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AlpacaNation Q&A with Joyful Journey Alpacas
Sue & Jeff Groeschl
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13920W State Road 77, Hayward, WI 54843
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715-634-3137
AlpacaNation: Tell us about yourself...
Joyful Journey Alpacas: I'm a wife and a mother of 3 man-boys (ages 21,20 & 16). I co-own a Forestry Consulting Business with my husband Jeff which we started full-time in 1995 after many years of him working as a Forester with the government and doing the consulting on the side. I'm actually very part-time with the office duties since we are small and I rely heavily on great computer programs. I'd rather be out with the critters. We also have 2 dogs and a cat. I'm involved with a Spinner's Group which is great fun.
AlpacaNation: How long have you been in the alpaca business?
Joyful Journey Alpacas: We built our barn and perimeter fence in the summer of 2004 while the two bred females we purchased a few months earlier stayed close by on other farms. In August of 2004 we brought them home with the crias and a yearling male. We've had babies and made more purchases and are now up to 17 animals and have added more pastures and a machine shed. Busy,busy, busy....
AlpacaNation: How did you become interested in alpacas?
Joyful Journey Alpacas: We had always wanted to have our 9 acres "working". The house and business sits on 3 acres up by the road and the remaining 6 was a hay field surrounded by beautiful trees for a very private setting. The nieghbor stopped haying the field so we came up with all kinds of ideas such as Christmas Tree Farm, couple horses, a couple cattle, dog boarding etc.. Nothing seemed like a good fit until the word alpaca was mentioned to me while vacationing in Northern Idaho where we used to live. I only knew what an alpaca looked like then but I soon started gathering as much information as I could and worked at convincing my husband to give it a go. I'm so happy I was persistant and so is he!
AlpacaNation: How did you decide on your farm name? Is there a special meaning behind the name?
Joyful Journey Alpacas: While researching alpacas, it seemed so many people described alpacas or their experience with them, using the word 'Joy' in some way. I was just feeling "the joy" as I looked at pictures or visited farms so I knew that somehow the farm name would include that word. I've thought of many ways to feel fulfilled over the years as a person, not just as a wife and mother, but things finally became clear with the alpacas. The journey to that point was wonderful and I'm extremely hopeful that life's journey with alpacas will be just as great.
AlpacaNation: What sets your farm and herd apart from others in the industry?
Joyful Journey Alpacas: I've always believed that you get what you pay for. Our Forestry business was built on hard work, extensive knowledge, and respect for the clients needs and visions. We found that our clients were very satisfied and didn't mind paying for the higher quality of work. Word of mouth built our business. So, we applied the same concept to alpacas and purchased our females not only for their qualities but for their parentage. I wanted strong boned animals that had excellent covereage with high quality fleece who were also excellent milkers and easy breeders. The animals health is at the forefront of every farm decision. We want our customers to know that they are getting the best investment for the dollars and we will provide whatever they need to make their farm life easier.
AlpacaNation: What is your greatest achievement or favorite memory since you started raising alpacas?
Joyful Journey Alpacas: Considering how overwhelmed we were when we first became responsible for these animals, I take pride in saying that so far, in our 3 years, we haven't had an animal die or even get really sick. We haven't lost a pregnancy or had a problem delivery. Although I know our time will come. Seeing our first alpaca being born without a hitch and female to boot was incredible!
AlpacaNation: What steps did you take to prepare for raising an alpaca herd?
Joyful Journey Alpacas: Lots of reading and preparing of a business plan that had to be approved by our accountant and financial planner (both totally conservative business men)before my husband would talk any further about my alpaca venture. I knew I needed him to be on board. Good thing too as he is the toenail trimmer and shot giver!
Went to several farms, a show and seminars. My youngest son went to the first farm visit. He was only 12 at the time but he got hooked too. He helps greatly with chores.
Put in high, strong fencing so we could feel safe having the animals come and go from barn. We don't get poop in the barn and that makes it less likely they'll develop parasites.
