Alpacas get a weekend in the spotlight

By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 27 September 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Kristina Gabalski – Members of the Wong family of Brockport – mom, Chelsea; dad, Bently, four-year old Caleb (in red) and two-year old Aaron – enjoy feeding the alpacas at Genna-rations Farm in Kendall on Saturday.

KENDALL – A perfect early autumn day brought many people out to enjoy the weather and the alpacas during the 8th Annual National Alpaca Farms Days being held this weekend.

Both Genna-rations Farm on West Kendall Road in Kendall and Stoney Meadows Alpacas on Glidden Road in Holley took part in the Alpaca Country Trail, which also includes SanGer-La Alpacas on Colby Street in Brockport and Northwoods Alpacas on North Lake Road in Bergen.

The event gives participants and opportunity to see, feel and feed alpacas and learn more about the breeding of the animals for their high-quality fiber. Participating farms offer demonstrations, fiber crafting and the opportunity to purchase alpaca products.

Theresa Jewell of Stoney Meadows Alpacas in Holley demonstrates weaving Saturday morning at her farm along the Alpaca Country Trail.

Theresa Jewell of Stoney Meadows Alpacas in Holley said the annual event is significant for local alpaca breeders and fiber producers.

“This is when local people … people in our county, our neighbors, get to see what we are doing,” she explains and says she really enjoys participating in the trail. Her farm includes a mix of fiber producing animals including Angora rabbits and goats and sheep in addition to alpacas.

Six-year old Anna Salcido of Hamlin enjoys the alpacas and the finger puppet she purchased at Genna-rations Farm in Kendall on Saturday. She and her mom were touring local alpaca farms along the Alpaca Country Trail, part of the 8th Annual National Alpaca Farm Days.

Crystal Zayac, 18, and her 7-year old brother, Joshua, of Albion enjoy meeting the Angora goats at Stoney Meadows Alpacas in Holley.

Alpacas and sheep graze in the pasture at Stoney Meadows Alpacas and Fiber Boutique in Holley. The alpaca trail event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.

Visitors enjoy alpacas, refreshments and shopping at Genna-rations Farm, owned by John and Tacha Gennarino, in Kendall.

A week-and-a-half old baby alpaca, called a cria, enjoys the sunshine at Genna-rations Farm in Kendall on Saturday morning. The farm is taking part this weekend in the annual Alpaca Country Trail.