Andrew and Adrianna Royal fielded questions about alpacas Sunday at the Loganberry Festival.
The event’s main themes are loganberries and alpacas, and for good reasons. Visitors to the festival at Greenbank Farm Sunday tasted the luscious berries either in delicious pies or directly from the farm’s loganberry patch. The fruit is grown next to the resident herd of alpacas, a popular sight with people who hike trails interlacing the farm.
The hot weather attracted large crowds, which gave local Boy Scouts a taste of authority as they directed traffic. They did thousands of good deeds in trying to accommodate adults who wanted to park close to festival action.
The Royals, a brother and sister duo from Coupeville, were on duty as members of the Inca Pride 4-H group. They demonstrated some of the myriad uses for alpaca fiber. They took turns demonstrating how to felt the fiber with a needle.
Eleven-year-old Adrianna showed visiting children how to patiently poke the needle back and forth into the fiber until it forms a felted matt.
Fourteen-year-old Andrew said it’s important to keep the felt within the edges of cookie cutters they use while making decorative shapes for items such as jewelry and Christmas ornaments.
They are top 4-H’ers. Adrianna won the state championship last year in obstacle course events that demonstrate how well 4-H members have trained their alpacas. She said she’ll participate in the Island County Fair Aug. 18 through 20 in Langley.
Fourteen-year-old Andrew used to show dogs. Now he has joined his sister in showing the family’s three alpacas.
Denise Housego went directly for the berries.
She looked like a vignette from a bygone era as she gathered loganberries from the berry patch near the alpacas. She wore a floral print dress and a stunning hat that she bought in Italy.
The Italian shopkeeper said “It’s is a wedding hat. Are you getting married?â€
She replied “No. I’ve been married 30 years.â€
Housego planned to wear the hat for more than one special occasion.
The delicate straw hat is perfect for visiting festivals and other outdoor events throughout the summer.
Housego said the berries she harvested Sunday will go into the freezer — to be withdrawn for a pie later and served as a reminder of summer’s sweetness.
