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Farm tour is made easy in the 1932 REO Speedwagon.

Come visit the Tierney's Maple Brook Farm and see the "largest selection of Bueno bred females and Bueno sired boys and girls in the United States." Alpacas are more than an investment for the Tierney family, it's "a way of life". Maple Brook Farm is surrounded by majestic woods and lush pastures divided by a trout stream at the foot of East Mountain in Westfield, Massachusetts.

Exquisite Alpacas Draw Many Visitors The lush setting of Maple Brook Farm, with its' exquisite Peruvian alpacas grazing alongside the stream or resting in the shade of the maple trees and trails winding over the land beckons one to wander and observe. The Tierney's work and dedication to the growth of their business and this industry draws many visitors, who leave not only with the calmness one derives from the company of these doe-eyed creatures, but with a sound knowledge of the investment and business opportunities available within the industry. The success of Mike and Robin's efforts at creating the best in Peruvian alpacas inspires Mike's hopes that the family legacy of Maple Brook Farm will go on for several generations.

Visit the farm and see the alpacas grazing on the lush pastures of the Tierney Maple Brook Farm

School children enjoy a field trip to see the alpacas.

How The Legacy Began The New England Farm has been in Mike's family for over a century. Maple Brook has a long tradition of raising livestock throughout the Tierney family history. Mike himself having grown up on the farm, was involved with polled Herefords and the raising and showing of Prize-winning quarterhorses. Mike Tierney's business background began in the mid-1960's with the family owned insurance agencies. During the 1980's Mike's business and investment talents took full advantage of the energies of that era by aggressive expansion into commercial and residential real estate, and the purchase of other insurance agencies which created a diversified portfolio.

Developing the Alpaca Interest After leaving the family farm for a period, Mike returned with his wife, Robin, to begin their own family and raise their children in the same wonderful atmosphere he experienced as a boy. Robin and Mike work together at their insurance agencies and the entire family is "hands-on" with the alpaca business. However, Robin confesses to being a "city" girl and in truth much prefers getting her hands on the alpaca fiber rather than the shovel! She is interested in working with their alpacas' wonderful end-product. One day in the late 1980's Mike and the boys went to look at some llamas he had hear about at a sale in Vermont. Robin knew he'd come home with at least one, but being fair and impartial, he came home with three, one for each boy! Following his lifelong involvement with animals, Mike can quote almost the exact moment he became interested in alpacas. He was reading "USA Today" at the kitchen table in the early 90's. Mike's investment mind was piqued and a call to the author was made. Mike was told of the upcoming sale of Peruvians to be held in Michigan and off he went! According to Mike, he was going to study the people investing so that he could learn what type of people he would be involved with. According to Robin, she knew he'd come home with animals. Well, Mike liked the people and Robin was right!

Mike and Robin Tierney with some of their alpaca fiber and hand-made sweaters and blankets. Alpacas produce one of the world's finest and most luxurious natural fibers. Soft as cashmere and warmer, lighter and stronger than wool, it comes in more colors than other fiber producing animals.

Purchase of 7 Peruvians and Highest Selling Herd Sire Mike made his initial purchase of seven Peruvians at that sale and saw, for the first time, Peruvian Bueno on display. Bueno was the top potential herd sire at the show that year, and was going to be held over for the Celebrity Sale the following spring. Mike and Robin kept track of Bueno, who became the highest selling herd sire in Spring 1994 when they purchased him for $60,000.

Initial Purchase Is Start of New Business Mike realized that the alpacas were no longer a passive investment, but that he and Robin had created a new business, so the 'business strategist' in Mike took over, and he developed a 5-year business plan that involved the entire family. By doing this he hopes his boys can learn about business as well as benefits of raising livestock and living in the country. In the Fall 1994 Peruvian sale, 12 females were added to their herd. This purchase went along with their intent of building the herd for the first two years, which produced eleven top quality, selectively-bred Peruvian crias for them to begin marketing in this, the third year of the "plan." In Spring of 1995 two more females were purchased from the third Peruvian importation. In the next few years, Maple Brook continued to diversify the quality within their Peruvian herd, increasing herd-size by roughly 20% while working to create excellent crias. Entire Family Becomes Involved Each of the boys, Mike 14, Tim 12 and Brian 10, were allowed to choose their own cria as part of this business venture, and repaid the business with their firstborn female. Now in their 20s, they continue to make the decisions of breeding, selling their cria or keeping them to increase their own herd size. They have a sizeable portfolio of stock and real estate and a modest size herd of alpacas.

Five -Year Plan Mike's five-year plan contains a great deal more than the profitable business side of the Peruvians. He and Robin feel that the final and most important ingredient is to have fun! The family travels as a whole to AOBA conferences and shows as well as travel and tour the country together.