Higgly Farm

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Who We Are

Co-owners CarlaGay Higgins and Michael O. Lyon 

 “We started HIGGLY FARM in late 2006 with seven male pets and White Lightning, a juvenile stud (junior herdsire),” Higgins said. “We finally bought five females a year ago and became a full-fledged breeding farm. Last spring our White Lightning became a Blue Ribbon champion at the prestigious MaPaca (Mid-Atlantic Alpaca Association) 1,000 animal show and we have since added three more males available for breeding. When our fourth baby (cria) is born in a few weeks we’ll have 18 alpacas with three more crias due in the spring.”

“We wanted to make money with our farm but we love animals so we weren’t going to raise anything that could be eaten,” Higgins said. “That’s why we decided on alpacas.”

“Like most small farms, we have to split the work load,” Higgins said. “I’m the full-time farmer and my husband (Michael Lyon) works in Fairfax as a CPA and Certified Fraud Examiner to pay the bills. With years of experience as a livestock and farm accountant, being an alpaca farmer is a perfect fit for him.”

WEEKEND ACTIVITIES 

 “We wanted to do National Alpaca Days Farm Tour (September 25 & 26)  and the Loudoun County Fall Color Farm Tour (October 16 & 17) to give the public the opportunity to learn about alpacas by meeting ours.”Co-owner Michael O. Lyon said. ”Alpacas have the softest fleece you can buy. You have to feel it to believe it. These gentle livestock animals are being raised for their fleece, for breeding, for show, as pets, 4-H projects, and weed control. I’ll be talking about their care and handling, that differs in many ways from standard farm animals. I’m also giving healthcare demonstrations and brave visitors can get in the pen and help me out.”

The Original HIGGLY FARM Alpaca Pals, the organic and all natural alpaca fleece toys for dogs and cats are made on the farm and will be sold during the week-end. Hand-made grapevine wreaths, alpaca poop fertilized herbs and late season tomatoes, and scoop-your own fertilizer will also be for sale.

There will be plenty of things to see and do. Test your knowledge of alpaca facts, take photos with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background, watch the mommies and babies and the head butting  antics of the twin Dwarf Nigerian goats. Bring your quarters for grain and the male alpacas and goats will be eating out of your hand.

The giant Great Pyrenees dog, the friendly child magnet, will also be there. Parents watch your children. No dogs, please.

ABOUT ALPACAS

Alpacas are native to the Andes Mountains of Peru, Bolivia, and Chile and are descendents of extinct North American camelids. First commercially imported to the United States in 1984, there are now over 150,000 ARI (Alpaca Registry, Inc.) registered alpacas in North America.

The smaller cousins of llamas and camels, alpacas stand approximately 36 inches at the withers and generally weigh between 150 and 200 pounds.  They do not have horns, hooves, claws or incisors. Social animals, they seek companionship and generally like people. They communicate most commonly by softly humming.

ABOUT ALPACA FIBER

Alpaca fiber comes in 22 natural colors and is shorn yearly. Each animal produces five to ten pounds of luxurious fiber.  It is softer than cashmere, warmer and stronger than wool, lighter than cotton, and has the luster of silk. Once worn only by royalty,  today the raw fleece is sold to hand-spinners and fiber artists, spun into knitting yarn and turned into clothing.  The smooth alpaca fiber is similar to human hair. It is water and dirt resistant and can be washed with shampoo. The fiber is naturally hypoallergenic and contains no lanolin. Most people find that they can wear alpaca clothing without the allergies, itching or skin irritation caused by wool.

To Find Us see CONTACT US

For more infor on National Alpaca Days and the Loudoun County Fall Color Farm Tour see SERVICES.