Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Krystin Salome. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Krystin, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
Our mission is to share the joy that comes with llamas and alpacas (and farm life in general) with the world. A mentor once told me that being happy was fleeting, but being joyful was something you could build a life around. I took those words to heart. It is the root of my business name and the element that I base my day-to-day decisions on. From the intentional selection/creation of fiber products that add value to people’s lives, to the huge smiles we get by attending events and weddings- I want to make sure that the people we interact with walk away just a little more joyful. Each farm tour is tailored to the group in attendance, and each shearing job is done with intentionality at the forefront. I believe that intentionality in your thoughts and actions, along with a large helping of gratitude, are critical to building a joyful life. I am so grateful to all of the shearing clients who have trusted me to care for their animals, to the rescues who have allowed me to give them a home, to the people who have purchased our fiber products, and to the events we have been invited to. Even on our hard days, when I go out to the barn I can sense the joy in our herd and in the life we have built. It is my hope that we have shared some of that joy with others along the way. That’s the great thing about joy, you know- it’s an infinite resource and will never run out so long as you keep sharing it.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Hi! I’m Krystin, and I’m the owner of Shear Joy Farm & Shearing! I started this business, somewhat accidentally, 8 years ago as a “side gig” after learning how to shear (give a yearly haircut) my own alpacas and llamas. People found out I had this skill (and I found out I could get paid for it), and since then it has grown and morphed into something I only ever dreamed of. I now offer handmade fiber products, farm tours, events, and shearing!
Shearing is my busiest season, from March until June when I travel across Texas and shear other farm’s llamas and alpacas. My team and I get to connect with some of the coolest people, who trust us to care for their animals and provide much-needed relief from the Texas heat. My shearing business specializes in shearing small, hobby farms (herds of less than 30) and ensures that shearing is as stress-free of a process as possible for both the animals and their owners. I also train people who want to learn how to shear themselves and offer consultations for people to learn.
The rest of the year I spend attending events and weddings, hosting farm tours, and creating products out of all the fiber we sheared in the spring. Our farm is located right outside the tiny town of Anderson, Texas, just south of Bryan/College Station- a popular destination for weddings. We LOVE attending weddings and events and seeing all of the smiles from guests who get to pet and take selfies with the animals. Don’t tell anyone, but at our last wedding, our alpacas made the groom cry tears of joy! At our farm tours, guests get to interact with the herd, feed and pet them, learn all about their care, and make a souvenir out of alpaca fiber to take home. Our farm tours are a huge hit for little ones, families, clubs, and even homeschool groups.
Recently, I have dove into the world of fiber arts. I am learning so much about the amazing fiber that alpacas provide and the things that can be made with it. It’s hypoallergenic, thermo-regulating, super soft, naturally water-repellant, and comes in so many beautiful natural colors! Our farm store currently offers rugs, saddle blankets, dryer balls, felted soaps, roving for spinning, and raw fiber- all handmade! Fiber processing is a lot of work- it’s all still done by hand, step by step, and is a labor of love that requires patience, skill, and a bit of artistic creativity.
It is my goal in the next 3 years to create a fully vertically integrated process- from animal care to fiber processing, it will all be done here. Currently, most wool producers ship their wool to other locations for processing, sometimes even overseas. My goal is to streamline that process and provide a local outlet for locally raised fiber- using sustainable materials to create finished products that people can enjoy for years to come.
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
Imagine this- a kid, fresh out of college acquires a herd of alpacas and one llama from a friend of a family member. She drives all the way from Texas to Florida to get this herd on somewhat of a whim. Blows a tire and wrecks the trailer on the way home, gets it fixed, and finally pulls into the driveway 2000 miles later. Okay. Now what? Well, I’ll tell you what. Now, we have to figure out how to shear these things having only seen it done once before. But I’m no quitter, and really, how hard could it be?!? Ha! Let me tell you, that first year was a DISASTER. No animals were harmed, but I did learn a valuable lesson- you gotta have the right tools for the job and a mentor can go a long way. We got it done with a whole lot of sweat, tears, and dull blades, and funky haircuts.
The next year I said no more and hired a professional to teach me how to shear my own herd. With the right tools and a lot of good guidance, it went MUCH smoother. So I kept at it. Shearing is a lot like riding a bike, except that you have to do it about 3,000 times before you have the “ah-ha! This is how it is supposed to feel!” moment. Somehow word got out that I was a shearer (a loose term in my mind), and I discovered how many people around me also had alpacas and llamas. The camelid world is quite a niche and has only recently grown in popularity, so I never expected to make a whole business out of it. Luckily, I had wonderful clients who trusted me to practice and learn on their animals, and eventually, I was able to call myself a professional. I sheared on weekends and evenings for years while working a full-time job. It grew to the point I never expected, and I built personal relationships with my clients that I still maintain to this day.
Several years ago, when I became pregnant with my son, we decided it was time to shift our goals. So I quit my “real” job and have been running the farm and shearing business since! I wouldn’t trade this life for the world. The freedom and time allowed me to expand and grow my business while balancing time with raising our son. I get to include him in much of my work, and although he is still very young, he is learning some very valuable lessons that will serve him throughout life. I added in farm tours, events, and started making my own products from fiber from the animals I had shorn. Don’t get me wrong, it’s no multi-million dollar business and will likely stay a small, quaint business. But it is mine, and it provides our family with a busy, but peaceful life.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
It’s simple: word of mouth. I built a reputation for being gentle and kind with the animals I care for, of not rushing the process, and of making shearing day stress-free. Because my business is in such a small niche, word gets around pretty quickly. People were looking to replace shearers (usually from other countries) who were rough and rushed, so they called me. For the last 3 years, I have done zero advertising- in fact, I’ve got more work than I can handle! But I believe there is always room at the table for another seat, so I rely on the handful of other Texas-based shearers and even started training another shearer last year. We have great working relationships where we can help each other out and support each other, and that network is critical.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shearjoytx.com
- Instagram: @shearjoytx
- Facebook: @shearjoytx
Image Credits
Jamie Hardin Photography