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Our Mission Statement:
We strive to provide information and services to the llama community, to other livestock owners interested in sheep and llamas and to the general public to promote awareness of these marvelous animals - both silky and suri - and to build confidence in our farms and business practices. We hope that you will choose to purchase from us because of the service and after-sale support.
Farm Description:
Our farms are situated in north central Ohio, one near Carey in Wyandot County north of Marion off US Rt 23; and one near Mount Gilead in Morrow County about an hour north of Columbus on US Rt 42. Both farms have a strong fiber emphasis and each offers services with slightly different foci.
Prancing Meadows Lama Farm in Carey is a true lama (with one 'L') fiber farm as they have representatives of all four camelid livestock species common in North America. Lama paco (aka alpacas) of both the huacaya and suri fiber types live here ( 30) and lama llama (aka llama) (10) also of both types live on the farm. So, should you want to explore lamas of different types, a visit to this farm would be most productive. Connie and Jim Walter also have an exceptionally nice barn setup which is worth studying and they offer guidance/consulting on llama husbandry practices that work and advice on ideas and equipment they have tried and rejected for one reason or another Further, they can also provide guidance on nutrition and assistance in formulating a grain recipe you can have made to order in your area. You can reach Connie on her Verizon cell phone at 419-957-3171 or leave a message on the house phone 419-396-1514.
Shadowbrook Farms in Mount Gilead is a more diverse fiber farm as they have three different types of fiber SHEEP as well as camelids. Because of the sheep (Jacobs – the Biblical spotted sheep, Navajo-Churros – whose fiber is used in Navajo woven rugs, Cotswolds – with almost suri curls whose fiber is used in decorations and doll-making), this farm specializes in Guard Llamas (with two 'L's) and in promoting llamas at public venues as well as in fiber. This farm is home to llamas of both fiber types and a few alpacas (2 huacayas and 2 suris) – used as weanling companions and a male used as a Navajo ram companion. Meg has published articles about Guard Llamas and can provide consulting on how to produce and market guards plus she always has a few choices both male and female for sale as guards, 4H and companion animals as well as fiber animals. Since the suri herd is still small, choices are limited at this time but expectations are that the herd will gradually increase.
Additionally, all of Meg's home-grown llama livestock are civilized and 'do' PR events such as parades, store openings, fund raisers, street fairs, birthday parties, nursing home visits, family reunions and parties. Last year a 4H leader in Shelby OH borrowed two llamas to take to the Peddlers Festival in Butler OH two weekends because all of her llamas got into burdock – Carly and Rhoda even loaded and unloaded from a Honda Element! Six of the current young stock have done one or more Christmas Pageants inside three different Columbus churches (5 events in the last two years) alongside their sheep. We are looking at bumping up the number to five December events in 2008, including one at Children's Hospital in Columbus and another to include a parade.
Besides guard llamas, you can also learn about fiber processing through Meg's on-call fiber expert Ginger Shelby, who can schedule you for private or group spinning lessons or come to your event if within easy driving distance for a seminar. Meg also draws on her 35 years of experience as a troubleshooter and problem solver in the chemical information industry to solve problems and can tap a network of farmers and 'life engineers'. Meg uses a different grain recipe from Connie's that she will share with interested parties. This farm has three different sites (driveways) all within 2.3 miles and an assortment of livestock housing options to explore including home-built shelters, a hoop-house, and landscape timber sheep huts as well as classically built barns. You can reach Meg on her Verizon cell phone at 614-306-0843 (house 419-362-1383) or the facilities manager Charles Clark at 419-706-4546 or new farm intern Molly Nagy at Verizon 614-306-7742.
Directions to our Farm:
Four central OH locations - three near US 42 and OH 314 north of Columbus OH off of I71. Afourth location is near Carey OH on CR 96 off US 23
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