Hollyhock Farm Alpacas in Becker and owners Darryl and Teresa Kukowski will welcome visitors to their farm during its annual farm tour Saturday, Sept. 26 and Sunday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

It will be their final tour of the farm before they move to rural Grasston, 20 miles north of Cambridge. Grasston is Teresa’s hometown and the move is so she and her husband can be close to Teresa’s parents.

 

“Many of my childhood friends still live in the area and it’ll be nice to be closer to family,” Teresa says.

 

The Kukowskis look forward to the annual farm tour fun which started nearly 10 years ago. They will hold educational exhibitions in a free event that celebrates the alpaca lifestyle.

 

They also have an accessory store and gift shop on the premises with items Teresa has made herself and some things she’s imported from elsewhere.

 

“I make a lot of the items in the store myself,” she said. “Some things are imported from Peru. I also have a full line of socks made in South Carolina.”

 

The company in South Carolina started off small and have grown tremendously while focusing on sock making from products they import from Peru.

 

“All my products are made of alpaca fiber,” Teresa said. “Except I knit some dish cloths of cotton.”

 

Teresa says alpaca fiber is warmer than wool and doesn’t itch. People can expect to see spinning and felting demonstrations at the tour as well as shop for that one-of-a-kind gift or just let the kids participate in planned activities and projects or feed and touch the alpacas.

 

The Kukowskis moved to Becker in 1999 and brought their first alpacas to their home in 2002 — two pregnant females. Since then, they’ve had many babies (called crias) and have owned unrelated males as well.

 

Alpacas are part of the camel family along with llamas and their only defense against threats or predators is their ability to spit. It’s also a way they communicate in some instances. The spit can be gross looking and smell pretty bad, Teresa says.

 

“They don’t have hooves so they don’t kick at predators,” she said. “They have pads on their feet like dogs with big toenails in front of each of two toes.” 

 

But visitors to the farm don’t have to worry too much about the spitting or the animals being aggressive. The Kukowski’s alpacas are very friendly and they happily take treats from anyone who has something to offer.

 

“We try to have dandelion leaves or carrot tops or something they like to give to visitors so they can feed them a treat,” she says.

 

In South America, where alpacas are native (Peru, Chile and Bolivia), the animals are a main source for meat. Teresa says the alpaca meat industry in the United States is “just getting started.”

 

“In North America, they are also kept as pets and therapy animals,” she said.  “But their main use is for their amazing fiber with can be spun into yarn then knit or woven.  The fiber can also be felted into a fabric.”

 

At one point, the Kukowskis had 15 alpacas on their farm, but as of 2015, they are down to two males they are boarding and three gelded males they have up for sale. They don’t plan to continue raising alpacas as part of the business in Grasston, but still plan to process purchased fiber and make items to sell in their new home up north.

 

“While we are selling the alpacas, we plan to expand the fiber business by buying more fiber and producing more product,” she said.  “We recently purchased a needle felting machine which can make thick felt that is great for insoles in shoes, boots or slippers.”  

 

She also says she can  make thinner fabric for scarves, shawls, vests, jackets and more.

 

“I will also have more time to make knitted mittens, hats, wrist warmers, shawls, etc,” she says. 

 

Teresa has also been setting up a small booth at the Elk River Farmer’s Market for the last nine years. She has also done the Becker’s Farmer’s Market for a few years and she participates in some area craft shows and fiber festivals throughout the year.

 

“I love doing the shows and getting ideas from customers and feedback on my products,” Teresa said.

 

The Kukowskis have a Hollyhock Farm Alpacas Facebook page and their main website is: www.hollyhockalpacas.com.

 

The farm is located at 9852 Co. Rd. 23 SE in Becker Twp. The farm tour is next Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.