Mora, N.M. – The cowboy mystique brought Ken and Carol Weisner from Chicago west to New Mexico, but it’s a foreign influence that has kept them happy on their ranch just outside Mora.
Fifteen years ago, after buying a parcel of land backing up to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and a herd of cattle, the two reveled in their newfound lifestyle. But all was not happy in this tiny paradise northwest of Las Vegas. It seems the cattle weren’t contributing to the operation’s cash flow.
When a friend from Australia mentioned that many people there were switching from sheep ranching to alpacas, the Weisners looked into the prospect. In 1992, the couple imported 10 of the animals from Chile and Peru. Now the herd has grown to more than 200 and the couple’s retirement oasis is one of the biggest alpaca ranches in the southwest.
“One of the things I like best is that it brings the family together. Our daughter, Darcy, is involved with the operation. We get to enjoy the country and still have a business,” says Ken.
Their acreage, called Victory Ranch, is open to visitors who want to feed or just ponder the animals that look like gentler versions of Jar Jar Binks from “Star Wars.” The Weisners happily host prospective alpaca buyers, and a couple times a year hold weekend workshops that teach the techniques of spinning, weaving, knitting, felting and dyeing.
A store on their property stocks yarn, unspun fiber and some clothing – all produced from the fleece of the ranch’s inhabitants, including 25-year-old Fuzzy, who is said to be the oldest alpaca registered in the United States.
Members of the camel family, alpacas live mainly in the South American Andes. Alpacas first were brought to the United States in 1984, and since, the number that are boarded and bred in the country has increased yearly to more than 60,000 registered.
Alpacas produce fiber that is soft as cashmere, but less expensive. It’s lighter than wool and contains no lanolin to exacerbate allergies. Animals are bred for color – about 22 of them – a boon to weavers and knitters who either want to dye their own yarn, or who prefer the natural look.
Once a year, Weisner and a few hired hands shear the animals. Adults produce from 3 to 7 pounds of fiber. The first cuttings on the younger animals (sold as baby alpaca fiber) are purchased by hand spinners – the fiber is softer, silkier and coveted. Fiber from the other animals is grouped into colors then shipped to a local mill where it is spun into yarn, which the Weisners sell for about $7 an ounce.
At a certain age, the weanlings are separated from their mothers during the day and kept close to the store. This is where visitors can feed and pet the animals, who munch their food and occasionally communicate by humming.
The details
Victory Ranch is a nice day trip from Santa Fe, Las Vegas, Angel Fire or Taos. It’s about a mile north of Mora on New Mexico 434 and open daily from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Feedings cost $2 per person and are at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m.
The ranch usually hosts the annual Mora Valley Arts Fair on July 4 and a fundraising chili cook-off in August.
For information about visiting the ranch or purchasing fiber and yarn, call 505-387-2254 or visit www.victoryranch.com.
