Located in rural Illinois, Deitricks’ Alpaca Ranch is a 50-acre farm with around 70 huacaya alpacas. Ranch owners, Dwight and Wanda Deitrick have been in the alpaca business for many years, breeding and building their herd of show quality alpacas. The couple has a passion for these gentle animals and raises them, not only for breeding, but for their fiber, which is lighter and warmer than wool and, yet, just as soft as cashmere! The ranch sells yarn made out of alpaca fiber as well as hand-knitted scarves, hats, and other items at their store. The Deitricks’ welcome you for a group or private tour (by appointment only) of the ranch to meet and learn about their delightful alpacas.

Alpacas have lived alongside humans and have been domesticated for thousands of years in South America. Ancient Incas made clothes out of alpaca fiber and even used the animals in certain religious ceremonies.
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Deitricks' Alpaca Ranch/Facebook
The soft alpaca fleece is sheared once a year and each alpaca provides 5-10 pounds of fleece which can be spun into yarn or made into felt.
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Deitricks' Alpaca Ranch/Facebook
These herbivores eat mostly grass and only require around two percent of their body weight in food every day. They are closely related to camels and do not require much water to drink.
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Deitricks' Alpaca Ranch/Facebook

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Alpacas are curious, social animals that thrive around other alpacas in a herd and are such calm, gentle, and loving animals that they make wonderful pets.
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Deitricks' Alpaca Ranch/Facebook
Alpacas come in a variety of shades of white, brown, gray, and black. A herd of these creatures can look a bit like a rainbow!
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Deitricks' Alpaca Ranch/Facebook
Just look at those faces! I bet you want to book some time at an alpaca farm now.
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Deitricks' Alpaca Ranch/Facebook

 

To visit this farm or to purchase handmade goods made from alpaca fleece, contact Deitricks’ Alpaca Ranch ahead of time. Visit their website for more information by clicking here.

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