There’s a lot to like about alpaca

Ashleigh Plante, 21, a graduate of Martha’s Vineyard High, has worked at the farm since she was 16. “It’s peaceful being around them,” she says of the animals. “They’re very therapeutic. They’re different than any other livestock around.” In the winter of 2014-2015, Plante baked alpaca-shaped cookies for her fellow staff members, and the sweets were decorated to represent the individual animals. The “Luna cookie,” featured Luna’s moon!

Island Alpaca has seven employees, but the staff is expanded to 14 during the summer. The extra help is needed: during the island’s busy season, Ronchetti says more than 1,000 visitors stop by the farm each week.