Maricopa’s Newest Residents Coming to Town

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Maricopa’s Alpacazona Farm is all set to welcome its newest residents, two baby alpacas (crias) and their mothers. Tyche, a beige female from the Peruvian Pachacuti line, was born in the East where her mother Nadia was purchased. They will be arriving about November 20th. Godiva and her baby boy Mickey Jack as well as Mickey Jack’s father Springhill’s Bolivian Legend and his companion Alto will all arrive Thanksgiving weekend.

The prize-winning stud, Springhill’s Bolivian Legend.

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12Nadia and her cria Tyche and Mickey Jack on the right.

Maricopa’s only alpaca herd will soon number six. Alpacas, treasured by Incan royalty, diminished when that civilization ended. South America has recently revitalized the population and allowed them to be exported. An average adult alpaca weighs from 100 to 175 pounds. Timid and gentle creatures that make wonderful pets, they have a life span of about twenty years. Alpaca fiber is stronger and warmer than wool yet lighter. It comes in over twenty shades and is as soft as cashmere.

Alpacazona Farm’s owners, Claudia and Brian Klaus, moved to Maricopa a little more than a year and a half ago. They moved in next to Brian’s parents, James and Dot Klaus, who have been here about 18 years. The farm is located on W. Peters and Nall Road between Casa Grande and Maricopa. What began as a hobby grew into an enjoyable business dedicated to learning about alpacas and improving their huacaya herd.

Claudia’s hobby began while surfing the Internet. She found a story about a woman who was spinning yarn from the fur of her Samoyed. Claudia says she thought, “I have one of those! It just snowballed from there. The poor dog couldn’t shed fast enough for me, and the cats got really good at hiding when I came around with the brush so I started looking around for other sources of fiber.” She found alpacas on the Web, but, after seeing their prices, she decided to raise angora rabbits instead. That was until her husband Brian realized he would have to build an air-conditioned barn. “His downfall was taking me to an alpaca show near Anthem one year. He fell in love with them, too. A couple weeks later we bought our first female, Godiva.”

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Claudia Klaus with her “power” spindle.

In regard to learning to spin, Claudia admits she is a craft person who sees someone do something and then repeats it. “There are some places that teach spinning like the Mesa fiber factory, and I’ve found some excellent books that show step by step how it should be done. I was a trial and error learner.” Claudia spins the fiber from her animals and makes hats on a round loom or scarves and shawls on her floor loom. She and Brian hope to complete a felting machine to enable them to create clothing like jackets and vests. Brian even put her drop spindle into an electric drill. “It’s portable, and I can sure spin faster,” laughed Claudia. She sends fiber to a New England co-op to be processed into finished items like gloves and headbands, and she imports some items from South America. Prices start from two dollars for a pair of children’s gloves but can go higher. A large fur rug, for example, would run about $500. “I generally try to keep my prices below $150,” Claudia explained.

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Alpaca products are hand-spun and woven.

After the Alpaca Breeders’ show in March, the Klauses will be placing the babies up for sale. “If we sell them, I might look for a couple more breeding females,” admitted Claudia. “If anyone is interested in starting in this business, really look around, ask a lot of questions, and talk to a lot of breeders.” According to Claudia, alpacas aren’t for everyone. “If you think you can buy a couple, put them in the backyard and get rich, you’ll probably be very disappointed.”

For the Klaus family, it’s a great business with low stress and a relaxing lifestyle. In November they’ll be at the Chino Valley Christmas Boutique at the Singletree Farm. Four local alpaca farms get together to offer alpaca gifts, demonstrations, and food. In June there is a Fiber Festival in Flagstaff while the Alpaca Breeders of Arizona host a show in March at Raw Hide featuring crafts and alpaca products. Claudia is at the Maricopa Market on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. The Klauses hope to host a Harvest Fest sometime in the near future, but, in the meantime, the public is welcome to visit the alpacas after they arrive or to call for products. Information is available at www.alpacazonafarm.com or by calling 568-1946.