On September 27th and 28th, alpaca breeders from across the United States and Canada will invite the public to come and meet their alpacas and learn more about these inquisitive, unique animals. 

Last year many local Paris residents drove out for a day in the country to visit with the alpacas at Shaggy Chic`s Ranch north of Dodd City.  This year, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, Shaggy Chic` Suri Ranch will welcome guests at Michelle's Craft Supplies on the square in Paris, TX.  Friendly folks will be there to help answer the question, "What do you do with alpacas?"

A full line of alpaca products will be available for purchase.  There will also be spinning demonstrations showing how raw fiber is made into yarn throughout the weekend and weaving looms in use.

What IS an alpaca?

Alpacas, cousins to the llama, are native to the Andean Mountain range of South America, particularly Peru, Bolivia, and Chile, and were first imported into the United States in 1984.  Since then, the alpaca industry has grown steadily.  

There are two types of alpacas in the United States today.  Although almost physically identical, what distinguishes the two types of alpacas is their fiber.  The Huacaya (wa-Ki'-ah) is the more common of the two and has a fluffy, extremely fine coat.  The Suri is the rarer of the two and has fiber that is silky and resembles pencil-locks.  Shaggy Chic` is a "Suris only" ranch, and will have "live models" in the store Saturday and Sunday.  

Sharlene Parks, owner of Shaggy Chic` Suri Ranch says, "I often hear people say alpaca's look like something Dr. Seuss would have created."

Adult alpacas stand at approximately 36 inches at the withers and generally weigh between 150 and 200 pounds.  Alpacas are alert, intelligent, curious, and predictable.  Social animals that seek companionship, they communicate most commonly by softly humming. 

Shorn, without harm, every twelve to eighteen months, they produce five to ten pounds of fiber, sometimes compared to cashmere with the luster of silk, and, warmer than wool, but 1/3 the weight.  It is purchased in its raw fleece form by hand-spinners and fiber artists. 

Knitters, however, can skip a few steps and have a rainbow of alpaca yarn colors and weights to choose from, by merely visiting Michelle's Craft Supplies. 

More information is available from Michelle's Craft Supplies, 903-737-9757 or Shaggy Chic` Suri Ranch, 903-623-3048, or www.shaggychicsuri.com.

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