Kathleen Bucher

Spirit Valley Alpacas was established in 2014 we are located in Wonewoc, which lies in the beautiful Driftless area of SW Wisconsin.

We originally got into alpacas because we purchased an acreage with room for livestock. We fell in love with Huacaya alpacas after seeing them while on vacation in Colorado. The benefits of raising alpacas go beyond their provision of fiber. Alpacas are naturally gentle creatures, alpaca farmers also find meaningful connections with the animals, the land, and a close-knit community of avid alpaca lovers.

Our main focus at Spirit Valley has been on the harvest of their fleece, and using it to make usable products, but have recently added farm tourism to increase awareness of raising these beautiful creatures.

Alpaca fiber is strong, warm, and incredibly soft. Alpaca fleece is also naturally hypoallergenic, making it extremely versatile. Alpaca fiber has been a part of textile and clothing traditions for thousands of years. Alpacas are now raised in communities around the world. Thousands of families raise alpacas and share their beautiful fibers locally.

Beyond their incredible fiber, alpacas produce immense ecological value. Alpacas graze without pulling plants out by the roots and nibble only the upper parts of grass, thus permitting immediate regeneration. This makes alpacas an amazing addition to any farm or ranch.

Alpacas could be the most sustainable animal on the planet.

Here are a few more reasons why alpacas are incredibly sustainable:

· Alpacas produce 22 natural colors, greatly reducing the need to rely on dyes. This saves a considerable amount of energy and water.

· Alpaca dung creates excellent compost. Alpaca dung is high in nitrogen and potassium, yet low in odor. Alpacas are pseudo-ruminants, having a single three-chambered stomach that digests roughage, grass, and hay efficiently into a manure often known as “green gold” for its high nutrient content. Those nutrients are then spread on the pasture to build healthy soil and encourage vibrant grass growth in seasons to come.

· Alpacas are efficient! They need less food than other fiber-producing animals, contributing to their incredibly light footprint.

· Instead of hooves, alpacas have soft pads. This allows them to have less of a compacting impact on the ground.

In addition to the superior fiber quality and environmental benefits of alpacas, they also bring real joy to the people who raise them. Just watching them makes us feel happy and serene, that’s the heart of all of it. It’s a passion we want to share with our local community and further.

Be sure to visit us during the Hill and Valley Farm Exploration Tour, or other times by appointment, or watch our Facebook page for events held monthly between May and December.

712-254-7500