Robert Thoresen
The Photography Club of Quail Creek held its first fall photo shoot at the Cienega Creek Llama and Alpaca Farm just east of Benson on October 12. Nine members of the club made the Saturday morning caravan to the farm’s location about five miles west of Benson just north of I-10 at the South Empire Road exit No. 297. The farm has been in existence for about 15 years and is a family operation with about 145 llamas, alpacas and paco-vicuñas and an additional number of Tuggenburg and Nigerian dwarf goats, two poitan donkeys and two emus thrown in for good measure. It is one of the largest alpaca farms in Arizona with a specialty in breeding the paco-vicuña. The farm provides assistance to clients in the areas of management, husbandry, marketing and breeding. There is an animal shaving, including tooth trimming, event and farm days in the spring. The owners operate a country store stocking sweaters, weaving and dyed products reasonably priced if you are looking for authentic alpaca, vicuna, and mohair wool items. Every animal has a name and most are curious about humans. Recently born alpacas and paco-vicuñas roam freely around the grounds along with two friendly golden retrievers. Club members had free access to the grounds with a personalized tour of the working farm. Members enjoyed taking their pictures of the photogenic alpacas and paco-vicuñas. The female llamas were a bit standoffish and the males are rather contentious and have been placed in pens at the extreme west end of the farm. Llamas are rather hefty animals weighing up to 750 pounds. The alpacas and vicuñas are physically shorter in stature and half the weight.
As with all PCQC photo shoots, after the shoot the group made a beeline for lunch. This trip found the group at the Mescal Bar and Grill down the ever common Frontage Road parallel to the interstate. Strictly comfort food with Sapphire’s review on April 28, 2012, being quite positive, ”This is a great place to eat and hang out. Bruce and Connie are great. Connie is a wonderful cook and food has always been good. Helen and Marylou are great bartenders, friendly and fun. Karaoke is a good time with Rockin’ Ron.” We were a bit too early for getting the benefits of Rockin’ Ron, but Helen and Marylou do wait tables when the bar is slow. The double burgers with bacon and guacamole were good and reasonably priced.
For current events and details of the PCQC, visit the club’s website at http://www.pcqc.org.