Located in beautiful southwestern Virginia, our mountain community is rich in farming, charm, and old fashioned values. We encourage you to take a step back in time, when life was simpler and fun, yet not without responsibility and trust and a handshake seals the deal. Keep reading and let us share with you our dream of happiness and contentment.
Back Country Ranch is a growing and ever-evolving work in progress. We started out in Pennsylvania living the hectic 9 to 5 lifestyle. Working 50+ hours a week. Two kids in daycare, the house, the dog...you know the "American Dream!" Well, the American Dream ain't all that its made out to be.
We love our family, and family is what was lacking in that "American Dream." There was no time for us, not quality time. Well, as a family we set out to change that. We prayed for an answer, an idea, something to give us a clue as to how to get out of this life that was running us, instead of us running our lives.
That answer came in the furry little shape of an alpaca!
We knew the answer was given to us when we drove by this field filled with creatures that we'd never seen before. Well to tell the truth, we are dog people and we were initially interested in their LGD’s. Can you believe it? We stopped at an alpaca farm to check out their dogs! Well, whatever the reason for our stop, we never looked back! We were hooked. We were inspired! We finally had a common interest that would lead us back to our family!
Over the years, we have grown from living in the city and owning 7 alpacas (boarding them at our mentor farm) to moving to a different state, owning a 63 acre ranch, now owning 20 alpacas ourselves, and boarding an additional 30+ alpacas for several clients. That's a total of over 50 alpacas on the farm...with an additional 4 Llamas for guard duty!
Our lives have certainly changed! A great and wonderful positive change! Our children are learning real responsibility. They have their chores to do...and do them because they like the responsibility. They love taking care of the alpacas...Even cleaning up beans! Believe it or not, so do we!