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La Center farm celebrates all things alpaca

By Andy Matarrese, Columbian environment and transportation reporter
Published: September 30, 2018, 10:12pm
5 Photos
Alpacas hang around outside the barn during a National Alpaca Farm Days event at La Finca Alpaca Farms in La Center Sunday.
Alpacas hang around outside the barn during a National Alpaca Farm Days event at La Finca Alpaca Farms in La Center Sunday. (Steve Dipaola for the Columbian) Photo Gallery

LA CENTER — Like many of the 4-H kids at his farm over the weekend, Richard Cruanas of La Finca Alpaca Farm got into raising alpacas through a friend.

A buddy had a thing for exotic animals, Cruanas recalled, and he invited Cruanas to check them out.

“I went over and that was it,” Cruanas said. “I was hooked.”

He’s been at it for about 23 years, and his farm has about 100 alpacas.

This weekend was National Alpaca Farm Days, where farm owners open their gates to the public and, as Cruanas said, “Let people know what alpacas are all about.”

Along with tours of the grounds and chances to meet the animals, a few vendors had alpaca wool products on display, and others set up spindles to show how alpaca fiber processing works.

Cruanas’ farm hosts several alpacas for the Alpaca 101 4-H club in Battle Ground, and many of the club members, who were at the farm Sunday to answer questions and show people around, said they’ve been at it for much of their lives.

Money raised through Sunday’s food and raffle ticket sales went to the 4-H club.

Plenty of the weekend’s guests, Cruanas said, were simply people with kids on a trip to see the animals. Plenty others, however, were there with specific questions about the alpaca business.

“We’ve had a lot of traffic here this weekend, and the people are very well educated, and asking the right questions,” Cruanas said. “A lot of people are paying attention to the alpaca business, and they’re wanting to get into it.”

Cruanas will be downsizing to a smaller spread after selling the farm to a family moving from California.

“You gotta do your homework, like they’ve done. It’s a big investment, it’s a big commitment too,” Cruanas said.

Ross and Danielle Higgins, the new owners to-be, were there Sunday, and said they’ve been curious about alpaca farming and researching on their own for several years before connecting with Cruanas.

They hope to have more public events, maybe something monthly, and to do more work with 4-H programs.

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Columbian environment and transportation reporter