Member Farm Profiles

Contact Info

Pamela and Mark Welty

1258 West Rd

Ashby, MA 01431

pam@silveroakalpacas.com

www.silveroakalpacas.com

P1: 978-386-2515

Type: Farm Member

Number of Alpacas

Farm Mission Statement:

At Silver Oak Farm, we see our mission as three-fold:

We strive for excellence in the production of huacaya breeding stock of the finest conformation, fleece quality, and disposition.

We diligently work to ensure our animals have outstanding physical and emotional care, in a safe, serene environment.

We commit ourselves to the utmost integrity and dependability in serving our customers from day-one and into the future.

Farm Description:

Silver Oak Farm, located in the quiet, pastoral town of Ashby, continues a centuries-old tradition of farming on hilltop pastures bounded by the stone walls of our early New England predecessors. For now, these fields are entrusted to us and it is with reverence for the land and the animals now grazing it, that we engage in this wonderful vocation of alpaca farming. No, there is not a single “silver oak” on this farm! Our farm name derives from Mark’s first career, as a U.S. Air Force officer, from which he retired in 2002 at the rank of Lt. Col., the insignia for which is a silver oak leaf. Pam, an environmental lawyer in her prior life, is our full-time farm manager, while Mark divides his time between farming and his work as a government contractor for the Air Force.

At present we have a small, but highly select herd of huacaya alpacas. We have resisted the temptation to rush the growth of our herd and have instead chosen each of our foundation females and herdsires breedings slowly, carefully, and deliberately. Every animal in our foundation herd is exceptional, having won multiple show ribbons at Level 4 or 5 AOBA certified shows. Both for the growth of our own herd and to provide an array of exceptional choices for our customers, we are focused on maintaining the highest quality breeding stock with the goal of producing alpacas with fiber that ranks at the forefront of this evolving industry. We breed for alpacas with fleeces of outstanding fineness, consistency, and density, in an array of colors. Our herd currently incorporates a variety of preeminent bloodlines including: PPPeruvian Royal Fawn, 5 Peruvian Silverado, 4Peruvian Legacy, PPPeruvian Augusto, and PPeruvian Pluro.

As a full-time farm, we are dedicated to providing extraordinary customer support and to maintaining solid, long-term, and candid relationships with our customers, as well as throughout the alpaca industry. We look forward to working with our customers in every aspect of alpaca care and management. In order to do this most effectively, we commit ourselves to regular attendance at camelid conferences, seminars, and clinics, covering a wide range of topics including birthing and neonatal care, the latest in camelid health research, practical management and handling of alpacas, and breeding strategies to enhance fiber production. We believe that the freshness of our learning allows us to best connect with and assist our customers. Finally, in our business philosophy we place honesty and integrity at the forefront – hence our motto:

“Integrity breeds serenity”

Farm Directions:

We love to have visitors to the farm and have written directions for almost every possible approach. But, if you are able to find the center of Ashby on your own, this is how you should proceed:

- Head west on Rt. 119 from Ashby center (town common with gazebo on the right and Ashby Market on the left) and make a right (north) at the fork onto West Rd., which is the first right after the Mobil Gas Station (on left) and the Ashby Fire Department (on right) – this right is marked “to Rt. 123A” and has a small unofficial sign saying “West Rd.”

- Continue on West Rd. another 2.1 miles, where West Rd. makes a right – this is marked “West Rd.” on a sign on a phone pole on the left at the turn (there will be a yellow farmhouse on the left just after you make the turn) – this is the third right after getting onto West Rd. from Rt. 119

- Follow West Rd. another 0.2 miles to Silver Oak Farm driveway on the left, just after passing by pond on left; it’s a white farmhouse with front porch and green shutters – “1258” on mailbox.