Contributing writer Bonnie Cranmer
Just a few years ago, Pam Schiele was running several schools in Arizona and was introduced to alpacas. That’s all it took to ignite her passion for these gentle animals. “I couldn’t stop thinking about them,” she shared. Schiele and her family, several generations at this time, moved to Virginia for the seasonal environment and began the Teaberry Alpaca Farms project.
When visiting the farm, the alpacas display a variety of colors and personalities. Schiele keeps an average of 30 animals on the farm, some of which will have babies in the coming months. The farm operation includes educational tours, birthday picnics with the alpacas, photo shoots and even corporate retreats.
The boutique farm store has a display of prize-winning ribbons from the past several years. Showing the alpacas competitively has been a fun experience that Schiele shares with family members. Soft spun alpaca yarn in a variety of natural and dyed colors is available, made from the animals you meet on the farm.
In 2023, in a search for a fiber mill to process the alpaca wool into yarn, Schiele found long wait times. The idea of a fiber mill was formed and is close to becoming a reality. Traditional turnover times for the service is up to two years and that’s an opportunity to reach an existing market. Schiele connected with an established fiber mill in North Carolina. She and her team have purchased the equipment, have been learning how it works and will be moving it into the fiber mill facility on the property later this month.
The Teaberry breeding program has provided even greater flexibility for the business. Ribbon winning alpacas produce award winning babies or cria, which are born ready to go, complete with teeth and full coats of soft fur. The alpacas at Teaberry Alpaca Farms are available for sale and through the carefully charted breeding program. To learn more and schedule a visit to the farm, contact pam@teaberryalpacafarms.com
