’s start with the girl herd!
FELINA
She is our resident matriarch who will be 13 in December 2020. She is probably the scrappiest of all our girls, always first to the feed bin, always most alert to the potential for treats and fresh hay.
BELLA
Bella is Felina’s only daughter. Bella does this cute little tap dance with her front feet when enjoying a summer shower. She also gives the most wickedly hilarious side-eye!
BIRDIE
Also known as Big Bird, she is a robust gal who can be a little pushy when it comes to a cool shower on a warm day. Birdie is definitely one of our ‘foundation’ females as she has produced a number of offspring for us, including Benji, Willie Nelson and Riff Raff.
RIFF RAFF
She made such a quick and dynamic entrance to the world, that the name seemed to fit. But since her sire (dad) is named Nik Nak, I couldn’t resist a better name than Nik Nak’s Riff Raff - and boy does she live up to it. She’s a spunky girl who had her first cria, Ralf, this spring and is proving to be an exceptional mother.
SUGAR
I have a whole story about this girl that is best told in person (and over a beer) but let’s just say…Sugar is special. She’s more vinegar than sugar, but beneath the fear and her checkered past is a solid mom with a heart of gold … and a dash of sugar.
HOOSIER
She is currently the only offspring of Sugar … and just like her mom … there’s a bit of a story there, too. The easiest way to put it is, we didn’t know Hoosier was coming until the very day she was born! Named in homage to my native state of Indiana and the land of hoosiers, she has the finest (softest) fleece in the whole herd, making her an all around pleasant surprise.
SOFIA
Sofia is our resident tough gal. If there’s a spat happening, no doubt Sofia is part of it. Let’s just say, she has strong opinions about … everything. But Sofia gave birth to the very first cria born on our farm, so she will always hold a special place in my shepherdess heart.
INDY
She was the first cria born on our farm, and is the polar opposite of her mom, Sofia, when it comes to disposition. She is mellow, trusting and pretty easy going. She is named after the capitol of Indiana so its no surprise she is a natural when it comes to Hoosier hospitality.
SCOUT
She was the very last offspring from Sofia. I named her Scout because she always seemed to be on the hunt for trouble. To this day, I still swear that she once managed to open a fully closed gate. I can’t confirm it but if there’s mischief to be had, Scout is always in the thick of it.
She is also our resident PR (Public Relations) Alpaca. When I tell farm guests that our alpacas don’t not appreciate being pet or touched, Scout is quick to prove me wrong. She is almost always up for a neck rub and on a few occasions has even sat down for a full on snuggle!
BEANS
Technically, her pedigree name is La La Chanel, but that seemed too fancy for this goofball.
She arrived on our farm when she was just a few months old, and for the first full year she squinted her eyes all the time. I joked that she looked perpetually tired, and maybe just needed a coffee. Or a latte. A vanilla bean latte to match her creamy vanilla fleece. And since Vanilla Bean Latte was a mouthful, she just became known as Beans.
And as you can see, Beans is just as chill as ever.
DEMI DAMMROSE
A half sister to Scout, Demi is an old soul who proved to be the hardiest in the bunch when she & her cria survived a very rare c-section. We included Dammrose in her name, paying homage to the Dammrose family that lived on this farm in the 1930’s when it was the Dammrose Dairy.
RBG Ruthie
She really deserves a post all on her own, having been born to Demi via c-section in May 2020. She is a tough little gal, just like Ruth Bader Ginsberg. She shares her initials with the notorious Supreme Court Justice because of the all-female crew that made her birthday a triumphant one. And since she continues to be Raised By Girls, it seemed fitting.
Ruthie’s very presence on our farm is a daily reminder to be courageous and brave, and to keep pushing forward even in the light of uncertainty. She personifies every feeling and every hope of her 2020 birth year.
LORETTA
Although technically a llama, Loretta is the backbone of our herd and an integral part of our farm’s origin story.
When we purchased the homestead in 2013, we were told that she and her late companion, LeRoi, “came with the place.” And since we were unfamiliar with caring for llama, we got on the internet … and that’s how we discovered llamas were related to alpacas … and there was an alpaca farm down the road in Touchet … where we would ultimately purchase our first couple alpaca.
If we hadn’t met Loretta, there would be no Old Homestead Alpacas. She is loved and adored by all who meet her.
I hope you enjoyed this introduction. Stay tuned for an introduction to the boys!