4 DECEMBER 1, 2003
Smoke Signals
To Raise Children Right, Have Them Raise Alpacas
O Tribal member Barbara Mercier's children learning the lessons of life.
By Ron Karten
Tribal member Barbara Mercier was worried
about giving her children the right lessons of
growing up. "I was struggling," she said, "how
am I going to teach my kids a work ethic?"
As the youngest of eight kids, she never had
to look far for babysitting opportunities and the
responsibilities that came with the job.
"At 12," she recalled, "Mom said, 'This is the
last time I'm buying you clothes.'"
By the time she hit high school, she was hold
ing down housekeeping jobs for motels on the
coast. "You can't do that today," she said.
So for her children Winston, 13, Tami and
Seth, both 12 she settled on a program that
can reward the children for raising alpacas, and
at the same time, teach them the dual responsi
bilities of caring for animals and keeping books
on a business.
Of course, Barbara is handling the books to
start with, but the chance for the kids to grow
and learn from the process is enormous.
Seth now is interested in starting a website for
the business. To start with, said Barbara, the
kids will join existing associations "to get out there."
The opportunity came to Mercier from a program
of the federal Department of Agriculture (DA)
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Fun On The Farm Tribal member Barbara Mercier's children
Winston (13), Seth (12) and Tami (12) from left to right, are raising
alpacas on the family farm. The animals produce fleece and can be
bred to make money. The Mercier children have become part of an
alpaca community with others who raise the likeable animals.
made available through the Tribe's former Small
Business program. Specifically, she tapped into
the Rural Youth Loans program of the DA's Farm
Service Agency. With a potential loan of as much
as $5,000 available, Mercier picked up on
the alpaca business after seeing a televi
sion advertisement about alpacas.
These programs have been available in
rural areas for many years, said Maria
Godines, a Warm Springs Tribal mem
ber and Indian Credit Outreach Liaison
for the state. She began targeting loan
opportunities to Native American commu
nities of the nine federally recognized
Tribes in the state this year. .
The Mercier family was her first appli
cant for the rural loans, though federal
programs make other opportunities avail
able to fill a variety of rural and agricul
tural needs (See the website at
www.indiancreditoutreach.com).
"A lot of people are not aware of what
the Farm Service Agency has to offer,"
said Godines.
Mercier first learned that alpacas can be a com
plicated and expensive business. Money can be
made by clipping and selling the fleece once each
year, by breeding and selling animals and by put
ting the males out for stud.
On the other hand, alpacas are easy to care for
and pleasant to work with. Also, said
Mercier, "They have two toes, not
hooves, so they are easy on the ground."
With all that in mind, Mercier found
a package deal in which she and the
kids received a pregnant female,
maiden female, herd-sired male and a
gelded male for $17,250. Each of the
kids was approved for a $5,000 loan
and Mercier chipped in $2,500 for the
effort. Each loan has a six-year matu
ration with interest payments due be
ginning in 2004.
Of two breeds available, the Merciers
bought Huacayas. Upkeep takes about
15 minutes a day, said Mercier. That
includes feeding them every day, work
ing them with a halter and trimming
their toe nails.
"You have to halter them at least once
a week to get them used to it," said Tami.
"(An alpaca called) Wanda was the
easiest to clip her toenails," said Seth.
"Sometimes they're gonna be fight
said Winston.
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The animals are shy and gentle, though they
sometimes spit at each other, said Mercier.
Weighing in at about 180 pounds, they are man-
Friendly Exchange Tami George feeds her alpaca named
Lacey on the family's property in Grand Ronde. The family busi
ness of raising alpacas is one way to make some money and
learn responsibility.
ageable and still very "curious about kids."
The 11-month breeding process has already
produced a baby female the family named,
"Sprite." By the end of November, the family
figures, "Sprite" will be weaned and the momma
Alpaca, "Lacey," will be ready to breed again.
"One thing that really truly amazes me," said
Godines, "is to see parents out there like Bar
bara. It is great to see a parent like that, keep
ing the kids out of trouble, all just dedicated that
their youth make it when they become adults."
Since the Mercier family was approved for their
loans, Godines has funded three other business
plans with two more applications in process. "And
several others are working on the process.
The family has found that the entire alpaca com
munity is "supportive" of their efforts, and almost
all the learning comes from others in this special
ized community. In March, for example, the fam
ily will attend an alpaca show in Albany to "learn
more about the fiber aspect," said Mercier.
All of which adds up to a great hobby for the
family, and a great way to ease into the "R" word
(responsibility!) for the kids. Just so long as the
alpacas don't get away again. Oh, did I forget
to mention that little adventure?
Mercier, Executive Assistant to Tribal General
Manager Cliff Adams, is the daughter of Darrel
and the late Ruth Mercier and granddaughter
of Hubert and the late Martha Hudson Mercier.
One of eight children, Mercier's sisters are
Connie Lopez, Carmen Pearsall and Margo
Mercier. Her brothers are Mark, Lowell, Doug
and John Mercier. B
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