FLEECE BABIES in
NEWCASTLE
Story By Doug Hill Photos by Cody Giles
Magnolia Blossom Alpaca Ranch invites visitors to their friendly farm 10
Everyone needs a little alpaca in their life. That’s the premise and business model behind Magnolia Blossom Ranch. Terri Bates wears several hats at the operation including that of public relations manager. Her spouse Kerry Bates is managing partner. The couple have a business collaboration called Magnolias and Prayers: Everything Alpaca with nearby Answered Prayers Alpaca Ranch run by Gail Stymerski and Al Boyce. Magnolia Blossom Ranch is headquartered at 2901 NW 16th Street in Newcastle, a half mile east of Highway 76. Bates knows why visitors to the ranch enjoy interacting with the South American camelid mammals often confused with llamas. “Alpacas are very sweet, docile and have big round eyes,” Bates said. “People just fall in love with them. They give you a soothing comfort just being around them. When people come out for farm tours we educate them. They get the cuteness and softness factors and also learn about alpacas.” Alpacas are not native to Oklahoma. They were domesticated in the South American Andes Mountains thousands of years ago by the Moche people in what’s now Northern Peru. Bates and her partners shear the beasts for their valuable fleece just like the Andean natives did and still do. [7602100115] The ranch hosts a variety of ticketed interactive events. Some are paired with wine tastings, amateur “palette” sessions and even yoga. They also host parties, weddings
Oklahoma Electric Co-op News • September 2021
