to take care of besides yourself.

- [Michelle] Nestled near the coast of Rhode Island sits Hope Alpaca Farm in Little Compton, home to a large herd of these gentle and social animals.

Bill Ryan and his wife, Hope, opened the farm in 2017.

He says they hadn't had any animals here for more than 25 years and wanted to change that.

- We were driving up in Vermont on a vacation and we went by an alpaca farm, and she goes, "Well, let's raise alpacas."

And then a year later, I had six of them.

(Bill laughs) - At the time, what did you know about alpacas?

- Nothing.

Not a thing.

- [Michelle] The learning curve was small for Bill Ryan.

He says Huacaya alpacas, native of the Andes Mountains in South America, are easy to raise.

They have soft padded feet, so they're gentle on pastures.

- They like second cut hay, which we buy out in New York 'cause it's very hard to make hay here.

There's no seed in it and no kind of, like, grass sticks.

We do give 'em grain once a day, and we graze 'em out in the fields out here.

- [Michelle] The farm started with six alpacas and has grown to 20, ranging in color from white and gray to brown and black.

- You do have to have at least three because they're a very social animal with the herd, they're a pack, you know, a pack animal.

And they like each other even though they spit at each other.

(laughs) - I quickly discovered these alpacas, which can average between 100 to 200 pounds, each have a unique personality.

Oh my goodness, you're so calm!

Hi!

Hi, oh, you don't wanna be touched.

- No, she- - Can I touch you?

Nope, don't wanna be touched.

You wanna smell me?

Hi!

(smooches) Oh, sorry, okay.

- But she's very, (chuckles) (Michelle chuckles) She's very gentle.

- Was it something I said?

(Michelle chuckles) Alpacas are known for their fiber.

It's hypoallergenic, and Ryan says it's less irritating on the skin than a sheep's wool.

- It's funny, you know, if you've ever worn wool and gotten it wet, it can itch on certain people.

You know, certain people don't, you know, it irritates them.

And it's funny, a lot of diabetics wear their socks because it's a lot more smoother on their feet.

- [Michelle] The alpacas are shorn once a year before the summer.

The Ryans then bring the fiber to a processing service in Fall River.

In return, they receive credits for products they sell in their farm store, including hats and gloves made from US-grown alpacas.

- These two have been born here.

And this one's Metacomet.

And then we named this fella here Blackstone, for the Blackstone River.

- [Michelle] All of the baby alpacas, known as crias, born on the farm are given Rhode-Island-based names, like Richmond and Prudence.

- This is Bristol.

She's one of my favorites.

- Why?

- Well, because I did help her come out when she was born, yeah.

Her foot was stuck.

- Wow.

- So I had to get her foot out for her.

- [Michelle] Ryan says it was important for him and his wife, both native Rhode Islanders, to name the alpacas with the Ocean State in mind.

- My wife is an old Rhode Islander, and her family goes back to Roger Williams.

And we just thought with the theme that we do something, like, in Rhode Island, you know?

It's a proud place to live, I love living here.

I mean, we're kind of off the beaten pad of the main Rhode Island, but we love it.

- [Michelle] The 20-acre farm has been in Bill Ryan's family since the late 1800s.

The family hosts open house events and offers private tours.

Ryan recalls one memorable visitor.

- So we had this child, and he was in a wheelchair, and he couldn't move his hands that much.

And he was, you know, active, but, so I finally just took him in a pen in his wheelchair, and I dumped grain on his lap.

And they all came in, and they were all in his face.

And this kid, I'll never forget it, and he was just so happy.

- Do you have moments where you come out here at night and just sit in awe of this land?

- Yes.

Yes, I have moments of you go out here and you ponder, sit on a stone wall and just take it in, take the moment in.

- [Michelle] Ryan says he and his wife are passionate about sharing this alpaca haven with others.

- It's something that we're very lucky to have.

And when you're lucky enough to have things like this, you have to share.

(bright music) (bright music continues) - Finally tonight,