Today we’d like to introduce you to Deb Bahre.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Deb. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started the business in 2001 with my purchase of three alpacas. Threw births, purchases and boarders the numbers have grown and receded and are now at a comfortable 22 alpacas. I learned to knit, weave and spin and the business has evolved from a livestock business to putting emphasis on the wonderful fiber these animals produce. There is an online and on the farm store which carries products such as clothing accessories and yarn, roving and raw fiber. I love to have people come for a visit and get to meet some of my friendly alpacas. Most finish the farm visit with an browse through the work area and store as I explain how the fiber goes from on the alpaca to a finished scarf for instance.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been all that smooth, life just isn’t. I have faced many of the same challenges as most any other business. Add to that the farm life is a bed of roses, thorns and all. Tragedies come with livestock, and the tears will fall, and then we go on. Storms come and bury the farm in feet of snow, I’m thinking of the Valentines day blizzard. Or maybe flip a building and lose hay that became uncovered. Country stuff!
Wright Choice Alpacas – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My business is my farm and so my life. My days are filled with animal care, land care and working with the fiber harvested from the alpacas and not the least of all, is spending time with people who come for a visit. I have a bit of a knack with the alpacas, I seem to have created a group of friendly, even to strangers, alpacas. They generally enjoy having visitors, oh please pet me! This is not your average alpaca behavior. Some of this behavior is training, most are genetics, who I breed to whom.
To that, I have been blessed with the ability to mostly self-teach myself to do things such as spin, weave and knit. The products that I make are here in the store and many are online as well. My specialty is down-home friendly.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Part of the alpaca business is showing the alpacas. I am far more interested in what I can train the alpaca to do than a plain old halter class. I like to work with them, teaching and molding their responses. I got some pointers early on and have developed a gut for what to do. I would have to say that anytime I stand at the top of the class, that is when I shine. And even more when it includes products that I have made.
Contact Info:
- Address: 161 Howland Rd
Castleton, Vermont 05735 - Website: https://www.wrightchoicealpacas.com
- Phone: 802-236-5615
- Email: alpacasbydeb@gmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Wright-Choice-Alpacas-1750046211965715/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/wright-choice-alpacas-castleton
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