AlpacaNation: What advice would you give to those just getting started in the industry?
Joyful Journey Alpacas: Visits at least 5 farms of different types and size to see what will work for you. Do enough research beforehand so that you can ask intelligent questions without taking up too much of the farmers time.
Take a Marty McGee Bennett seminar on the basics before even getting your animals and keep practicing so you don't mess up your animal!
AlpacaNation: How do you see your farm and alpaca business growing over the next 5 to 10 years?
Joyful Journey Alpacas: We don't want to go over 25-30 animals since we don't want to hire outside help and we want the animals to continue to have enough room to play and graze well. That means we will be selling most of the weanlings every year. The fleece will continue to improve as I keep getting educated on what makes great fiber. We would love to see more emphasis put into raising money for the U.S. commercial mill that will eventually be needed to insure thatthe price of alpaca products becomes more reasonable so that more people can afford them.
AlpacaNation: What has been your biggest lesson learned in terms of breeding?
Joyful Journey Alpacas: Watch the newbie male very closely for several breedings to make sure he knows where the correct orafice is. Lesson learned after our female came back home with an infection vs. a pregnancy, caused by fecal matter. Lost of production and big cost in vet bills
AlpacaNation: Describe your first alpaca purchase... would you do anything differently today?
Joyful Journey Alpacas: I purchased a bay black bred female and a fawn bred female that were due within days of eachother so the crias would have companionship. Couldn't have worked out better. The farm owners from both purchases are great friends now too!
AlpacaNation: What has been the most helpful advice you have received from your veterinarian?
Joyful Journey Alpacas: Probably just that he said he most likely couldn't get to my place quick enough in an emergency unless it was at night when he is sleeping. He has a huge territory but only lives 15 minutes away. This opened my eyes to the fact that I needed to take neonatal courses and buy more medical type books. Which I did.
AlpacaNation: What unique challenges do you face as a small, mid-size, or larger breeder?
Joyful Journey Alpacas: Not having a vet available all the time is a big one.
Being on of only a handful of alpaca farms in my area makes it challenging to educate people on the basics of alpacas.
AlpacaNation: What do you tell prospective buyers who look at the small profit the alpaca fiber produces compared to the daunting prices of alpacas?
Joyful Journey Alpacas: The profit pays for the hay and minor vet bills right from the start. If you get in the business now with quality animals you'll make your money in breeding stock and if you keep your eye on making better fiber, when the industry goes toward fleece more you would have re-couped your initial expense so that there will actually be a profit. Geldings are good!
AlpacaNation: If you could change one aspect of the Alpaca industry what would it be? Why?
Joyful Journey Alpacas: The outlandish prices paid for some herdsires. Non-alpaca folks probably think we're all out of our minds which really makes it hard to convince them they should go into it!
AlpacaNation: How do you see the industry developing as the U.S. market grows rapidly?
Joyful Journey Alpacas: I think we need several committees to make sure the growth isn't uncontrolled. A business that grows too fast usually fails.
AlpacaNation: Do you have a favorite Alpaca? Why is it your favorite?
Joyful Journey Alpacas: Our herdsire Adonis. He was our 2nd cria and even though he was a little skitterish when we first brought him to the farm, he soon became so well behaved. So easy on the halter and with the girls. He is just solid, gorgeous and trusting which makes doing anything to him easier. Plus he is the first of the animals to actually be making income for us on breedings.
AlpacaNation: Any embarrassing moments you would like to share?
Joyful Journey Alpacas: I actually couldn't bring myself to look at the sex of the last cria we had born this year. I made my husband look instead since we had had 5 males out of 6 cria. Then I went and cried from the sheer joy at having a healthy black female cria! I think I could have gone for days not knowing rather than face the male organ again! The affect of having so many males probably wouldn't have been so bad if we had lots of animals already but just starting out made it horrible.
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