Local alpaca farm gives visitors up close introduction to their animals

GALCHUTT, N.D. (KVRR) – At Ten Seven Acres Farm, visitors are given a chance to learn up close and personal about alpacas.

“That’s exactly why so many people are drawn to alpacas. They don’t need a lot of space, but they become part of your family.”

When most people think of alpacas, they think of the mountains of Peru or Bolivia, but at Ten Seven Acres Farm in Galchutt owners Dirk and Jesse Monson are showing that these animals do just fine in North Dakota.

“Even on the coldest day, we might come outside in a blizzard, everything else is inside, the horses and the chickens are hunkered down, these guys, it’s just another day for them.”

Ten Seven Acres is a bit of an old school farm. They have a variety of animals, from retired race horses, to a mini horse and donkey, chickens, ducks and of course the alpacas.

“It’s about giving the public a little taste of what that might have looked like beforehand, and giving them experiences with animals that they might not be able to go up and see in person.”

At the farm you can take the alpacas on a walk, leading them through a wooded trail while learning more about the animals as they scavenge for snacks.

“They’re very gentle, they’re very curious animals by nature. So for them, they see little kids and they go ‘Oh that looks like a big human but little,’ so their instinct isn’t to do anything other than to put their head down and see what this little kid is about.”

And getting to see families learn about and interact with these animals is one of the most rewarding parts of the farm for Monson.

“They don’t mind having a kid lead them around, and petting them and things like that. They’re just much more curious by nature, and it makes them a perfect livestock to have people interact with.”