Today we’d like to introduce you to Diena Riddle.
Diena, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
As a child, I began crocheting at my Dutch maternal grandmother’s knee at age 5. I have been eternally grateful for her patience and diligence in teaching me this skill. Since that time, it seems like I have always had yarn of sorts in my hands. Even as a child, I could be found creating clothes for dolls, making scarves, rugs, or edgings for pillowcases.
It was around 2011 when things began to change for my husband and I. Mike bought me the most beautiful skein of alpaca yarn. It was this exquisite, expensive yarn which began our “Act Two.”
While holding this skein of yumminess and contemplating what I was going to make with it, I started doing some research on alpacas, learning everything I could about them. I’d check out their unique faces, watch them on webcams when I could, and Iv followed local blogs. Eventually I talked my husband into taking me and two of our granddaughters to visit a couple of alpaca ranches in Utah. It was the moment I was face-to-face with them, tears streaming down my face, that Iv knew these were MY animals. They were going to be a part of how I wanted to spend the second part of my life.
March 2015 brought me to a place where I needed double-knee replacement. I wasn’t one to go through rehab twice, so I had both done at the same time. Post surgery my surgeon asked me what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Although I was very happy to be an elementary school principal in Jordan School District at the time, I actually had an answer for him. It was an alpaca rancher. My husband and I spent a few weeks leaning towards including alpacas in our lives, and on Mother’s Day 2015, I received a red alpaca halter and a little alpaca statue. This was the “Let’s Do It.”
The following week we met with Carol and Tom Frazer in Heber City. We selected five female alpacas to be bred,, had them and paid for them. Next on the list was to officially inform the school district of my intentions to retire at the end of the school year. Not necessarily in the right order we also needed to find a place to raise alpacas, and needed to sell our home in South Jordan. We did everything backwards, and it turned out perfectly. We love living just outside of Capitol Reef National Park and know that this is the perfect “second act” for us.
We now have 29 beautiful alpacas. I learned how to spin the fleece through the help of U-Tube my first winter in Wayne County, Utah. The fleece is gifted yearly from our beautiful alpacas. From the spinning I do (as well as some that I send to a mill to have spun for me), I hand knit and weave wearable and visual art. These items I sell at our Paca Shop, and currently on consignment in Torrey and older, Utah. We also do educational ranch experiences, by appointment, year round most days (closed Sundays). Available are other experiences with our alpacas, such as Paca Grams (we’ll bring an alpaca from our ranch to your birthday party or other occasions). You can contact us through our email for price information and/or to schedule an appointment for an activity or events.
Although I’m fairly new in the alpaca world, I am active in IMpaca (Utah’s alpaca association) as the Secretary. I enjoy mentoring many alpaca owners. I get calls from many that I’ve never met or spoken to before, and it’s such a great way to help and support each other. I love making connections and making a difference.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
This has not been without challenges. When you have livestock, you also have to deal with the loss of animals. We had an alpaca that had diabetes, which is extremely rare. We experienced great sadness at losing Porshe. I held her head on my lap as she passed. Her sweet herd mates mourned her loss and felt sadness at her passing. They experienced grief as they gathered around and said their goodbyes afterward.
Finding adequate hay in times of drought has been difficult. Hay prices are crazy this year. This works well for us. Financially we have put a lot into our ranch. I’ve been taking a lot of classes via Zoom and in-person to stay current with marketing and health and alpaca industry trends. Figuring out how to pay for the alpacas in retirement has led to our agritourism model.
When you are a rancher/farmer, you are tied down physically to your ranch. My husband and I do not get to vacation together very often. We are not near family and cannot just take off because animals need to be fed and watched over. If we travel, usually one of us stays behind. We have the alpacas, two livestock guardian dogs, 13 chickens, three roosters, four cats, and one inside dog. It’s a lot of mouths to feed and be responsible for.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What sets me apart now is my love for an all-inclusive lifestyle. When I come home, our alpacas (and Odin) will run-up to the fence/gate to see me. As soon as I come out in the morning, I call them. “Hello girls, hello boys.” They know me. They know my voice. Even the alpacas I’ve sold (when I visit them) know me; they remember me.
I know all (the alpacas) their names, ages, birthdays, quirks, and personalities. I know the quality of their fleeces. I remember their crias (babies). I can usually feel fleece when I’m spinning and tell you who it came from.
I enjoy challenges; I like to do difficult things. You won’t find me knitting a hat on a machine. I’ll knit it with knitting needles. From us you’ll get one-of-a-kind item. I’ll hand-dye yarn into a beautiful color unless it’s an amazing natural color.
I’ll take classes to learn something new because I’m a lifelong learner (I have two master’s degrees).. Weaving is something new I picked up three years ago, and I’ve shared the love of this with grandchildren who now weave and sell some of their items in our Paca Shop. I love the freestyle of the Saori philosophy and am inspired by the beauties that surround us in Capitol Reef National Park.
What matters most to you?
Getting up every morning, I feel so blessed to be abler to have another day. I now say “I’m going out to do my blessings” instead of chores because that’s how I feel. I shovel the poop, pull down the hay, fill up the hay wagons and move the sprinklers. It’s my exerciseAs a former teacher and school principal, I love sharing what I know and teaching and interacting with people, and customized visits. I love life. I love my family so much.
I hope that when people think back on me when I’m dead and gone, they’ll think I was a fair and decent person, that they think I made this world a better place to live in, that I did my part.
Many say (including my husband) that they’d like to die and come back as one of my pets or animals.
Personally, what matters most to me is that I’ve been a good mom to my four children, a good wife to my husband, and I’ve made a positive impact on the hundreds of children I’ve taught over my career and others I’ve known.
It’s been a great journey, this life. I hope to have a long, long, run at it. That’s what I’m wishing for. There’s so much more that I want to do and be a part of with my family, if I am able.
Contact Info:
- Email: circlecliffranchalpacas@gmailcom
- Website: www.circlecliffranchalpacas.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/circlecliffranchalpacas/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CircleCliffRanchAlpacas
Image Credits:
Diena Riddle (Circle Cliff Ranch Alpacas)
