Monday Close-up: Running an unusual farm
July 21, 2008 - Daily Hearld
Jill Bergman was never one to brag about her children. "I never wanted to sit and talk about my kids," says Bergman, who raised four daughters and three sons spanning 11 years. "I found that if I did get with a group of moms who did that, I found it very boring and annoying."
These days, however, she'll talk forever about her babies, of which she has about 24, with two more on the way. They're a bit messier than her first seven, but a lot quieter.
Bergman, with the help of her husband, Rod, and daughter Rebecca DeMasters, raises alpacas in Alpine. Drive just beyond the residential neighborhoods, and you'll find five lush, green pastures laid neatly side by side, mottled with the grazing furry creatures.
As the youngest of her seven children headed out on an LDS Church mission eight years ago, Bergman went to visit her first alpaca, "just out of curiosity," after reading an article in the paper. The rest, as she says, is history.
"It wasn't an empty nest thing by any means," Bergman said, who described herself being happy as she watched her children grow up and leave the house. "I think I was looking for something to do ...and this just happened to be right there at the right time for me."
Alpacas are part of the camelid family, related to llamas, camels, vicuñas, and guacanos. Native to the Andean region of South America, they're primarily raised in Chile, Bolivia and Peru, from which come some of the finest breeds and bloodlines. Despite ending importation of the animals in 1999, the U.S. numbers are growing, Bergman said.
She started out with four alpacas in a small barn built on her own property before branching out several years ago to buy a bigger plot of land about one-mile away from her house. Now, with two barns and a few sheds and her daughter living in a house right next to the plot, the property is a fully-functioning alpaca farm.
"It's taken me a number of years to get to this point," Bergman said. "And it's taken us a number of years to have the quality of animals that we have."
Bergman shows her young alpacas, or "crias" and "juveniles," at about six shows a year
during spring show time, and has done it all with much success. What makes alpacas special in the way of judging is their softer-than-silk fleece, which Bergman suspects will really take off in the fabric world in the next few years. She cites the fact that Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani recently bought his own alpaca herd as proof.
It's not just their coat that's special, however. Bergman describes the animals as very bright.
"They know you better than you think they do," she said. "They read you very well."
Bergman relates the story of a recent visit to her farm from a class of autistic students. The alpacas, she said, who are generally very stand-offish and rarely let people approach them, were completely at ease with the students, allowing them pet their long, graceful necks.
"They knew those kids were special. They're incredible."
Despite the fact that the alpacas are technically livestock, the relationship Bergman has with them feels much more intimate.
"It's very maternal," Bergman said of raising the animals, which are sometimes called "cuddly livestock" for their widely thought adorable appearance. "I guess the job isn't done. I guess I'm still feeling the need to [nurture]."
Bergman said she has promised her oldest alpaca, the 7-year-old matriarch, that they with always be together.
"It feeds my soul, it really does," Bergman says as she looks lovingly out at her herd, grazing and napping in the shade. "They become part of your life, there's no doubt about it."
