Build Your Alpaca Program with Purpose

START ME UP is Elderwood Farms’ limited-enrollment mentorship program for new, developing, and established alpaca farms looking for more than occasional advice.

It’s a personalized partnership designed to help breeders define their goals, evaluate their herd, make informed breeding and purchasing decisions, prepare for the show ring, and build a program with long-term direction.

No two farms begin in the same place - and no two START ME UP plans look exactly alike.

Whether you’re preparing to purchase your first breeding animals, trying to determine the next step for an existing herd, entering the show world, or simply feeling stuck, we meet you where you are and help you determine where you want to go.

Who START ME UP Is For

START ME UP is designed for individuals and farms who are:

• New to alpacas and interested in developing a breeding or show program
• Building an existing herd and looking for greater direction
• Feeling stuck or unsure of the next step
• Looking to realign, rebuild, or revitalize their current program
• Entering or becoming more active in the alpaca show world
• Seeking experienced perspective when evaluating animals, pedigrees, breeding decisions, and future purchases
• Looking for an ongoing mentorship relationship rather than one-time advice

You don’t need to have everything figured out before reaching out. Helping you define those goals is part of the process.

A Personalized Approach

START ME UP isn’t a cookie-cutter mentorship model.

Every farm has different animals, resources, experience, priorities, and ambitions. Rather than handing you a predetermined formula, we work with you to understand your program and develop a direction that makes sense for your goals.

Our role isn’t to build another Elderwood.

It’s to help you build your program with greater knowledge, intention, and confidence.

What We Can Work On Together

The focus of START ME UP depends on where you are today and what you’re trying to accomplish.

Mentorship may include:

• Defining short- and long-term breeding program goals
• Evaluating existing herd strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities
• Understanding pedigrees, phenotype, conformation, fleece traits, color, pattern, and genetic diversity
• Evaluating potential breeding pairings
• Selecting herdsires and foundation females
• Evaluating prospective animal purchases
• Understanding fleece information, histograms, and other available data
• Preparing animals and handlers for the show ring
• Understanding show results and using judge feedback constructively
• Developing a show strategy appropriate for your program
• Thinking through farm setup and herd-management considerations
• Discussing marketing, farm identity, and positioning
• Evaluating decisions as your herd and goals evolve

And sometimes the most valuable conversation is simply having another experienced breeder ask, “Why?”

Why this animal? Why this pairing? Why this purchase? Why this goal?

Those conversations can turn individual decisions into an intentional breeding program.

More Than a Single Conversation

Alpaca programs aren’t built in one breeding season.

The animals you purchase today may influence your herd for generations. A breeding decision may take years before you fully understand what it produced. Show results can reveal strengths, expose weaknesses, and change the direction of future pairings.

That’s why START ME UP is designed as an ongoing relationship.

As your program develops, we can continue evaluating what is working, what isn’t, where opportunities exist, and whether the decisions you’re making today are moving you toward the program you ultimately want to build.

Program Highlights

Extremely Limited Enrollment

START ME UP is limited to just three farms per cycle, allowing us to provide meaningful, individualized attention.

Designed for Breeding & Show Farms

The program is specifically geared toward farms that are active—or planning to become active—in breeding and showing alpacas.

Fully Customized Support

Your mentorship is shaped around your herd, experience, resources, challenges, and goals.

Clarity, Direction & Strategy

We’ll help you step back from individual decisions and look at the larger picture of where your program is headed.

Real-World Perspective

Our guidance comes from years of building, breeding, buying, selling, showing, and continually evaluating our own alpaca program—including the decisions that worked and the ones that taught us something.

Why We Created START ME UP

Elderwood Farms wasn’t built alone.

When we began our alpaca journey, experienced breeders answered questions, shared hard-earned lessons, offered perspective, and helped us navigate decisions when we were still finding our footing.

START ME UP grew from a desire to pay that forward.

We believe the future of the alpaca industry depends not simply on attracting new owners, but on helping people become knowledgeable, confident, engaged breeders who stay involved and continue learning.

Strong farms strengthen the industry.

Farms that understand their goals, make thoughtful decisions, participate, collaborate, and eventually mentor others help create a healthier alpaca community for the next generation.

START ME UP isn’t just about starting an alpaca farm.

It’s about building one with purpose.

Not Looking for a Structured Program?

You don’t need to participate in START ME UP to ask Elderwood for help.

Our broader Alpaca Mentorship is available to prospective owners, established farms, and alpaca owners who may simply need another perspective, help working through a question, or guidance when something new comes along.

Explore Elderwood's Alpaca Mentorship

Let’s Build Something Exceptional - Together

If you’re ready to grow with intention and would like experienced breeders walking alongside you, START ME UP may be the right fit.

We’d love to learn about your herd, your goals, where you’re struggling, and what you hope to build.

Reach out to Elderwood Farms for current availability and next steps.