People streamed into Hubbell Farm on Saturday and Sunday to participate in “Alpaca Farm Days,” an official, annual state event as proclaimed by Gov. M. Jodi Rell.
“Alpaca Farm Days“ is meant to bring attention to alpaca farms and the quality of wool they produce.
Hubbell Farm, 61 East Village Road, in White Hills, celebrated its second year participating in Alpaca Farm Days by hosting tours of the farm, tractor rides, discussions about alpacas and showing off wools, spinning items, dyed wools.
Perhaps most notably, it was the public’s chance to get a look at the farm’s four male alpacas, Montana, Chey, Cody and Greystone.
Owners Linda Hooper and her husband, Ray O’Leary, said almost two hundred people attended Alpaca Farm Days on Saturday and another one hundred toured the farm while participating in the sixth annual “Naugatuck Valley Tour Des Farms.”
O’Leary and Hooper have owned the 10 barn house farm since 1982 and feel that Alpaca Farm Days is an excellent way to educate the public about alpaca and local farms.
“The main reason I know Gov. Rell did this is she wanted to support farms,” O’Leary said. “We’ve had rough years and everyone is having a rough time. Anytime you support local farms it’s a good thing for everybody.”
O’Leary’s wife said she enjoys the teaching element of Alpaca Farm Days.
“Many kids have never been to a farm to see them and it’s educational to kids lives,” Hooper said. “ We’ve even had people visit who had relocated from Florida who originally were from Peru.”
Shelton resident Michele Borque said she and her family live near Hubbell Farm. Their 4‑year-old son, Ryan, looks forward to Alpaca Farm Days each year.
Another Shelton resident, Pete Nordvall, brought his 10-month-old son, Shane, to see the gentle animals.
“It’s neat and he loves the animals,” Nordvall said. “It’s more entertainment at his age.”
