New alpaca cria: Providence Sullivan

Providence Sullivan with her mother, Providence Cecelia Bailly, about 15 minutes after the birth. Tracy Wilson, of Aris Farm, dries off the new cria with a towel.

It’s a girl!

The Sisters of Providence welcomed a new alpaca cria on Wednesday!

Providence Sullivan, born around 11 a.m. weighing 20 pounds 8 ounces, is named in honor of Sister Ann Sullivan to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the founding of White Violet Center for Eco-Justice. Sister Ann is the founding director of White Violet Center.

Cassie Hull’s internship ends Saturday, so she is excited a cria was born this week!

Sullie is a beautiful bay black female born to Providence Cecelia Bailly and Goldrush’s Stone Cold Stunner.

There was a group of St. Charles 3rd-graders touring the farm at the time of the cria’s birth. What a unique educational moment for them! Wouldn’t you have loved to have sat in on the family dinners of those students last night?

Days like this are always the most exciting days on the farm. It’s even sweeter to share it with those learning with us.

Interns Cassie Hull, of Wisconsin, and Molli Meyers, of Minnesota, are completing their internships this month. They are so excited they witnessed an alpaca birth before heading home! They were working in the garden when Garden Manager Candace Minster yelled, “Baby being born.” Candace said, “Cassie’s feet were going faster than her body” as they raced over to the alpaca barn to watch and learn.

It was only the second day here for new interns Dana Abascal, of East Chicago, and Joelle Axton, of Moberly, Missouri. It was a nice welcome for them, but there will be more to come.

Dora and Onyx are also expecting any day, so stay tuned for more announcements in the days to come!