The Lippencott Alpaca Farm in Waynesburg just concluded their “Farm Days” event this past weekend on Saturday, Sept. 28, and Sunday, Sept. 29, where they welcomed visitors from all over to their annual open house that saw vendors, food trucks and the like sharing in the festivities put on by the farm’s owners.

     Lena Galing stated in an email previewing the day that the open house would feature, “alpacas, hand knit alpaca shawl raffle, local princesses, hay rides, scavenger hunts, touch a tractor-wash a tractor, kids art table and pronking races,” among a few, “other surprises.” 

     One of the features was the vendors, which included Maggie Toth, who held a stand for knitting and crocheting at the event. According to Toth, her presence at the alpaca farm has been a tradition for her. 

     “Over the last three years is when I came and started vending. I have all of the different hats and scarves and socks and little toys that I make, so that is what I vend at the show,” Toth said when going over the specifics of her set-up. This was seemingly a skill that she had picked up since early on in her time in school. “Many years I have been knitting. I learned in home-economics class in middle school, as I’ve gotten older, I just got obsessed with it.”

     Toth spoke about her relationship with the Galings and how she became affiliated with this event, which seemed to have also been in connection with another animal-related event.

     “I think I first met Lena was when Waynesburg would have their sheep and fiber fest, and that’s where I first met her and learned about the farm, and she invited me out because Tuesday nights are her knit nights,” Toth said. 

     Another vendor who was present for the event was Mary Briggs, who also has a history with the Galings. 

     “This is my only event. Lena and Phil are good friends of mine, and this is the only event that I set up for,” Briggs said. Briggs said her presence at the event dates back to 2007, talking about the origins of her friendship with the Galings. “I became friends with them through the Chamber of Commerce in Waynesburg, and through the sheep and fiber festival that used to be put on at the fairgrounds.”

     Speaking to the event itself, Briggs noted that it is “like an adventure” to come out to the alpaca farm and gaze on the livestock. The Galings have raised the animals since 2005, according to the Lippencott Alpacas website. Any information regarding hours of business, location of the farm, products being sold and events to take place in the future can be found at http://www.lippencottalpacas.com.