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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-04-25, Page 8PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013. ANYONE INTERESTED IN PLAYING Brussels Men’s Town League Slow Pitch 19 and over Contact: Jeff 519-887-9790 or Mike 519-887-6449 League starts May 21st Catch theWave! West HuronWave Female Hockey Tryouts $50 for all 3 Skates at the Maitland Recreation Centre - GoderichYMCA Permission to Skate or Release form required to skate. Please visit the Wave website at www.westhuronwave.com for more information and forms. Atom Friday,April 26 5:00 - 6:00 pm Saturday,April 27 4:30 - 5:30 pm Tuesday,April 30 6:00 - 7:00 pm Novice Friday,April 26 6:00 -7:00 pm Saturday,April 27 5:30 - 6:30 pm Tuesday,April 30 7:00 - 8:00 pm Pee Wee Friday,April 26 7:00 - 8:00 pm Saturday,April 27 6:30 - 7:30 pm Thursday, May 2 5:30 - 6:30 pm Bantam Friday,April 26 8:00 - 9:00 pm Saturday,April 27 7:30 - 8:30 pm Thursday, May 2 6:30 - 7:30 pm Midget Sunday,April 28 7:00 - 8:30 pm Wednesday, May 1 9:00 - 10:30 pm Thursday, May 2 9:00 - 10:00 pm REPRINTS OF PHOTOS taken by Citizen photographers are available to purchase. ALL ARE IN COLOUR 4x6 - $4.00 5x7 - $5.00 8x10 - $8.00 Phone to order ~ 519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114 Alpaca farm opens doors for peek inside industryMaureen and John Hengeveld of Cranbrook Acres Alpacas, located just outside of Brussels on Cranbrook Line, want people to see exactly what raising alpacas is all about. On May 5, the couple will be opening their doors from 1 to 4 p.m. to show people how things are handled in the alpaca industry with a focus on shearing and explaining what the fibre from the animals is used for. The couple bought the farm in January 2010 and are now looking to expand their alpaca business at a larger location. They originally started the business as a retirement project. “We visited a few farms and we fell in love with the animals,” Maureen explained. “We were just doing it as a side project as John drove a UPS truck here and in the north and I worked at Grand River Hospital.” They moved to their farm at 42692 Cranbrook Road and started with a few animals and have since moved up to 25. “They’re just adorable to look at,” Maureen said. “They are calm and curious and it’s enjoyable to work with their fibre. It’s luxurious and has so much potential.”The fibre has many uses and, afterit’s cleaned and processed, Maureenuses it for projects to sell from the home and online at www.cranbrookalpaca.com. “We sell the fabric, which is like cashmere, and is about six times warmer than wool,” she said. “It also doesn’t cause itchiness or allergies.” On their website they sell headbands, dryer balls, seat warmers, socks, rugs, raw fibre, rovings, sweaters, cardigans and yarn made of the fibre. John explained that alpaca farms are among the quickest growing farming options in North America with over 300 farms in Ontario and 50,000 in the United States. “They’re very easy to care for and you can raise up to 10 of them per acre,” he said. “We want to go bigger.” The duo has learned a lot since getting into the business. “They are very low maintenance,” Maureen explained. “We were able to care for them and work. They’re also very curious and have personalities.” She said that alpacas are registered and DNA tested to control breeding and that there are shows for alpaca breeders and farmers, the most recent of which was a large one held in Orangeville. The Hengevelds took threeanimals to the show and each camehome with a ribbon. “We were very pleased with the results,” John said. Raising alpacas is not an inexpensive hobby to get into according to John, but it can definitely pay off in the end. “A lot of people buy alpacas for pets because of how personable they are,” he said. “We don’t, and if you have a quality animals, you can breed them or sell them for a lot of money.” He said the most expensive animals ever sold cost $750,000. Part of the reason the couple is hosting the event is to dispel any myths surrounding the industry. “This isn’t a trend, we’re well past that,” John said. “It’s a sustainable industry.” Maureen explained that there are organizations, like Alpaca Ontario and Alpaca Canada to monitor the industry and represent their interests. The animals are sheared once annually and according to the Hengevelds the job is a difficult one. The Hengevelds bring in friends and family to help tackle the job and they want to share that experience with other people this year. For more information, visit their website. By Denny ScottThe Citizen Shaping the fibre Maureen Hengeveld of Cranbrook Acres Alpacas doesn’t just raise and shear the animals, she uses their fibre, once processed, for many projects which she sells both from her farm and online. Hengeveld and her husband John will be hosting an open house on May 5 to show people what is involved in raising and shearing the animals. (Denny Scott photo) What a difference the weatherman makes to the operation of a golf course. In 2012 the Wingham Golf and Curling Club golfers got off to a mid-March start. This year April 2013 at press time the course was still too wet to play but superintendent Bruce Pewtress is confident the action will get underway before week’s end. The senior men are looking to kick off their Wednesday morning season on May 1 with men’s night on Thursday, May 2. The ladies will follow with their opening night on Tuesday, May 7. The kitchen is set for a busy start to the golf season with the opening monthly wing night on Friday, May 3 and the annual spring barbecue on Sunday, May 5 from 5 - 7 p.m. The club will be offering special golf rates for the day of the barbecue. Chip and a Putt – By Bruce Skinn Curious animals John Hengeveld of Cranbrook Acres Alpacas is seen here corralling and feeding two of the farm’s crias, or young alpacas, named Abel, front, and Sterling. Cranbrook Acres Alpacas will be hosting an open house on May 5 to demonstrate shearing and raising the animals. (Denny Scott photo)