Fred &
Laurie Keesaw and their two young children created Golden Eagle
Alpacas in 1991. Fred has a long history of intriguing animal
interests, at one time breeding and raising animals for local
zoos. Laurie's interest was fiber-spinning, weaving and knitting
while raising her own fiber producing stock, back then angora
rabbits and goats.
Both Fred
and Laurie have been involved in various aspects of agricultural
pursuits for many years. Fred's career has centered on the timber
industry and landscaping businesses. He currently oversees the
management and maintenance of a 7000 acre sustainably harvested
tree farm where eco-friendly "smart wood" (the forest
of the future) is produced. Laurie is an avid University of
California "Master Gardener" and currently works in
the seed business taking care of customer service and support,
marketing, trialing of new and current seeds, data inputting
and research. She is a firm believer of sustainable agricultural
practices and loves having her alpacas included the circle of
ecological balance. She returns all of the animals manure to
her numerous flower and vegetable gardens and has the alpaca
fleece processed into fiber and created into beautifully warm
garments.
The Keesaws
began their journey and research into the fascinating world
of South American camelids one day when Fred innocently read
an ad placed in a newspaper for llamas for sale. They visited
the ranch, and then more ranches. From first seeing llamas,
the Keesaws soon discovered alpacas. They read and researched
everything they could find out about alpacas. At the time the
children were young and the family was beginning into an adventurous
world of community based home education. A business they could
all be involved in seemed just perfect. Breeding alpacas fit
the bill. The fences and shelters were built, water systems
set up, an office created and the veterinarian contacted. The
alpacas arrived. Wow!
The family
somehow managed to tie the alpacas into all aspects of their
lives and now maintain a small herd of about 15 animals. They
love their animals and provide each one with individual care
and respect. They have built all their own fences and shelters
out of materials taken from their surrounding forest. All the
family members have been very involved in the business.
At this
time Fred and Laurie are currently working to expand the fiber
end of the alpaca business. They truly believe that the alpaca
fiber market will soon be a contributing end product to the
world economy on a global scale as more and more people learn
about this wonderful, warm, non-itchy, natural garment material.
