When Laurel’s phone rang, I expected her to pull out an outdated flip phone, and for it to be beat up and maybe a bit dirty. She rustled through her denim overalls and Carhartt jacket while Gordy, the dog watched her intently. Almost missing the call, Laurel surprisingly pulled out a shiny iPhone.
“Bluebird Hills,” she answered.
Bluebird Hills, an alpaca farm located on Derr Rd in Springfield, is owned and operated by Tim and Laurel Shouvlin. The Shouvlins have been breeding and raising alpacas since 1997.
“I’ve done a lot of things in my life,” Laurel said, “I’ve been an x-ray tech, a physician’s assistant, I even tried scuba diving.”
“The cool thing about alpacas is that they meet all of my needs,” Laurel said. The alpacas keep Laurel outdoors, they give her good exercise, they force her to be a caretaker, they allow her to showcase her creativity, and the farm keeps her in contact with people. All of which are things Laurel loves.
There are around 50 alpacas at Bluebird Hills that belong to the Shouvlins. Laurel pointed out alpaca after alpaca indicating their names and what breed of animal they were. Laurel’s tone was caring and charismatic when she talked about the animals. There is more to this farm than simple economics, the hearts of its owners are rather great.
Most people who run a business are looking to make money and support themselves from the hard work and time they dedicate to their business. There is something different going on at Bluebird Hills Farm.
When asked if she made a profit from the farm, Laurel said, “We break even, and I’m very happy with that.”
The mud on her boots and the way she talked about her alpacas demonstrated just how hard of a worker she was, and for what, to break even?
The more Laurel talked about her alpacas, the more the passion became obvious, her smile never left her face. Laurel rattled off facts about the different colors the animals come in, the way that they are bread, their eating habits, their lifespan, their personalities, the different fiber that comes from the animals, etc. It quickly became apparent that the dog was not the only one who had a special bond with these alpacas.
Laurel also shared stories of the not-so-pleasant side of the animals. Alpacas spit. It is green, and it is potent.
“You know when they’re about to spit,” Laurel said chuckling, “you point the head in the other direction, or get the heck out of the way!”
While at the farm, we witnessed a female in rare form who was looking at the alpacas around her to be more than just friends. “She’s a real hussie!” Laurel said. Laughing, Laurel pointed out the noise that the animals were making. “Do you hear it? It’s like a dirty old man,” she said.
It was refreshing to see someone so passionate about something. The passion does not come from dollar signs or large profits, it comes from the heart of a loyal and honest caretaker.
As I walked out of the barn, I heard another strange noise come from the alpacas. Laurel turned, and smiled and said, “There’s never a dull moment Bluebird Hills Farm!”
