New Beginnings At Tiskilwa Farms Alpacas

Exciting things have been happening at Tiskilwa Farms Alpacas during our absence from the Spring 2019 Show Circuit. With Spring comes new life, and that has never been more true than it has here. We have welcomed a new management team, started building a new building for our breeding program, teamed up with the Tiskilwa Inn Bed and Breakfast for agri-tourism and marketing, and have many more changes and offerings planned for the future. Along with all the changes on the farm, we now have website management and will be doing weekly blog posts on Fridays ranging from alpaca care to fiber information, and project how-to’s.
For today, and the first blog post, we would Like to introduce everyone to the full-time staff here at the farm. The team is excited to make connections with new and old friends, clients, and guests; Remember the farm is open for tours by appointment, please come say Hi! Please contact Jeremy Gassen at (804) 466-2862 or Kalie Gould at (309) 258-0396 to schedule a visit. Without further delay, meet the team…                                                                                                                     

Kalie Gould, Farm Manager
In March, Tiskilwa Farms Alpacas welcomed Peoria, IL native, Kalie Gould, as the new Farm Manager. Kalie has a 20 year background in livestock based agriculture across a diverse array of species and production settings, as well as experience in Administration and Human Resources. Immediately prior to joining the team, she ran her own Artisanal Micro-Farm and brought her knowledge of alpacas and fiber arts with her. Nutrition and supportive foundation health practices are the focus of her herd management program followed closely by responsible and conscious breeding program development. She is looking forward to the fall show circuit, re-opening the fiber shop and teaching fiber arts classes, and the results of the new breeding program come spring birth season.
When not at the farm, Kalie enjoys spending time with her two daughters, fiber arts, horseback riding, hunting, and outdoor recreation. She is also an active voice within the Female Agricultural movement and strives to provide mentorship to females and youth.

Tim Morris, Facilities Manager
Tim Morris returned to the team here at Tiskilwa Farms in April after having been the Buda, IL Town Commissioner. He has family history here on the farms grounds and is glad to be back working in agriculture. Tim brings an expansive skill set to the farm including, but not limited to, carpentry, mechanics, and grounds management. Tim has also worked on cattle farms out of state. He is looking forward to the building projects and all the updates that will be done on the farm in the near future.
In his spare time Tim is an active outdoorsman and can be found kayaking the many local waterways, hiking, hunting, fishing, or out on his motorcycle.

Jeremy Andersen, Herd Manager
Last, but certainly not least, is Jeremy Andersen, our Herd Manager. Jeremy is a familiar face at Tiskilwa Farms Alpacas and has been working here for over three years. Jeremy’s background is in the cleaning industry working with his father. He joined the agricultural field when he started here and has become a jack of all trades. Jeremy splits his time between assisting Kalie with animal care, and doing projects with Tim. He is always ready to step in when help is needed, and has helped Tim and Kalie learn the behind the scenes history to plan for the future needs of the herd and facilities. He is excited for all the new ideas that are in the works, and eager to learn more about hands on herd management.
Jeremy enjoys spending time with his daughter, riding his motorcycle, and doing handyman work in the community when he is not at the farm.   
                                                               
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​All of us here are excited for the future and to get back out to shows and events. We look forward to seeing you all, and keeping you updated on all the excitement here at the farm. You can also find us at Tiskilwa Farms Alpacas, LLC on Facebook for daily updates like newborn crias, in progress projects, fiber products, and community events.