Hang In There… Spring Is Coming to the Alpaca Farm

After months of gray clouds and cold temperatures, it starts to feel a little tiresome. We’re all ready to step outside, do some real yard work, smell fresh-cut grass, plant the garden, and enjoy the feeling of a fresh start that spring always brings.

Here at YaYa’s Alpaca Farm, about 45 minutes south of Kansas City in Cass County, Missouri, we’re watching closely for those small signs that warmer days are just around the corner.

The Alpacas Don’t Mind the Cold

While many of us are counting the days until warmer weather arrives, the alpacas are perfectly content in the cold. With their thick fleece coats, they actually seem more comfortable at 20°F than they are at 75°F.

On winter mornings it’s not unusual to look out and see alpacas standing quietly with rain, snow, or even frozen precipitation resting across their backs. It might look frigid to us, but the alpacas hardly seem to notice. Their thick fleece coats are naturally designed to protect alpacas in cold weather, which is why alpacas thrive in cooler climates and do remarkably well on farms throughout Missouri and the Midwest.

That’s one of the many things that makes alpacas so fascinating — they are incredibly well adapted to changing seasons.

Easter and the Meaning of New Beginnings

Spring also brings Easter, which reminds us of the greatest new beginning of all. Because of what our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did for us, we are reminded that while our time on earth is short in the grand scheme of things, the promise of eternal life gives us hope far beyond the seasons.

In many ways, spring reflects that message. The earth begins to wake up again, flowers start to bloom, and life begins fresh once more.

Spring Means Alpaca Shearing Season

Not long after Easter, one of the most important events of the year arrives on the farm: alpaca shearing season.

If you’ve never seen alpacas being sheared, it’s quite a sight. Their thick fleece — which has kept them warm all winter — is carefully removed so they can stay comfortable during the warmer Missouri months.

Shearing also marks a new beginning for the fleece, as the next year’s fiber begins growing almost immediately. That fleece will eventually become yarn, socks, rugs, and other sustainable alpaca fiber products.

Spring in Missouri Is Just Around the Corner

So hang in there just a little longer. In about six weeks the flowers will start popping up, the sweet smell of backyard BBQs will be in the air, and everyone will be outside enjoying the sunshine again.

Spring in Missouri has a way of drawing people outdoors again — whether that means gardening, exploring the countryside, or discovering unique experiences on local farms.

Come Meet the Alpacas

If you're searching for things to do near Kansas City this spring, consider visiting YaYa’s Alpaca Farm in Cass County, Missouri. Our farm tours allow guests to learn about alpacas, interact with them in the pasture, and enjoy the peaceful rhythm of life on a working alpaca farm.

And maybe — just maybe — you might want to come meet the alpacas.

Hang in there,
Ya