Stay in touch with us and get the latest scoop on dream jobs, events and store specials.
If so, maybe it’s time to pack your bags for the rolling pastures of YB Normal Farms in western New York where the grass IS actually greener. Peter Harrison and Evelyn Brumwell are waiting to teach you the ins and outs of breeding alpacas and running your own alpaca farm! The name says it all: YB Normal? That is exactly the mindset that Peter and Evelyn adopted when they said goodbye to their good, but somewhat ordinary, careers in Traverse City, Michigan to pursue breeding, selling, and showing alpacas seven years ago. Interestingly enough, neither one of them had previously ever lived or worked on a farm. Peter had always worked for his family’s hotel business and Evelyn was an assistant chef with a Master’s Degree in Fine Art. It all started with a very simple idea: the decision to research llamas as a guard animal for their chickens. “Chickens!” laughs Evelyn, “Chickens that we never actually ended up getting!” During their reading, however, they came across a chapter about alpacas. Cousin to the llama, but half the size and known primarily for their fiber production, these unique creatures caught their attention. Alpacas, originally from Peru, came to the United States in the 1980’s. Intrigued, they started going to local alpaca farms and frequenting various alpaca shows (which are much like dog shows). At one such event, they met Nel Vickers, an alpaca breeder from Charlevoix, Michigan who quickly became a friend and invaluable mentor. In 1999, Peter and Evelyn started boarding alpacas on Nel Vicker’s Maplewood Farm. Four years later they moved to the beautiful Chautauqua County in western New York (just south of Jamestown) where they bought their own dream farm and followed their newfound passion. Today they have about 45 alpacas and are full-time breeders with a profitable farm store. Why alpacas? Peter explains, “Being in the camel family, they are very stoic animals. But if you pay attention and get to know them, you get to see their different behaviors and personalities. They are intelligent and gentle creatures!” Peter and Evelyn feel that the most rewarding part of their vocation is watching the babies being born and seeing the whole process from start to finish. Evelyn adds, “We take so much pride in our breeding decisions. It’s so challenging and fun.” Not to mention the simple joys of their surroundings, “We spend way too much time everyday just staring at our animals. They are so beautiful,” admits Peter. Breeding and selling alpacas can also be a very lucrative business. Depending on the quality of the animal, an alpaca may sell from $2,000 all the way up to $60,000. Due to their value as marketing tools, Peter and Evelyn participate in about six or seven alpaca shows per year. They are breeders of both Suri and Huacaya alpacas, most with full Peruvian bloodlines. “Our goal is to keep improving the quality of animals and have that reflect in the show ring.” Peter adds, “Evelyn is very competitive, she loves to take home ribbons and banners. Especially the blue ones!” In addition to showing and selling the animals, Peter and Evelyn have a farm store at the Crossroad Craft Market where they sell products that are made from the super-soft fiber that alpacas grow. Next to the yarn and wool woven from their very own animals, customers can purchase beautiful sweaters, hats, mittens, scarves, shirts, and socks imported from Peru’s famous textile industry. In addition to being members of Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association, The Suri Network, Empire Alpaca Association, The Alpaca Registry and Western NY Alpaca Breeders Association, Peter is also on the Board of Directors for the Crossroad Craft Market. What are the future plans for YB Normal Farms? While Peter and Evelyn are currently running all facets of the business themselves, they hope to get the point where they have a few more breeding females and can hire some farm hands. When asked what advice they would give to someone wanting to pursue a new life path, two words came to mind without hesitation…Perseverance and Research. “I wouldn’t encourage anyone to jump into something without doing the proper research.” Peter says. Meanwhile, Evelyn laughs out loud. “We are such opposites!” she exclaims, “He’s so cautious and I’m just wanting to take the plunge!” But their partnership clearly has the balance that is necessary to take a dream and make it a reality. They both agree, “If you are in a dead-end career you don’t feel passionate about, then at least start dreaming and researching! Those are the first steps”. While on your Alpaca Farmer VocationVacation, Peter and Evelyn will Mentor you in some or all of the following activities:
Available: All year based on mentor's availability with exception of holiday weekends Book this dream job vacation
|
||||||||
 |
|
| (Not included in the price of the VocationVacations® holiday)
Other activities and tourist destinations while on your VocationVacation® adventure: Reservation, Cancellation and Rescheduling Rules and Conditions: Full payment of the VocationVacations dream job holiday is required to make a reservation. A $100 non-refundable fee is assessed if a VocationVacations experience is cancelled or rescheduled prior to 14-days of the scheduled VocationVacations holiday, based on the approved availability of the mentor to reschedule. A VocationVacations adventure cannot be rescheduled and is non-refundable if cancelled within 14 days of the scheduled VocationVacations holiday. Written notification of cancellation or rescheduling is required in all cases. In the US, Grounded Nomads, LLC and VocationVacations holidays encourage all customers to acquire travel insurance to cover any unforeseen expenses due to cancellation or rescheduling. In the UK, Grounded Nomads, Ltd and VocationVacations holidays must require all customers to acquire travel insurance to cover any unforeseen expenses due to cancellation or rescheduling and provide verification of such travel insurance to Grounded Nomads, Ltd. |
|
Brew Master
Chocolatier
Spa Owner
Sports Announcer
Choreographer
Voice-Over Artist
TV Producer
Coffee House Owner
Dog Daycare Owner
Photographer
© Copyright 2008 VocationVacations.
