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TuesdayOctober7201419INDUSTRYAGRICULTUREAcknowledgesthevaluableteachingsandservicetheFortSmithvolunteerfirefightersprovidetocommunitymembersofFortSmith.Thankyou.SmithsLandingFirstNationTheNWTMtisNationrecognizesthehardworkanddedicationofcommunityVolunteerFireDepartmentsthroughouttheNorth.THANKYOUFIREFIGHTERSByMEAGANWOHLBERGAndonemoremakesnine.ThenewestadditiontotheFlatWorldAl-pacaFarmoutsideofFortSmithdoesnthaveanameyetbutthefurrylittlealpacaknownfornowasBuddyWhats-itisgettingsettledintohisfamilyoffarmanimalsastheyuffupforthewinter.BuddyistherstmaletobeborninyearsattheacreageinBellRockasetofwilder-nessestateslocated13kmoutsideofFortSmithwheretheherdsmatriarchCarmenandheroffspringhavemanagedtobirthfe-maleafterfemalesincethehobbyfarmwasfoundedin2007.IsaidtoHelenanowweknowwheremalealpacascomefromsaidanamusedMikeCouvrettewhoownsthelittleranchwithhispartnerHelenaKatz.WithBuddysfinewoolflourishingoverthewinterCouvrettepredictsneedleswillbeflyingasdevoutknittersfromFortSmithHayRiverYellowknifeandevenoneloyalcustomerinNewBrunswickfighttocalldibsontheyarnspunfromthebabyscoatnextspring.FlatWorldoneofjusttwoalpacafarmsNorthof60inCanadaexportsthehighqualitywoolshearedfromitsanimalseachspringtoamanufacturerinEdmontonwhothenshipsbackskeinsof100percental-pacawooltobeturnedintosockssweatersandmittensbylocalcraftersalongwithheavyduvets.Rightnowtwoyearsworthofrawwoolisinproductionandpeoplecantwaitforthenishedproduct.CouvrettesaidthelastofhisstockwasboughtoutmonthsagoandpeoplehavebeenknockingdownhisdoorformorewhichshouldbeavailablebythelargelocalChristmascraftsalescheduledforthisNovemberalongwithready-madesocksandblankets.WhenwesenditdownwehaveitbaggedbyindividualanimalssoweknowwhichanimalitcamefromCouvrettesaid.Peoplefindthatreallyuniqueandalsoitsortofhelpsforthepeoplewhofindtheyreaskeinortwoshortformakingsomething.Theyllcallusupespeciallywiththedarkeronesbecausewedohavedifferentshades.CouvretteandKatzgotintothealpacabusinesssevenyearsagoafterdecidingtheirlittleacreageinthewoodsneededsomelivestock.HorsesarealotofworksotheydecidedonalpacaswhicharelowmaintenancecanhandletheNorthernclimateandhavethewonderfuloutputofhighgradewool.Theyhavealsobeenabletosellthema-nuretogardenersinFortSmithwhouseitasafertilizer.MostoftherstgenerationhavepassedonduetooldagebutCarmenandheroff-spring-andtheiroffspring-continuetoproducemorewiththeherdsthreebreed-ingmalesonceeveryyearortwo.Couvrettesaidhedliketoseetheherdexpandabitmoreespeciallyasheclearsmorelandforroamingspace.Ashespre-paringforretirementnextspringhesaidheisalsoconsideringaddingotherspeciestohisgrowingfarmfamily.Dontbesurprisedifyouseechickensouthereinthefuturehesaid.Alpacafamily-andbusiness-growingnearFortSmithPhotoMeaganWohlbergBuddythelittleguyontheleftwhowasborninJuneisthenewestalpacatojointheherdattheFlatWorldAlpacaFarmnearFortSmith.