News Releases

Home  |  Programs  |  Divisions  |  Links  |  About Us  |  Contact Us

Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass will preside over a National Alpaca Farm Days Proclamation Ceremony on State Capitol grounds September 8, at 11 a.m. The event will be held outdoors near the large fountain by the Capitol Building steps. There is no charge for admission. There will be several alpacas on display, an agility course demonstration by 4-H participants and their alpacas and a display of products made from alpaca fleece.

 There are approximately 35 alpaca farms located throughout West Virginia. Many of these farms will hold open farm days September 26-27, to celebrate National Alpaca Farm Days.

Alpacas are fleece animals. They are shorn, without harm, every 12 months, producing 5-10 pounds of luxurious fiber. Long ago, alpaca fiber was reserved for royalty. Today it is purchased in its raw fleece form by hand-spinners and fiber artists. Knitters buy it as yarn.

Because of its soft texture, alpaca fiber is sometimes compared to cashmere and it has the luster of silk, making the fiber even more coveted. It comes in 22 natural colors and can be dyed any desired shade.

Alpaca fiber is just as warm as wool, yet one-third the weight of wool. It also does not contain lanolin, making it naturally hypoallergenic. Most people who are sensitive to wool find that they can wear the smooth alpaca fiber without the itching or irritation they feel from wool.

To find out more about this event contact Liz Lena at 304/458-1687.

To find out more about National Alpaca Farm Days visit www.NationalAlpacaFarmDays.com.

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs, as mandated by state law. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials in West Virginia. Currently, Commissioner Gus R. Douglass is the longest-serving agriculture commissioner in the nation. For more information, visit www.wvagriculture.org.

“The Basis of All Wealth is Agriculture.”

Home  |  Programs  |  Divisions  |  Links  |  About Us  |  Contact Us

©2001, 2002 West Virginia Department of Agriculture, All Rights Reserved

Contact the Webmaster