Tucked away on 10 wooded acres in Middle Tennessee, Fiber, Feather & Fur Farm is the kind of place that encourages visitors to slow down. The sound of humming alpacas, curious ducks greeting guests at the driveway, and towering Great Pyrenees quietly watching over the animals create an atmosphere that feels peaceful from the moment you arrive.
For owner Shani Sprague, creating that experience has been more than 20 years in the making.
Sprague's journey began after graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in interior design. During a trip to California, a friend suggested they stop by an alpaca farm. At the time, Sprague had never even heard of an alpaca.
"I've always loved textiles and natural fibers," she says. "When I learned about alpaca fiber and all the beautiful things that could be created from it, I was completely fascinated."
That visit sparked a passion that never faded. Over the next two decades, Sprague and her son made a point to visit alpaca farms whenever they traveled. Whether they were in Florida, Washington, Canada, or South Carolina, they searched for local farms where they could tour the property or even volunteer for the day.
"We'd scoop poop if it meant we could learn something," Sprague says with a laugh. "I just wanted to know everything about alpacas."
After visiting nearly 20 farms and learning from breeders across the country, she finally opened Fiber, Feather & Fur Farm in 2020. Today, the property is home to alpacas, llamas, chickens, ducks, geese, honeybees, and Great Pyrenees livestock guardian dogs. Every animal has a purpose, whether it's producing fiber, laying eggs, protecting the herd, or helping visitors experience life on a working farm.
Although the farm has grown far beyond what she originally imagined, alpacas remain at the center of everything.
"I love their gentle personalities and the incredible fiber they produce," Sprague says. "They're calm, curious animals, and working with them never gets old."
Each spring, the alpacas are sheared, providing soft fleece that Sprague transforms into handwoven rugs and textile artwork. While the rugs have become one of the farm's signature products, creating fiber art is still her favorite part of the process.
"The rugs pay the bills," she says, "but the art has my heart."
Visitors will also find fresh eggs from the farm's colorful flock of chickens, honey produced by the farm's beehives, and homemade elderberry syrup made with that same honey. Sprague intentionally keeps production small, preferring to focus on quality and serving her local community rather than expanding into large-scale shipping.
Walking through the property, it quickly becomes clear that Fiber, Feather & Fur Farm is about much more than products. Native grasses and wildflowers surround the pastures, honeybees pollinate the landscape, and every part of the farm has been designed to work with nature instead of against it.
Sprague often describes the property as "a fairy tale in the woods," and it's easy to understand why. The winding driveway, towering trees, and open pastures create a quiet setting that feels worlds away from the busy pace of everyday life.
That peaceful atmosphere is one of the biggest reasons families continue to visit.
Private tours allow guests to hand-feed alpacas, meet the other animals, and ask questions about daily life on the farm. Throughout the year, Fiber, Feather & Fur Farm also hosts educational programs, wellness retreats, business gatherings and community events that bring people together outdoors.
Children especially enjoy meeting the alpacas, ducks, and geese, while adults often find themselves just as captivated by the experience.
"Many people arrive feeling busy or stressed and leave feeling relaxed and refreshed," Sprague says. "There's something special about spending time with animals and nature."
The farm's Great Pyrenees are another favorite among visitors. Towering over most dogs, these gentle guardians spend their days protecting the livestock while welcoming guests with calm, affectionate personalities.
"Our Great Pyrenees dogs definitely steal the show," Sprague says. "They're incredibly loyal, gentle, and protective."
For Sprague, they are more than working dogs. They are family. Several generations of the dogs now live on the farm, teaching younger puppies how to guard the animals and work together. Their loyalty has even saved livestock from predators, reinforcing just how important they are to daily life on the farm.
Looking ahead, Sprague hopes to continue growing Fiber, Feather & Fur Farm without losing the sense of peace that makes it so special. Rather than expanding into a large commercial operation, she wants to continue offering meaningful experiences that bring people closer to nature and one another.
"I want the farm to remain a special place where people can slow down and enjoy nature," she says.
That simple goal seems to resonate with nearly everyone who visits. Guests often linger after tours have ended, reluctant to leave the quiet setting they have come to enjoy.
For families searching for a unique outing, animal lovers hoping to meet alpacas, or anyone looking for a peaceful afternoon outdoors, Fiber, Feather & Fur Farm offers something increasingly difficult to find. It is a place where craftsmanship, agriculture and community come together, and where visitors are reminded that sometimes the best experiences are also the simplest.