The Origins of Der Bauernhof Alpacas Farms

four different colored alpacas being led

Stan and Janetta attended Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois. One of the classes that Janetta took for general education was a class on early American crafts, including spinning fiber. Janetta became intrigued by the art of hand spinning fiber and wanted to have a farm where she could have sheep and spin.

Stan is the grandson of Alsatian immigrants (the Bauer side), and bauer, in German, means farmer or peasant. He had wanted to have a small farm or farmhouse that he could name der bauernhof, which translates to “the farmer’s house.”

After college they went their separate ways, but met again while Janetta was in grad school and married. Their careers took them around the country, but neither forgot their dreams.

When they transferred back to central Illinois from Texas in 1992 and purchased an acreage, it was their opportunity to realize Stan's dream of having a small farm and Janetta’s dream of having fiber animals as a source for spinning. They had sheep for a couple of years, but found the fiber was coarse and too short for spinning. An acquaintance of theirs in the Herb Guild had alpacas and suggested they try them.

Stan and Janetta purchased their first two alpacas in the Fall of 2002 to see how they liked them. They quickly fell in love with the gentle animals with soft fiber and a staple length that was a joy to spin.

The following Summer of 2003 the Bauers began alpaca farming when they purchased their first breeding animals, two pregnant females with crias (baby alpacas), and der Bauernhof Farms was born. For 18 years we have strived to raise alpacas that produce the finest fiber for the most beautiful alpaca fiber products possible. Our team of knitters, designers, felters, weavers and jewelry designers continue to produce outstanding quality products. Even though we no longer own our own alpacas, we continue to produce the quality products we have for the last 15 years, made from locally raised alpacas whose owners are also concerned about quality alpaca fiber.