Courtesy | Kent Lowry
Kent and Tahny Lowry initially bought 30 acres of land in hopes of raising their sons and a few animals as best as they could. Before they knew it, they became the owners of a small farm and an alpaca fiber business.
Lowry’s Little Flock Farm is home to alpacas and llamas, as well as cows, goats, donkeys, pot-bellied pigs, chickens, ducks, and geese.
Their primary product is alpaca fiber, a natural fiber harvested from alpaca fleece. Lowry’s shears the animals in the spring and uses the yarn from the alpaca fleece to make socks, mittens, and hats to sell to the community. They hope for their “hobby farm” to be self-sustaining, Kent Lowry said.
The Lowrys moved to the Jackson property five years ago. Both Kent and Tahny grew up in the countryside, so they jumped at the opportunity to return to their roots.
“My older son Max had mentioned that he would like some alpacas and then we had an opportunity to get our first two and we just said, ‘Well, why not?” Tahny Lowry said. “So that was really it. We didn’t really plan on it. We didn’t plan on setting out to be a fiber farm.”
Unsure how to use the land, they started buying animals, beginning with alpacas.
After purchasing two alpacas, the Lowrys learned they had to shear the animals. As their garage became overrun with alpaca hair, they decided to get the hair made into yarn.
“We learned how nice the fiber is and the qualities of it,” Kent Lowry said. “We had all these sacks we were selling at shows and then COVID-19 came and we shut down all the shows. So, we put up this little farm shop, started selling baked goods, and kind of developed the farm into a destination place.”
Visitors come to see the animals, buy baked goods, and learn about the farm’s alpaca products, Kent Lowry said.
Tahny, who has a background in catering, bakes croissants, sugar cookies, and other pastries to sell at the farm.
“We make an almond croissant that people really like, and I make a strawberry cream croissant,” she said. “It has great homemade custard in it and then homemade heavy whipping cream and then fresh chopped strawberries.”
The cutest animals are the baby alpacas in the springtime and the farm’s bull, Teddy, Kent Lowry said.
“He was raised on the farm and people like him a lot,” he said. “He’s big, but he’s still pretty cute.’
“I like animals that just kind of tend to stay to themselves,” Tahny said. “I feel like I relate to them.”
Tahny said her favorite animals on the farm are the llamas and alpacas, Nelly the Jersey Cow, and Rhonda the sheep.
The farm hosts a series of events for children in the community throughout the year, such as a free cider and donuts day in the fall, a unicorns and rainbows day, and a dinosaur day. Little Flock Farm has also provided animals for several on-campus events at Hillsdale College, such as Goat Yoga and Founding Fest.
Gabrielle Bessette, planner of the Student Activities Board’s fall Goat Yoga event, worked with Lowry’s Little Flock Farm to make her dream SAB event come true.
“I contacted many different local farms to partner with for this event, but no one was as kind, receptive, and excited as Lowry’s,” Bessette said. “It is a family business, so Lowry and his son pulled up excited and helpful the morning of Goat Yoga. They had just as much fun as we did making this event possible.”
Sophomore Marlow Canady said she enjoyed seeing the farm’s alpacas at the 1844 Society’s Dec. 4 Founding Fest.
“Seeing the family of alpacas was a sweet and comforting addition to such a stressful and busy time of the semester,” Canady said.
Tahny recommends Hillsdale students come to the farm to visit the animals, take pictures with them, and feed them. Food is provided, or visitors can bring their own chips, crackers, fruit, or vegetables.
If you’re looking for a local farm experience, a new pair of winter mittens, or some homemade treats, consider stopping by Lowry’s Little Flock Farm this weekend to pet an alpaca and say hello to the Lowry family.
“They are wonderful people with wonderful goats,” Bessette said.
