Located in the countryside near Franklin, Tennessee, Mistletoe Farm is home to an impressive collection of alpacas. Their irresistible charm lies in their fluffy coats and adorable coats.
Whether you're happy to browse through the photos or ready to visit the farm, these alpacas are absolutely adorable! Mistletoe Farm, run by Leanne and Tom Butchko, offers more than just attraction – it's an opportunity to learn. Get ready to reveal eleven essential alpaca questions that will add an extra layer of fun to your visit!
Where do alpacas come from?
Alpaca is native to South America. Particularly high in the Andes of southern Peru, western Bolivia, Ecuador and northern Chile. All alpacas are domestic, but they are descendants of the wild vicuña, a South American cousin of the camel.
What is the difference between alpaca and llama?
We don't want any llama drama, we will point out that llamas are not alpacas. Yes, they are both pets, but llamas are larger and are used as herd animals. In contrast, alpacas are smaller and mainly used for their coats. Llamas are descendants of the wild camelid guanaco. Alpacas, llamas, and their wild cousins the vicuña and guanaco can still interbreed. Alpacas were not reclassified from the Guanco line to the Vicuña line until genetic tracing in 2001.
Are there different breeds of alpaca?
The alpaca subspecies is either Suri and Huacaya, based more on their coats than scientific classification. The Huacuaya is the most widespread breed, with thick, fluffy coats suitable for living high in the Andes. When you picture an alpaca in your mind, it's probably a huacaya, with fluffy, full hair. In contrast, Suri alpacas have plump, flowing locks. Mistletoe Farm only has Huacaya strains.
How many colors do alpacas come in?
You may have heard that Eskimos have 50 words for snow. Well, there are over 52 colors of alpaca in Peru. Of course, alpacas are as central to Peruvian culture and history as snow is to the Eskimo. So much so that alpacas were considered a gift from the gods in Peru. You could even say that alpacas are as important to the indigenous people of Peru as snow is to the Eskimos. As for the rest of the world, Australia has 12 categorized colors, and the United States has 16.
Do alpacas produce wool?
The Wool Products Labeling Act of 1939 is a federal law that requires people who manufacture or sell wool products to accurately label each product. Under the law, the term “wool” means “fibers made from the wool of sheep, lamb, angora goat hair, or cashmere.” [15 USCS § 68] So, you better not call the hair alpaca wool, otherwise the sheep mafia will pile it up in your grill. The industry term is fiber.
What is so special about alpaca fiber?
Unlike wool, alpaca fiber does not contain lanolin. It is warmer, softer and almost hypoallergenic. A single alpaca can generate between five and ten pounds of fiber, usually during spring shearing. The small folds in alpaca fiber determine its quality. Typically, the crimper the fiber, the higher the quality.
What types of fiber products can you get from Mistletoe Farm Alpacas?
We loved the cute little felted alpaca, and the shoe inserts looked incredibly practical. They even had drier balls and spinning balls too. However, the scarves, hats and headbands stole the show. We had to take one home with us. What's even cuter is that Leanne knew what animal the fibers came from and how she dyed the fibers from the plants in her flower garden. Most of these products come from farm animals and are sent to a dedicated textile house for knitting.
Are alpacas clean animals?
Alpacas may be the cleanest animals in the yard. Its fibers naturally repel dirt, so it's always gentle and pet-friendly. Not only are they odorless, they also use a certain portion of the pasture for communal bathing. It's as if they come litter box trained.
Are alpacas friendly?
We can differentiate between alpacas that were born on the farm and those that were acquired later in life. The farm's alpacas loved to be petted, especially the female alpacas in the morning. The alpacas they brought to the farm weren't mean or aggressive, but they were a little shy. The male alpacas are kept in a different enclosure, and depending on the group and day, they may not be part of the visit. The staff did a great job making sure the visit was safe and age appropriate.
Where are mistletoe farms located?
The farm is located in central Tennessee and is easily accessible from I-840 or I-65. It is located 18 miles south of Nashville and 10 miles east of Franklin. It's the perfect addition to a weekend getaway in Franklin and close to Arrington Vineyards. The address is 4212 Crowder Road, Franklin, Tennessee 37064.
Usually, you can visit from May to December, on weekends from 9am to 2pm. If they are booked on the day or time you prefer, call to join the standby list in case of cancellation! You can book through the booking link on the Mistletoe Farm Alpacas website. If you can't make it to Franklin Tennessee to meet the alpaca crew in person, their Instagram alpaca account is a bunch of legitimately silly cuteness!
Professional advice – If you want to play with the alpacas in person, make sure you book early, they book up months in advance!!
Alpac-ing Up This article is about the adorable alpacas
Was this article written just so we could post pictures of stupid cute alpacas? maybe. But is there anything wrong with that?
We hope you get a chance to visit the alpacas, take some photos, maybe buy a hat, and make good friends with good people. Thanks for following along, and we hope you've learned a thing or two about adorable alpacas along the way!
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Hello! We are Ed and Jane Coleman also known as Coleman Concierge. In short, we are a 10th generation couple from Huntsville sharing our stories of amazing adventures through transformative and experiential activity-based travel.
