"Raising Alpacas with Altitude"

It all started back in 1991 when we attended one of our first AOBA (Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association) Conferences held in Estes Park, Colorado. What a beautiful setting, home of Rocky Mountain National Park, to first lay eyes on these wonderful animals that have become such a major part of our lives.

Two years later we welcomed our first two alpacas to our 10 acre ranch in Fort Collins, Colorado, a yearling male named Martin, and a yearling female named Chiquita-the beginnings of our ranch, Marquita Ranch Alpacas. We quickly added five pregnant females to our herd that first year. What started as a tax shelter for us and a business to allow me to stay at home with my young children, soon became a passionate way of life.

In 1999 we moved our herd to the Western Slope of Colorado to a 37 acre ranch in the beautiful Uncompahgre Valley. Surrounded by beautiful mountain ranges, including the awe inspiring San Juans, we feel like we have finally come “home”. The genetic names have changed quite a bit since our beginnings, and our herd now includes lines from Peruvian Bueno, Felix, Leon, Caligula, and Demetrio. Our emphasis is on creating a variety of color, and improving the quality of the fiber, in addition to producing strong healthy animals. We encourage ongoing relationships with our customers, and as a result, have formed many valuable friendships through our involvement in this industry.

Thank you for visiting our site, and hopefully we can help you find your way home to a new way of life, with the alpaca.