Old Homestead Alpacas-Washington

Elaine did not grow up farming; raised in northwest Indiana, her memories of agriculture center on what she saw at the county fairs. In 2008 she and her husband Mike transitioned out of their military careers and moved to Walla Walla, Washington.

They purchased a 10-acre parcel that included the original home and barn, two llamas on the property, and was surrounded by acres of farmland. After learning that alpacas, a relative of llamas, were smaller – and in Elaine’s opinion, cuter, no offense to llama lovers – they added a few to the mix. By chance, Old Homestead Alpacas was born. Today, they are a fiber farm curating ultra-soft, naturally dyed knitwear made exclusively from their alpaca herd and seasonal fresh-cut flowers.

In 2022, Elaine applied for a Pacific Northwest Brighter Future Fund award through the American Farmland Trust, supported by Tillamook and others. For Elaine, wind is a significant challenge to the flower subscription that she offers. Bouquets of flowers need straight stems, and the strong winds that move through Walla Walla batter the flowers. Trellises and other mitigation strategies have helped, but the funds will allow her to install a strong chain-link slat fence along the property line to better block the wind. Leftover funds will go to upgraded corrals for the alpacas, which will increase efficiency in moving them around the property.