An estimated 500 people attended the Alpaca Gala at the Stoney Brook Farm in New Richmond Sept. 27.

The third year for the event, farm owners and alpaca lovers John and Audrey Sado said that not only is the event designed for families to have a day of fun with these “cute, cuddly, and lovable animals,” but to keep the public aware that the alpaca and its fleeces are very important in the American marketplace.

“Many upscale clothing manufacturers have been using alpaca fleece for quite a few years, and now the industry is really taking off,” Audrey Sado said. “Now it is not unusual to walk into Macys or Dillards and pick up a coat or sweater and find that some percentage of that product is made from alpaca fiber.”