By Barbara Arnstein
Shauna Anderson has a certification in animal therapy, which she puts to good use at the Alpacaville farm in Bemus Point. There, she helps clients relax, recover, socialize and thrive, as they experience sessions with alpacas, pigs and chickens. Alpacas resemble llamas, but they are smaller. Alpacas and llamas are both related to camels.
“I can lead groups through activities and educational interventions towards a specific goal.”, she said, “We have groups from schools, home schools, mental health groups, nursing homes, the autistic club and many more. I am not a therapist but sometimes a therapist comes with a client and we handle the animals. We have families that bring their children with brain trauma, autism, ADHD, etc. and we have them interact with the alpacas (or pigs or chickens) in a way that gets them to talk or socialize or sometimes just relax, in the non-judgmental presence of the animals. “
“We allow the animals to come and go as they wish”, she continued, “which makes it very special when one comes over to be petted, for example”.
Now everyone has a chance to relax and enjoy the company of the animals there, and boost their Christmas spirit. Dan and Shauna Anderson, farmers and owners of the Alpacaville farm in Bemus Point, are opening their farm to the community. Their mission: “We want to create a place of respite from the stress and bustle of the holiday season.” This Saturday, December 23rd, at 10am, they are hosting Christmas in a Barn: an event including a brief church service, followed by the opportunity to interact with the alpacas. Hot cocoa and snacks are provided, as well as the opportunity to visit the Alpacaville store to buy last-minute Christmas presents. The items available there include: nice, warm shawls, socks, sweaters, gloves, boot liners and lined alpaca hats, plus finger puppets, pig mugs and other items.
“There’s so much stress in the world these days – and the busyness and pressures of the holiday season are no exception,” said the Rev. Jessica Frederick, Minister for Children, Youth, and Families at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. “I am a former farmer who believes in the healing power of connecting with the natural world, and Christmas in a Barn is an event that combines my passions. In the Christmas story, we celebrate God coming into the world in the most unexpected of ways: as a baby in a barn. It is also an invitation to slow down, to ‘expect the unexpected’ as we experience peace and joy with the animal world. They have so much to teach us.”
The Andersons also view their farm as an opportunity for people to connect with the healing nature of alpacas and become more tranquil. “Many people have commented over the years that while visiting the farm and the animals, they feel a spiritual sense of peace and calm,” said Shauna Anderson. “We also often hear them comment that they find themselves relaxing in a way that is hard to describe. People often return and bring their friends and other family members so they can enjoy the experience as well.”
For more information, contact Shauna Anderson at Alpacaville (716-664-0663) or Jessica Frederick at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church (716-483-6405). Alpacaville is located at 4463 Mahanna Rd in the beautiful rolling hills of Bemus Point, NY, near Chautauqua Lake. To shop online, go to alpacaville.com Between January 15th and April 15th, visits are available by appointment, weather permitting.