MACEDO’S MINI ACRE

from Ag Harvest 2021

PUMPKINS

Mini Acres of alpacas

BY KRISTINA HACKER

Larry and Maureen Macedo are the definition of modern farmers. Along with producing high-quality fiber from their herd of alpacas and llamas, their Golf Link Road farm is also a popular agritourism destination and they are a source of manure used to enrich crops and pasture around the area. Additionally, the Macedos partner with local entrepreneurs to offer painting and yoga classes and host birthday celebrations.

What started out as a way for the Turlock locals to help their daughter get high-quality alpaca yarn for knitting at a cheaper price turned into second careers for the former accountant and teacher.

The Macedos spent two years researching alpacas before starting their own herd.

“Almost 15 years ago, we started out on a little half acre and then moved to a place in Stevinson that had 10 acres. And this place became available little bit over seven years ago, and it’s been a godsend here,” said Larry.

The two are now experts in raising alpacas and llamas — with Maureen a past president of both the California Alpacas Owners Association and Llama Association — and host their own industry show at the Merced County Fairgrounds each spring.

“We harvest the fiber and we both have gone through certification for sorting and skirting and determining the grade of fiber, because the grade determines the softness and ability to feel next to your skin,” said Maureen.

Their farm, Macedo’s Mini Acres, sells a number of products from the fiber from alpaca yarn and batts for crafters, along with dryer balls, shawls, hats and needle felt kits that Maureen said is popular with homeschooled kids in the area.

The Macedos said there are a lot of benefits to using alpaca fiber. It is antimicrobial, naturally wicks away moisture and is fire resistant. Alpaca fiber is also 15% warmer than wool, according to Maureen.

Over the past year and half the Macedos saw a drop in their agritourism business due to the cancellation of school groups and other tours because of COVID-19. As restrictions have lifted, smaller group tours are now back on the farm. Those visiting the farm learn all about the process of raising alpacas and llamas to shearing and processing the fiber. They get to feed and visit with the alpacas and try their hand at spinning the fiber.

They also offer an “adopt an alpaca” program where kids can sponsor a specific alpaca and make regular visits to check in on their animal.

The pandemic hasn’t been all bad for the alpaca farmers, as there has been a higher demand for locally-sourced fiber.

“There’s been a resurgence in the last year and a half with people who want to go back to doing things like knowing where your clothes come from,” said Maureen.

The Macedos take advantage of all parts of their farm. Along with the agritourism and fiber production, the they have a grant to basically farm carbon by covering acres of their land with top cover and they produce high-quality manure. The Macedos recently donated 160 bags of manure to cover the entirety of the Turlock Community Garden.

To learn more about Macedo’s Mini Acre or to schedule a visit, go to: https://macedosminiacres.com/

KRISTINA HACKER/The Journal

TOP: Larry Macedo feeds some of the alpacas on his farm that is a popular agritourism destination; LEFT: Maureen Macedo of Macedo’s Mini Acres displays some of the dyed alpaca fiber they produce on their Turlock area farm; ABOVE: Macedo’s Mini Acres, located on Golf Link Road just outside of Turlock city limits, is home to 90 alpacas and a few llamas; FAR LEFT: The Macedos show their alpacas and llamas in a variety of shows around the region and the California State Fair.

Ferraris honored for dedication in protecting local farmland

BY PAWAN NAIDU

John and Jeani Ferrari are passionate about conserving the area’s richest resource, its farmland. The second-generation growers of sweet potatoes, walnuts and almonds, they are also longtime supporters of the California Farmland Trust and its mission. For their years of service, the Ferraris were recognized with the 2021 California Farmland Trust’s Vance Kennedy Award.

The Vance Kennedy Award was established 2014 in honor of Dr. Vance Kennedy, a founding member, for his extraordinary contribution to the California Farmland Trust. Award recipients demonstrate significant commitment and contributions that have furthered the protection of farmland and the farms that feed your family.

“Farmland Working Group was formed as a nonprofit organization with a bold mission statement: to preserve the agricultural foundation of our region and promote smart growth in our urban communities through education, outreach and action. The organization’s printed materials start with a broad vision: ‘Striving to protect food, families and farmland,’” said Jeani Ferrari. “Farmland Working Group recognizes the urgency of preserving Stanislaus County’s highly productive farmland for the long-term.”

California Farmland Trust was started in 1995 at the request of then Congressman Gary Condit. Back then it was known as the Farmland Working Group (FWG) and they discussed the important issues of preserving agriculture land in the local region of the Central Valley. Jeani Ferrari started attending meetings in 1998 and became the first president in 1999. She continues serve on the executive board 22 years later.

The Ferraris have an agricultural conservation easement on one of their farms and hope to permanently protect additional farmland in the future. John and Jeani Ferrari have a vision for a vibrant future where agriculture not only remains viable, but thrives, thus allowing the third and future generations to keep farming.

“Without the farmland, Stanislaus County would have no agriculture foundation, no farmers, processors, distributors or the dozens of commodities and foods,” said Jeani Ferrari. “Our mission is to preserve the agricultural foundation of our region and promote smart growth in our urban communities through education, outreach and action.”

The Ferraris believe that it is up to local communities to preserve farmland and make sure we have a thriving agriculture industry for the future.

“It will not be the State of California or the county that protects the important farmland surrounding Turlock. The state and county have fixed borders. It will be up to the cities in Stanislaus County, as well as the surrounding region of the Central Valley, to protect the state’s most important non-renewable resource, the agricultural land the highquality irrigation system that makes this farmland the world’s most productive,” Jeani Ferrari said.