Double 8 Alpaca & Llama Ranch

Double 8 Alpaca & Llama Ranch Owners - Doug & Bonnie Kittrell, The name "Double 8 Alpaca Ranch" was derived from Bonnie and Doug's wedding day, August 8. We are open by appointment only.

Double 8 Alpaca Ranch is a full service alpaca and llama operation. We are breeders of alpaca and llama livestock. We grow, produce, and make alpaca fleece products including yarn, roving, and knitted clothing and accessories. For the new alpaca owner we provide assistance with your selection based on your goals. We will offer advice on farm layout, herd health, and business plans. Private Farm To

urs and hikes with our llamas and alpacas available. Visit our website to book your llamazing experience! www.Double8alpacas.com

05/29/2026

🎓🦙 Celebrating an Amazing Future Veterinarian! 🩺💙

This spring, we had the pleasure of mentoring Miss Ellie, a senior from the Academies of Loudoun Animal Sciences Program, who chose Double 8 Alpaca & Llama Ranch for her internship and senior project.

To say she picked an eventful semester would be an understatement! While this spring brought more than its fair share of medical challenges for our farm, it also provided incredible hands-on learning opportunities that will undoubtedly help shape her future career.

Ellie jumped right in and learned how to safely handle, restrain, examine, and treat both alpacas and llamas. She became my right-hand woman while caring for our beloved alpaca, Rose, during her battle with a severe inner ear infection. She accompanied me on farm visits, learned the art of clipping and shearing llamas, assisted with herd health care, and gained firsthand experience observing veterinary medicine in action.

Today was another memorable milestone as she helped transport one of our newborn llama crias to visit Dr. Simmons—and even got to hold that sweet baby in her lap during the trip! 🦙❤️

What impressed us most wasn’t just her willingness to learn, but her compassion, work ethic, and dedication to animal care. Those qualities can’t be taught—they come from the heart.

This fall, Ellie will be attending Virginia Tech in their Pre-Veterinary Medicine program, with the goal of becoming a mixed-animal veterinarian. We have no doubt she is going to accomplish amazing things and make a tremendous impact on the animals and people she serves.

Please join us in congratulating Ellie and wishing her the very best as she begins this exciting next chapter! 🎉🎓🐾

🦙💙🐾

05/22/2026

Apparently our alpacas and llamas have finally figured out why humans keep them around… 🤣💩

🎥 “They need us for our poop!”
“What do they use it for?”
“…Maybe chocolate bars?” 🍫😂

Wellllll… not exactly. Although around here we do joke about our famous “Paca Chocolate Bars!” 🤭

In all seriousness, alpaca and llama manure is often called “garden gold” because it makes an AMAZING natural compost and soil amendment. And our Paca Wool Pellets are a fantastic slow-release fertilizer for gardens, flowers, raised beds, and houseplants! 🌱🪴

So while we may not actually be selling chocolate bars… our alpacas and llamas ARE helping gardens grow one poo pile at a time. 💚

Shop our farm store here:
https://double-8-alpaca-ranch.square.site/product/paca-wool-pellets/

PacaWoolPellets NaturalGardening CompostHappens FarmHumor AlpacaTok

Are you looking for a fun, unique, and memorable experience in beautiful Western Loudoun County, Virginia? 🦙💚Come visit ...
05/21/2026

Are you looking for a fun, unique, and memorable experience in beautiful Western Loudoun County, Virginia? 🦙💚

Come visit us at Double 8 Alpaca & Llama Ranch in Hillsboro, VA, where you can meet our adorable alpacas and award-winning pack llamas while making memories that will last a lifetime!

We offer:
✨ Educational Farm Tours
✨ Pack Llama Hikes
✨ Birthday Parties
✨ Bachelorette Parties
✨ Baby Showers & Special Events
✨ Yoga Sessions with Alpacas
✨ Homeschool, Scout, & School Group Visits
✨ Fiber Arts classes
✨ Family-Friendly Farm Experiences for ALL ages!

