Local farm partners with Wellness Center for Leo Love Week event

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By Alora Peters, Editor-in-Chief

It is a truth universally acknowledged that students love fuzzy cuddles and taking pictures with cute animals. However, when Saint Leo University students met an assortment of friendly alpacas on Feb. 13, they had no idea that the encounter was made possible by a relationship formed through the Wellness Center community.

“Cameron and Melissa [Hill] are members of the Wellness Center, and they come in right at open almost every morning,” said Mia Senese, the manager of events and conferences at the Wellness Center. “We knew they owned an alpaca farm. We wanted to coordinate with them to do an event like this… they were very interested, and we knew students would love this.”

In addition to alpaca visits, the Wellness Center hosts a variety of other recreational and educational events and classes, many of which are open both to Saint Leo students and the surrounding community. More information can be found on the Wellness Center’s website.

The result was Monday’s “Love an Alpaca” event, which was a part of Saint Leo’s annual “Leo Love Week” celebration.

“We thought it was an awesome idea to bring the alpaca love to students,” said Melissa Hill, one of the founders of the Remedy Farm. “They just bring joy. Everyone here is just joyful, and that is what we love to see.”

Student attendees agreed that the alpacas helped bring a sense of calm into their day.

“I think the alpacas are kind of like a stress reliever,” said Kiarra Aldarondo, a senior majoring in English. “It’s therapeutic.”

“We do open farm days a couple of times a year,” said Melissa Hill. The Remedy Farm usually has a spring and fall event, and recently hosted a New Year’s event. (Photo was taken by Alora Peters)

Students, staff, and members of the local community were all present at the “Love an Alpaca” event. (Photo was taken by Alora Peters)

The Remedy Farm and the Wellness Center hope to host more alpaca events in the future, and possibly create a new semesterly tradition. (Photo was taken by Alora Peters)

The Remedy Farm is in San Antonio, only a short drive from Saint Leo’s University Campus.

“The mission is to spread happiness and healing through the love of alpacas,” said Hill. “The alpacas are our ‘Remedy.’”

A total of ten alpacas and one llama call Remedy Farm home. A total of six alpacas joined the Saint Leo community for the event.

“We’ve had alpacas at the Remedy Farm home since January 2020, but we’ve had them for four years before that,” said Hill. “We were learning everything about them, taking vet training, making sure we would be good alpaca owners. It’s been a many-years dream in the making.”

In addition to running the Remedy Farm, the Hills sell alpaca products; the proceeds are used to help supply hay and provide for the alpacas.

“They are fiber animals,” said Hill. “We shear them once a year for their fiber, so we can sell their yarn.”