Alpacas are gentle, curious creatures with very distinct personalities.

PARIS – Mountain Brook Farm, owned and operated by Dan and Cindy Mingle, will be one of the Maine alpaca farms open to the public Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 25 and 26. The homestead has been a working farm as far back as 1830, and became home to three huacaya alpacas in 1995. Today, the Mingles’ herd consists of 35 alpacas of all colors, ages and bloodlines.

Alpacas, which are from South America, produce a fine, warm fiber that is shorn once a year. The fiber is spun into yarn for products such sweaters, hats, blankets and socks. Alpacas are gentle, curious creatures with very distinct personalities, the Mingles said. They have a neat nature and a respect for a fence, which makes maintenance and confinement easy. They are efficient grazers and can be fed for a fraction of the cost of most other livestock.

The Mingles said they find raising alpacas to be an exciting business, as well as a great family adventure. Their goal is to grow the herd as a retirement investment, while buying and selling animals to diversify the gene pool and advance their breeding goals, which include producing healthy alpacas with exceptional conformation and fiber that is high in luster, crimp and softness.

Mountain Brook Farm is at 219 Streaked Mountain Road, which is off Route 117 in South Paris. For more information, people can call 743-9024 or visit www.mtbrookfarm.com

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