Whether you’re planning a family outing, girls’ day, field trip, or a special celebration, we’d love to share the magic of the farm with you. There’s something truly special about connecting with these gentle, curious animals and enjoying the peacefulness of farm life.

📍 Hillsboro, Virginia
🌐 Double8alpacas.com
📸 Instagram:
📘 Facebook: Double 8 Alpaca & Llama Ranch

Book your adventure today by visiting our website or give us a call so we can help you create the perfect event. Come see why everyone falls in love with our fluffy friends and beautiful farm!🦙💕

VisitLoudoun AlpacasOfInstagram LlamaLove FamilyFun HomeschoolLife ScoutAdventures BachelorettePartyIdeas FarmLife YogaWithAlpacas WesternLoudoun VirginiaEvents

05/18/2026

One thing that gives me so much hope for the future of agriculture is the incredible work ethic and intrinsic motivation I see in so many youth involved in farming.

As a mentor, I’d much rather work with a young person who is a problem finder and problem solver… someone who notices what needs done and simply jumps in to help without being asked. That quality cannot truly be taught. It comes from pride, responsibility, compassion, and heart.

My granddaughter is a perfect example. Every single time she comes to the farm, she says:
“Mimi, let me help you scoop some poo in the pasture before I work with my alpaca.” ❤️

This weekend during our farm tour, she was the youngest youth volunteer helping educate the public about alpacas and llamas. At one point she noticed manure in the barn and quietly cleaned it up without anyone asking her to.

And she’s not alone. Our other youth members are the same way at alpaca shows. They arrive early, often before many adults, and have stalls cleaned, water buckets filled, and hay restocked before the day even begins. They understand that caring for animals and representing agriculture means showing initiative, teamwork, and responsibility.

These kids are learning far more than how to show alpacas and llamas. They are learning leadership, humility, accountability, and pride in hard work.

I truly have hope for our future. ❤️🌾🦙

MentorshipMatters FutureOfFarming FarmLife HardWork Alpacas Llamas AgricultureYouth Double8Alpaca

::

05/17/2026

The misunderstood beauty of the 🦙 Ccara llama 🦙

One of the biggest misconceptions we hear is:
“Wow… that llama has a LOT of guard hair.”

And our answer is usually:
“Yes, and that’s exactly what makes a true Ccara llama special.”

The traditional Ccara (Classic) llama was developed to be a hardworking, athletic pack and working llama — not a heavily fleeced fiber animal. Their fiber serves a purpose rooted in survival, durability, and function.

A correct Ccara coat should have:

• Plenty of longer guard hair
• A lighter, more protective outer coat
• A soft downy undercoat underneath
• Fiber that naturally sheds and releases easily when brushed

That outer guard hair acts like nature’s weatherproofing system — helping protect the softer insulating undercoat from rain, debris, mud, and harsh weather while these llamas worked mountain terrain.

Unlike woolly llamas that carry dense fleece requiring heavy shearing management, many Ccara llamas naturally “blow” or shed portions of their coat seasonally. When properly conditioned, the loose fiber should brush out fairly easily.

And those clean legs, long necks, athletic frames, and balanced movement?
They are all part of what makes the Ccara llama such an incredible hiking, packing, and performance animal.

At Double 8 Alpaca & Llama Ranch we absolutely love preserving and promoting these functional, athletic llama genetics. There is something incredibly beautiful about an animal bred for purpose, endurance, intelligence, and partnership with humans.

Not every great fiber coat is meant to look like a giant wool ball.
Sometimes the magic is in the guard hair. ✨

Friday brought a new chapter and an important reminder of why mentorship matters. We welcomed our first intern from the ...
05/16/2026

Friday brought a new chapter and an important reminder of why mentorship matters. We welcomed our first intern from the Loudoun County Academies of Loudoun! Even after such a difficult Thursday, we pushed forward teaching and sharing our knowledge of alpaca and llama care. She learned how to weigh crias, administer medications, examine fecals under the microscope, and prepare for the Loudoun County Spring Farm Tour. Watching young people become excited about animal science, livestock care, and agriculture gives us hope for the future.

