LeeAnna Jorgenson first learned about alpacas several years ago when she and her husband were looking for some acreage on Whidbey and found 10 acres in Greenbank. When they bought the property, the owner asked, “What are you going to do with it?” She wasn’t sure, but LeeAnna had raised animals for the FFA (Future Farmers of America) in high school, and she wanted to use this Whidbey property for animals.
Prior to her visit to Whidbey, LeeAnna had been living in Southern California, but around 1995 she began looking for another place to live that would be slower paced and friendlier. She moved to Seattle and worked in Lynnwood. Her boss invited the company employees to come for a beach party at their get-away home in Lagoon Point. That party led to LeeAnna deciding to look for a home on the island. She bought a home in Scatchet Head and lived there for a few years until she met and married her husband and they decided they wanted some acreage on the island.
Once they found their Whidbey property, LeeAnna began looking at possible animals she wanted to keep there. She learned about alpacas and their special qualities: “They are known for being curious animals who are very interested in people; they don’t need attention like a dog. But they all have individual personalities.” Her husband agreed that this would be a fun venture.
Pronkin Pastures was officially opened in 2005. Their alpaca herd now numbers about 30 animals, including some who are being boarded. Alpacas live for 15 to 20 years, and they live within a herd.
LeeAnna’s husband Ron is the main caretaker for the animals tending to their daily feeding and watering; LeeAnna is the “face” of Pronkin Pastures, meeting with visitors and handling the shop and making many of the decisions relating to the animals.
LeeAnna says “We got help from many of the farmers in the area when we first started our Alpaca business. They have been our mentors and were able to help us with the many questions we had. We learned about how the alpacas needed a place where they could roam. We also had to learn how to shear the animals and sell the yarn.”
They have a shop at Pronkin Pastures that sells alpaca yarn. The alpaca yarns can be purchased in bulk, and there are many items available for sale made from alpaca yarns that come from their own property as well as other sources.
In addition to visitors seeing the pastures where the animals enjoy their Whidbey days, the alpacas are friendly and like to have people visit them. Currently, Pronkin Pastures is the only alpaca farm on the South end of Whidbey that invites visitors to meet their animals. Pronkin Pastures enjoys having people come to visit the animals during their regular hours, and LeeAnna will arrange to show the animals at other times if visitors make an appointment.
Current farm hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Drop-ins are welcome, but appointments can be made for personal tours of the property and introductions to the individual animals. To make an appointment, or to learn more about Pronkin Pastures, give LeeAnna a call: 425-879-1165.
You can also find out more about Pronkin Pastures by visiting their website: Pronkin Pastures Alpaca Ranch, https://www.pronkinpastures.com/
