Alpacas at Marquam Hill Ranch

Since we are on a budget we always look for free or inexpensive things to do in areas we visit. Visiting the Alpacas at Marquam Hill Ranch was free, and the back story was so intriguing that we just had to go!

But before we went there, we decided to check out the Oregon State Capitol in Salem. For a state capitol, Salem seem quite small but charming. After picking up coffee and donuts at a local shop, and a brief Costco run, we left Salem and headed to sate our curiosity about the Alpacas at Marquam Hill Ranch.

Alpacas at Marquam Hill Ranch

Sure, we have probably seen alpacas in a zoo somewhere, but never up close and personal. As animal lovers we couldn’t wait for this new experience.

OMG!!! They are too cute and sweet for words. These beautiful creatures appear to be smiling all the time. They are gentle as can be and when they talk to each other it sounds like they’re humming. After learning the back story of Alpacas at Marquam Hill Ranch, I fully understand how they got into the business of raising alpacas!

The back story

Twelve years ago Jennifer Cameron was reading the local newspaper’s Living Section, and saw a photo of a huggable white baby alpaca. There was an alpaca show at the Portland Expo Center that weekend and she convinced her husband Bill to go with her. He really didn’t understand why they were going, but he went along for the ride. At the show they asked lots of questions and learned that some people made a living breeding and selling these cute animals.

On the drive home they discussed their interest in these critters. Well, she talked and her husband just listened. Bill suggested that Jennifer read more about them if she was that interested.

Reading turned into more discussions and Bill (is a CPA by trade) started calculating….the initial investment to the sale of the animals. They spent the next year researching off the internet, reading books, going to classes, visiting many different farms and ranches, and they decided to purchase a group of five girls. Since their family lived in a neighborhood, these animals needed to be taken care of by someone else. Over the next three years, Jennifer’s job was working with the animals, taking part in Monday morning veterinary checks, and whatever else needed to be done. If was full-time from the beginning, but so much fun.

Since the Camerons first investment of 5 girls 11 years ago the property they finally purchased to raise the alpacas, has grown to over 18-acres. The property came with a mobile home on it and rows and rows of cane berries in Molalla, Oregon. All but six long rows of berries were removed, a barn and home were built, they turned the cane rows into green pastures, and now have a total of more than 80 alpacas.

A major lifestyle change

Their family life changed from city to country. Bill resigned from the corporate world and is now a retired AOA Judge for Alpaca Fleece and Performance….. “I’m still just as excited about scooping poop and taking care of our herd, and the four kids have reconfirmed their thoughts… we really are nuts! After all of this… if you asked us now… would we do this again and we’d answer, In a heartbeat!”

They would do anything for their animals, as well as for the people who buy from them.

From the grass they feed to the training they implement, everything the Camerons do contributes to show-quality animals bred with luxurious fleece, textbook conformations, and winning dispositions.

They have interned with veterinarians to get certified as fiber judges so we know every detail about their animals. They spend countless hours strategizing, calculating, and debating about who to breed; even  flying to Australia to see what merino and alpaca ranchers there are doing.

A memorable experience

Our visit to the ranch was certainly a memorable experience. We were able to observe how they care for the herd and learned a bit about how they breed award winning alpacas with exceptionally soft, dense fleece. We even had the chance to feed those sweet animals some grain and had them eating right out of our hands.

Ranger the chocolate alpaca

One alpaca, in particular, stole my heart. Ranger is a male, dark chocolate brown alpaca. The second I poured some grain into the palm of my hand he nudged the other alpacas out of the way. And Ranger did that repeatedly. Eating and nudging everyone else away from me. Good thing Steve also had food or the other would have been so jealous.

Fabulous gift shop

We even went into the fabulous gift shop and bought a little alpaca ornament made from alpaca fleece. And yes, I name it Ranger!!!

One last visit

Before we left Oregon for Washington, we returned to Alpacas at Marquam Hill Ranch for one last visit to enjoy these precious creatures. Ranger came galloping up to me and asked me to buy some more grain to feed him. If I could have, I would have taken him home with me.