My name is Dr. Diane Dillard Mitchell.  The question everyone asks and wants to know is how did we get into the alpaca business?  I am a thirty plus year higher education administrator, and retired Dean of Students at Cleveland State University.  My sisters and niece have advanced degrees in psychology and adult learning and development.   My brother-in-law has degrees in business administration and economics and is a graduate of Harvard’s Advance Business Institute.  I was happily married to the love of my life when a drunk driver shattered our dreams and sucked the life out of my family and me.  Even though I was surrounded by loving family, friends and my church, I lost the will to go on.  We have a theory that alpacas come into your life in a time of need.  It was no different for my family and me.  My sister, Darlene, convinced me to go to the Whistler’s Glen Alpaca Farm’s open house.  Two and a half hours later, I was convinced I had to own alpacas. Kathy, the owner of Whistler’s Glen said she had an idea but would need us to commit to learning the alpaca business from the ground up, Kathy committed to teaching us.  

Now, five years and eighteen alpacas later we understand and like to share with others that these are very special animals.  We understand that going to Whistler’s Glen was no accident.  We understand that our steps were guided along a path of healing we could never have imagined.  Alpacas are very special animals, in touch with the human spirit and possessing so many special gifts.   We want and need to share these gifts with others.  

Alpaca Kisses was our first program to share these gifts with residents of Assisted Living Facilities and Nursing homes.  Yes, it was just as magical for the residents of the Assisted Living Facilities and Nursing Homes as it has been for us.  Directors thanked us for coming and invited us to come back.  Residents who never participated in sponsored events attended, thanked us personally, and hugged us. One resident said they “thanked God,” first, for sending us there.  They thanked us “secondly,” because we had been obedient and came.  This was a wonderful experience for the residents but even more so for us.

We have since introduced an additional program called Paca Kids at the End of the Rainbow.  Paca Kids is a series of children’s books introducing them to alpacas, and particularly ours.  This includes a children’s Christmas story about alpacas.   Lastly, we will make it possible to purchase alpaca products on-line through our Alpaca Store.

Sincerely,

Diane
Darlene
Neal
Denise
Matiera