MOONLIGHT MEADOW FARM

 Moonlight Meadow Farm located in Chardon, Ohio was founded in late 1996 and grew from the long standing friendship between Donna Christley and Debbi Boncha and the love they share for their beautiful alpacas. Prior to 1996, if anyone had asked Donna or Debbi what they would be doing today neither would have predicted their paths would lead them to ownership of huacaya and suri alpacas. Debbi was a busy wife and mother of two small children trying to keep up with their activities while taking care of her home and pets including dogs, cats and several goats. Donna was worlds away engrossed in a full-time career position as Vice President of a Cleveland manufacturing company. So, how did it all come about?

The Great Geauga County Fair was an event Donna and Debbi had been attending together for years and 1996 was no exception. The animal exhibits were the real drawing card for both of them and this year would be special because they would see their first alpacas. It was instant infatuation. Those big eyes, those long eyelashes, that wonderful fluffy fiber, those soft hums -- they were hooked big time. But then reality set in and they left the Fair thinking alpaca ownership was probably just an enchanting dream.

But some dreams do become reality; the timing just has to be right. And a year later it was. For the very first time, Donna and Deb attended the Fair separately. Without knowing each others plans, Deb spent the evening in the alpaca tent while Donna spent the entire next day with them. After sharing their experiences with each other they decided it was time to get serious and make their dream happen.

Over the next several months they visited farms, asked a lot of questions, and learned as much as they could about the alpacas and their care. By the end of the year they had purchased seven Peruvian alpacas, three suris and four huacayas.

And the rest, as they say, is history.  During the years since 1996, Donna and Deb have attended conferences, seminars and events to help expand their knowledge of alpaca care. Donna has made the Farm her full-time occupation since leaving her corporate job early in 1997.  She has served on the Board of Directors for OABA, the Ohio AOBA affiliate, and chaired the AOBA Show Committee during the first two years after it's separation from ALSA.  From the beginning Donna and Deb have been active in the show circuit and their alpacas have been consistent winners.

The Farm has undergone some changes over the years.  Initially, all the alpacas were housed in Deb’s barn which was enlarged and remodeled specifically to accommodate them. But Donna wanted to be able to look out her kitchen window and see alpacas playing as well, so she and her husband cleared several acres and built a barn also.  Since there's only a few miles between their homes, having two facilities was a welcome increase in space.  Then in 2000, Deb and her husband purchased a large former horse farm with an arena and two additional smaller barns and pastures galore.   The buildings have undergone a complete transformation into a very alpaca friendly home and thirty acres are planted with grass hay. 

Deb's original barn                                 Donna's barn                                     Deb's new farm

The herd has grown from the original seven to over thirty Peruvian huacayas and suris.   Deb and Donna remain hands-on and are happy to be a "smaller" breeder so they can give each of their alpacas personalized care.  Nothing can top the enjoyment of watching the cria born each year grow healthy and strong. The friendships they’ve made with other breeders coupled with the joy of raising gentle alpacas is a lifestyle both find rewarding.