Sheri Bansemer shows off some of her alpaca hair products at the Salem Farmers Market / Photo courtesy of Ann Whitenack

Ann Whitenack of the Salem Farmers Market shares this photo and says:

Want to try Alpaca yarn, possibly something crocheted or knitted out of Alpaca hair like a cute hat, scarf, gloves or socks?  Then come down to the Salem Farmers Market and meet Sheri Bansemer who drives the 96 miles from Marion every Saturday to sell her handmade items.

Sheri, her husband and their two boys own an 11-acre alpaca farm with 11 alpacas. Alpaca hair, which is sheared only once a year, is softer and warmer than wool.  Once they skirt it, which is a nice way of saying they get all the junk out of it like leaves or burrs, they sort it by length and quality. The good stuff goes for yarn, some is used for roving (for all you needle or wet felting people) and the rest Sheri uses as stuffing for her hand made dolls.

Or if you just want to learn something about Alpacas then come on down and talk with Sheri; she’ll tell you neat things–like an Alpaca has no upper teeth, only bottom ones. Did you know that?

Thanks Sheri for choosing the Salem Farmers Market to sell your wonderful and warm Alpaca products!

Thanks, Ann! Share your photos by emailing news@sosalem.com or upload up to 10 photos at a time using our share tool.