Cornerstone Farm Alpacas in Windsor will host its Shearing Day Open House 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, April 8, at 26298 Spivey Town Road.

Owners Daren and Chris Wingard will feature demonstrations of spinning, weaving and felting; craft items; concessions by Isle of Wight 4-H Club; and music by local bluegrass/gospel band, Route 58.

The farm yarn/gift shop will be open.

Admission is $1. Children 4 and under are free.

“We want people to see the purpose of alpacas,” Chris Wingard said. “They are gentle animals that have wonderful fur called fiber. Alpaca fiber is softer, stronger and warmer than wool. People are always amazed when they touch our alpacas – their fiber is like cashmere.”

Virginia has more than 100 alpaca farms and the United States has more than 150,000 alpacas. The goal is to have enough alpacas to sustain a national textile mill.

“Right now, most alpaca items are imported from Peru,” Daren Wingard said. “Those items are allowed to have up to 40 percent of other fiber/wool in them, while still labeling the items 100 percent alpaca.”

Cornerstone Farm Alpacas was founded in 2004 with three alpacas. The farm now has more than 40 alpacas and offers sales, breeding, consultation and natural alpaca yarn.

They farm is open by appointment and can be found at www.cornerstonefarmalpacas.com.