Breeder Profile - Chickadee Ridge

Chickadee Ridge Alpacas is owned and operated by Charlie Lavan and Peter Lavan. Their parents, Cindy & Tim Lavan, are full-time alpaca farmers who own and operate the highly successful alpaca breeding farm, Chase Tavern Farm Alpacas located in Bowdoin, Maine. Chase Tavern Farm has been instrumental in the development of top quality breeding stock in the New England states.  For the past 15 years, Chase Tavern Farm has been and continues to be a nationally regarded quality farm of suri and huacaya alpacas. With this knowledge base behind him, Charlie has experience and the determination to build the best suri herd possible and his national awarded program has already produced some top quality alpacas.

Charlie & Peter have literally grown up with alpacas. In fact, the alpacas were on the farm before Charlie was even born. Charlie is involved in all the day to day operations from feeding, herd management, halter training and showing - he has developed and focused on breeding suri alpacas now for over 8 years. Charlie operated under "Choo Choo Charlie's Alpacas" for 6 years, breeding mostly huacaya alpacas. While he still has some huacayas in his herd, of which he has passed over management duties to his brother Peter, he now has turned his focus to developing and growing a top quality suri breeding operation at his parent's nationally recognized farm. With the assistance of his farm hand, and younger brother, Peter, Charlie maintains a growing herd of blue ribbon suri alpacas - in fact, all of the alpacas he has shown to date have won blue ribbons! Not bad for a young breeder!

The main goal of Chickadee Ridge Alpacas is a simple one... Breed for the best in suri fleece type while maintaining diversity and the highest quality along the way. With a resident alpaca judge on the farm, the standards of quality are high and faithfully maintained.

Charlie & Peter welcome you to the farm to meet their alpacas in person! Charlie is very eager to show visitors his suri herd and the occasional huacaya alpaca as well.

Feel free to contact Chickadee Ridge Alpacas to learn more about our blue ribbon suri breeding program.

Curious about our name? The Chickadee is the State Bird of Maine. Charlie is a nature-holic, so he felt it necessary to incorporate the State of Maine and its unique beauty into his name and logo. The farm is located on the top of a ridge. Hence the name, Chickadee Ridge Alpacas of Maine.