Today was Day 1 of the Loudoun County Spring Farm Tour… and what a wonderful day it turned out to be! The farm was full of smiling faces and curious visitors. Bonnie demonstrated llama shearing, Alexa shared her incredible wealth of camelid knowledge with guests, kids painted alpaca and llama tote bags, and Doug and Jim served as our wonderful welcome committee greeting visitors throughout the day.

A huge thank you also goes out to our youth club member, Terra, and her parents, who were incredible helpers this morning getting everything set up for the farm tour. Terra and her parents helped us tremendously throughout the day by helping keep both the llamas and our visitors safe while Bonnie sheared. We were also so happy to have our granddaughter join us today. She jumped right in helping with shearing and stayed to help clean up at the end of the tour day. Watching young people step up, work hard, and care deeply for the animals means more than words can express.

Thank you to every single person who came out to support our working farm, our animals, and our mission to educate the public about alpacas and llamas.

“HELLO WORLD!” 🖤🤍Our newest little gentleman arrived yesterday at 5:30 PM and we are absolutely smitten already!Momma is...
05/13/2026

“HELLO WORLD!” 🖤🤍

Our newest little gentleman arrived yesterday at 5:30 PM and we are absolutely smitten already!

Momma is DBL8 Stella’s Bella and Daddy is Jordan’s McKee… and WOW did they give us something special. Just LOOK at those markings and those adorable black-tipped ears! 😍

This handsome boy is a Classic Llama, which means he is bred for a strong frame, athleticism, packing, and performance rather than heavy fiber production. Classic llamas are known for:
• Tall, elegant frames
• Clean legs and necks
• Athletic movement and endurance
• Longer guard hair that protects a soft, downy undercoat
• Easy-care fiber that naturally sheds and can be brushed out

These are the types of llamas traditionally prized as pack llamas because they are agile, sure-footed, intelligent, and love having a job to do. Their lighter build and athletic structure make them incredible hiking companions on trails and mountain terrain. 🥾⛰️

Jordan’s McKee consistently passes along strong frames, athleticism, and outstanding presence, and we are already excited to watch this little guy grow.

Now the important question…
WE NEED A NAME! ⬇️

Drop your best name suggestions in the comments below! 👇

And if you’ve never experienced hiking with a llama, come see why people fall in love with these incredible animals. Book a llama hike or farm tour with us at Double 8 Alpaca & Llama Ranch

LlamaLove FarmLife JordanMcKee NewArrival LlamaTrek LlamaAdventure WorkingLlamas

At Double 8 Ranch, we hear it all the time…“Do you have any pet alpacas or llamas for sale?”, or “I’m not looking for sh...
05/12/2026

At Double 8 Ranch, we hear it all the time…

“Do you have any pet alpacas or llamas for sale?”, or “I’m not looking for show quality, but it needs to be friendly so it can be used for a petting zoo.”

And we always say this gently…
👉 There’s no such thing as a pet alpaca or llama. And believe me when I say… those “friendly but not aggressive ones” are a needle in a haystack and should be valued a bit higher.

Alpacas and Llamas are livestock. Herd animals. Fiber producers, performance, or pack animals.

Each one has a purpose, whether they’re producing award-winning fleece, creating sustainable products, packing out (hiking), used as PR or performance animals, or simply keeping their herdmates happy and thriving.

Even our “companion alpacas and llamas” aren’t pets. They’re essential members of the herd.

🦙 No alpaca or llama should ever live alone and definitely not without others of its own kind

🧶 All fiber has value

🌱 Every alpaca and llama contributes something to the farm.

Come see the difference for yourself 💛
Book a visit at Double8alpacas.com

Double 8 Alpaca & Llama Ranch

Address

13374 Harpers Ferry Road
Purcellville, VA
20132

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 1:30am - 4pm
Sunday 12pm - 3pm

Telephone

(540) 303-7071

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Double 8 Alpaca & Llama Ranch posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Double 8 Alpaca & Llama Ranch:

Shortcuts

Share