“How Art Affects Us,” as the theme for its 2025-26 season
From Monday Club Publicist Nora Burdick,
The Monday Club of Wellsville hosted fiber artist and alpaca farmer Robin Kellogg to its November 3 gathering. Her candid presentation on alpacas, the domesticated cousins of South American llamas, was informative and fascinating. Robin and her husband Philip initially committed their farming efforts to raising beef cattle on their Pixley Hill farm in Scio, NY. However, chasing runaway bovine in search of greener pastures after a long day lost its appeal.
Giving up on farming the rich land with a picturesque view in our rural area was never a consideration. The Kelloggs simply needed reimagine how they would utilize their farm space and, quite frankly, their talents. As the Kelloggs explored other options, the price of owning alpacas seemed excessive, but the couple persisted in their research. As Robin explained, the many positive attributes of the alpaca that played into their decision to pivot from beef farming to raising alpacas.
Alpacas are known to live peacefully as a herd animal. If you’ve had the pleasure of observing alpacas meandering in a field, you may have notice how they travel together harmoniously. Their docile nature allows for an established hierarchy among males and females. Traditionally, the oldest member of the herd leads the others. The Kelloggs pasture male and female alpacas separately for health reasons, and Robin and Philip provide the best care possible for their herd. Medical care is monitored and the task of shearing the fleece is done with precision and sensitive seasonal timing by the capable team that includes family members.
According to Robin, the alpacas’ fleece is graded and processed to ensure that the finest fiber is the result. Through the shearing process, fleece is sorted with a purpose – the softest becomes fiber for clothing items, while the lesser is used to create other products such as dryer balls and insoles for shoes. Nothing is wasted.
The fleece is sent out for processing and returned as exceptional quality of yarn and socks. I can attest that alpaca socks have warmed chilly feet from New York to Colorada and beyond and I personally receive requests for these socks for Christmas! The Kelloggs have a gift shop on their property where you can purchase alpaca products and meet the fiber producers in person. They are a high traffic area on the annual Allegany Artisans and Holly Trail tours.
In addition to managing an alpaca farm and keen attention to the demands of fiber production, Robin Kellogg is a volunteer at the Hart Comfort House and other community-based organizations where compassion, kindness, and understanding are the foundation of their mission. Robin is an inspiration to all who meet her.
