More than a hobby: Ten Seven Acres Farm

In 2013, Dirk and Jessie Monson were weighing life opportunities, one of which could have included a relocation to Seattle, and another was buying a farm. Remaining in North Dakota and starting a farm won out, leading to the beginning of Ten Seven Acres Farm, in Galchutt, N.D.

In the beginning the wife and husband team did not have “grand visions of raising alpacas or miniature horses,” simply wanting a place to live and have their riding horses. “The truth is that if you told us two years ago we’d be raising alpacas, we’d probably have looked at you a little confused,” says Dirk.

Dirk is the member support manager for Red River Communications, in Abercrombie, N.D. Jessie works at Dakota Fiber Mill in Kindred and helps to process wool and alpaca fiber into yarn for farms all over the country.

“We joke that the farm is our second full-time job, even though we easily spend more time working on it than we do at our day jobs,” says Dirk.

Both Jessie and Dirk are originally from the Minot area, having moved to Fargo to attend NDSU. Although they left Fargo briefly after college Jessie says they found themselves “getting pulled back in. This area feels like home.”

The alpaca operation became part of the farm in July 2014. Alpaca farms are a rarity in this region; most are on the coasts, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. North Dakota has a few farms with usually four or fewer alpacas, with the exception of a farm in Palermo, N.D., which has over a hundred. Ten Seven Acres is one of the largest in the state. Dirk says that they hope that “farms like ours can help create a strong alpaca industry in the Midwest.”

The farm currently has eleven head with two babies on the way and a mini horse named Fred. They plan on acquiring two more in the near future.

Two of the alpacas are herdsires. They are used to breed a foundation herd of females in order to grow their operation. Both herdsires, Cash and Einstein, are among several of their alpacas that have won national awards for the quality of their fleece – “something we are immensely proud of,” asserts Jessie. In addition to pride in the quality, she says the alpacas are “like extended members of our family,” and they give each one a name and its own web page: http://tensevenacres.com/alpacas/

Alpacas come in two varieties: Huacaya and Suri. Huacaya alpacas have fiber similar to sheep’s wool, but much finer and softer. Suri alpacas have fiber that is closer to silk. Both types are highly sought after in the textile and fiber industries. However, the North Dakota climate is more conducive to the Huacaya breed and the majority of Ten Seven Acres alpacas are Huacaya.

The Monsons breed their alpacas specifically for temperament and fleece quality. Jessie explains, “We have alpacas of nearly every color on our farm, from pure white to gray to dark brown.” They find that their customers like the variety of natural colors.

They sell their alpaca yarn, 100 percent natural with no dyes or treatments, on Etsy and at local crafters and farmers markets. Alpaca wool is considered to be hypoallergenic and is fire resistant. According to Jessie, it is “softer, lighter weight, and warmer than sheep’s wool.” They sell raw fiber, “roving” that can be spun into yarn, finished yarns and finished products such as headbands.

Jessie tells a favorite story. Dirk, who “did NOT grow up on a farm; he was a city kid,” went to check on their recently acquired mini horse, Fred. He called Jessie in a panic saying Fred had gotten loose. Jessie says, “I looked out the window to see Dirk chasing this barely 60-pound miniature horse -- in the rain of course. This low-speed, low-height chase continued for the next hour through an unharvested corn field, down a county road filled with trucks hauling sugar beets, and down the Red River Valley and Western railroad line. Somehow, we managed to convince Fred to follow our truck back to the farm.” Dirk now knows the importance of closing the barn door.

In addition to the alpacas, Fred the Mini Horse has developed a following on Facebook. The Monsons post photos and updates to the delight of Fred’s fans, now numbering at nearly 300. A recent visit to the Red River Market in downtown Fargo gave fans a chance to meet Fred and two of the alpacas.

Many people have been interested in visiting the farm, and the Monsons welcome visitors, as long as visitors contact them in advance (Facebook or website) to set up a time to come and meet the animals.

You Should Know:

Ten Seven Acres Farm, featuring alpacas and Fred the Mini Horse

Galchutt, N.D.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tensevenacres

Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TenSevenAcres

Web: http://tensevenacres.com