In 2004, after buying the property where the great rock lies, Kate was inspired to join the Alpaca business world, set up the farm and honor it with the name - Great Rock Alpacas. Kate Lathrop, who worked at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the alumni association and many other management positions for 23 years, used to dream two thoughts while commuting on the mass turnpike every day. The first dream was to live near the Quabbin Resevoir in one of the beautiful, small towns that surround it. The second dream was to raise llamas. (This is before she knew anything about alpacas!) These two dreams fused together into one and she now lives in Barre, Massachusetts and raises alpacas, along with her husband Jack who assists with the farm. How these two people came together to be married just two years ago; how they ended up in Barre; and how Kate actually made the decision to start this new career is a story for friends over cocktails. Nonetheless, she made the leap and has happily started a new life and career.

1) The national organization is called the Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association (AOBA).
2) The regional organization is called NEAOBA for the North East Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association.
3) The organization that keeps a database on alpacas, their progeny and registrations is called the Alpaca Registry (ARI).
4)  Member Advisory Board, Camelid Studies, University of Massachusetts Amherst
5)    Proud member of the Alpaca Venture Alliance, a group of 5 alpaca farms located in central Massachusetts. Alpaca Venture Alliance

A useful link to a listing of farms and information is www.alpacafarms.org/index.html.