Larry and Paula Vellozzi

Since 1992, we have been inspired everyday by the grace and beauty of our forty “four-legged kids” at AdoraBella Alpacas.

The simple and genuine interaction with these gentle creatures makes us feel very lucky to have chosen the life of an alpaca rancher. They are so friendly in the morning when we feed them and just want to give you kisses. At dusk, the little babies are running all about the field playing around and neck wrestling.
Our alpacas are gentle, very peaceful to work with, easy on the landscape and don't eat much. They are relaxing, curious and very sweet. It is a true joy to observe and care for them.

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We were city folks living in Los Angeles. For 25 years we had owned and operated a glass manufacturing business and were beginning to question the “rat race” life we were living and where we were raising our children. While vacationing in Oregon, we had our first encounter with llamas at a county fair.

After inquiring with some breeders at the scene, our interest was piqued and the research began. We had no previous livestock experience. A few short years later, we had fallen in love with the Jerome Prairie Valley of Oregon and purchased a former 1906 dairy farm.

Once we decided we wanted to breed and sell alpacas, we never second-guessed our new career path. We considered it an adventure and jumped right in with the attitude that whatever happened...well, happened. By changing our career/lifestyle, we were gaining the freedom and the time to enjoy the outdoors, our family and a slower pace of life.

In our business it is important to do your homework and always have a knowledgeable veterinarian close by and able to cope with the reality that no matter how hard you try, Mother Nature is in charge.

It is difficult to say how much you can earn. The prices are great to start a herd, so you would probably have to supplement your income initially. Marketing is definitely important. These are fiber animals and the industry is focused on that. They are wonderful animal, and if you are patient, the rewards will come.