Santa trades reindeer for alpacas

Santa and Mrs. Claus laughed as an alpaca stretched its long neck to snatch a snap pea from Ann Patman’s clenched teeth.

These were the kind of photos offered at 313 Farms south of Anola to families looking for a unique Christmas photo.

Winnipeg Santa joined up with Ann and her husband David in 2018 to offer the photos during the first two Saturdays in December. Everyone gets snap peas to feed them, which draws a crowd eager to snatch them from your hands or from your teeth if you are not shy with the woolly creatures.

MerryAnne the Elf holds Coleman the alpaca as he poses with his snazzy scarf beside Santa. Then Santa gives the kids an ornament, and they get to enjoy hot chocolate and treats.

Santa joined after seeing the first photos with alpacas starting two years earlier. But the Patmans have been here since 2012 after being struck by inspiration to move to Manitoba and start an alpaca farm.

“Many, many, many years ago we went to Banff and there was a store that was selling alpaca clothes, and they had a picture of a huge one on the wall and we were like, ‘what the heck is that?’” explained Ann.

“So we just started researching them and reading about them and visiting farms. And we said we definitely want this so — we were in Calgary at the time just for a year — and we moved out here so we could get land and my husband transferred his job.”

David is from Toronto. Ann is from Detroit, which is why all the alpacas have Detroit-related names: There is a Rosie for Rosa Parks, Pistol for Motown Records drummer Pistol Allen, Iggy for Iggy Pop, and Faygo for the Detroit soda company.

The Alpaca named Coleman, after Detroit’s longest-serving mayor Coleman Young, goes for visits to places like retirement homes, schools, daycares, and events all over the Southeast the most because of his great manners. You might also recognize him from Chicken Daze in Oakbank.

They go to birthday parties for free, and one of the alpacas was even spotted at a wedding.

“The couple got engaged here, so one of the bridesmaids walked down the aisle with an alpaca,” said Ann.

She was there for the proposal. The groom called ahead to arrange the surprise.

“It was awesome.”

The amount the Patmans and their alpacas give to the community is appreciated. Photos with Santa this year were in front of Benny’s Barn, built this year thanks to crowd funding of about $12,000 to put towards the $15,000 barn.

“Benny was our mascot, he went everywhere. He passed away along with two others two winters ago just because the temperatures when they go from minus 40 to zero to minus 40, their bodies can’t regulate.

“Now we have the barn and they can have the heated water buckets in there with the food. They don’t have to come out if they don’t want to,” said Ann.

One man donated thousands. Ann said she did not know who he was but felt how much people loved the animals.

“When we go to the senior homes, Coleman will walk up to the wheelchair and they’ll feed him,” said Ann.

“We kind of just bring happiness to people.”

Photos with Santa are usually first two Saturdays in December. It is $25 for multiple professional digital photos with any size group, an ornament, hot chocolate and treats.

“But you can visit anytime. We don’t charge, it’s all year round,” said Ann.