Our response to COVID-19
Winter is normally a time of isolation for us here at Snowshoe Farm. We’re very familiar and comfortable with long stretches of time at home with just the two of us. On most days, each of us is busy with our own tasks on the farm, and we don’t see that much of each other. We live in rural northern Vermont, so even the occasional trip to the grocery store doesn’t put us in contact with many people.
But spring comes and it’s a very different story. Our first alpaca show of the season, usually happens around the first of April. This kicks off a very busy time that lasts until cold and snowy weather puts an end to it later in the year. Normally, right after the show, Ron begins shearing alpacas and finishes up in late June. That means Ron is away and traveling to different farms – usually several small farms in one day – for about two and half months. After shearing season, Ron installs livestock fencing through the rest of the summer and fall.
The COVID-19 coronavirus is turning the world upside for all of us. The most important thing we can do is keep our distance from other people in the hope of slowing/stopping the spread of the virus. For our business, that started with the cancellation of the spring alpaca shows. And now it means changing the usual shearing season schedule so that Ron is not visiting other farms, at least for a few more weeks. Our plan, at this point, is to reschedule the April shearing dates. We can’t risk Ron getting sick or spreading the virus to any of his shearing clients. Ideally, the situation will look better in late April and we can begin a complete, but delayed, shearing season.
Ron will be contacting everyone who is on his schedule. We understand each one of our clients will have different concerns and he will work with everyone to the best of his ability. We know the weather will warm up and there will be some worry about the alpacas overheating. This is not a major consideration at this point. We truly hope this will result in just a few weeks delay.
For now, please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Ron has already started talking to his April clients. Their shearing dates will surely be changed. Some of those who are scheduled for May or June might not change. Ron will be in touch as he knows more and has to retool his very full schedule for the next couple months.
In the meantime, we hope you are all staying safe and healthy.
