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Bill Coburn
Partner
Peruvian Heritage Alpacas
Bill Coburn is a man who knows how to take the bull
by the horns!
It is rare in the alpaca industry to find a breeder
with the knowledge, expertise and successful track record
held by Bill Coburn. As one of the best kept secrets
of the CODI (Camelids of Delaware, Inc.) alpaca empire,
Bill worked as Director of Operations for the past 25
years alongside CODI’s marketing agents Eric Hoffman,
Michael Safley, Dr. Jim Vickers, and Dr. Anthony Stachowski.
By 1995, Bill had taken on all responsibility for maintaining
CODI’s market position and achieving sales goals.
Bill is the only person to have been on the selection
team of all six U.S. Peruvian importations, and one
Canadian importation. He has traveled extensively throughout
the altiplano to select the most highly prized alpacas
in the United States and the world.
Suri selection in the altiplano.
Bill, in camouflage jacket, examines each alpaca.
Responsible for over 4,000 founder Peruvian alpacas
imported into North America, Bill has also been instrumental
in the importation of 1,000 additional alpacas into
Sweden, Qatar, Japan, China, New Zealand, England, and
Germany.
In 2006, Bill was responsible for selling the highest
selling alpaca in the world, Pperuvian Royal Fawn, for
$600,000. With some 15,000 alpacas sold totaling over
30 million dollars, he has the extensive experience
to assist both seasoned and beginner alpaca farms. Bill’s
rare combination of expertise and experience enhances
even more the incredible CODI legacy he brings to the
Peruvian Heritage Partnership.
Now, with the acquisition of the CODI herd into the
Peruvian Heritage Partnership, Bill is committed to
continuing the “Plantel” bloodlines and upholding
the standards of excellence that have assured his success
in the alpaca business.
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Linda Berry Walker
Partner
Peruvian Heritage Alpacas
Alpaca textiles are easy conversations for LBW.
Linda Berry Walker has always been willing to take
the next step toward success. In 1976, she took a passion
for ancient textiles and a fledgling business of designing
and manufacturing yarns to the next step, and began
breeding sheep with the express purpose of raising extraordinary
raw material for her couture collection of yarns.
By the early 80's, with talk show hosts and Hollywood
starlets wearing garments made from Linda's yarn, both
businesses had become so successful, the Walker family
purchased and moved to the 90 acre farm known as WoodsEdge
Wools Farm. Linda's husband, Fred, quit his job as a
landscape architect to design and build all the barns
and fences. Their son, Brent, was two years old.
In an effort to slow demand for her yarns, so they
could keep up with production, Linda followed her father's
advice and doubled the price. Demand tripled! By the
late 80's, she realized that to meet their growth goals,
the business would have to go offshore. An impractical
choice with a young son in tow, Linda elected to sell
the yarn business.
Her next step was to purchase alpacas from Camelids
of Delaware, Inc, bringing the first alpacas into the
state of New Jersey. The family farm lifestyle quickly
became the preference over the frenetic pace and demanding
clientele of the fashion industry. The alpaca herd grew
rapidly at WoodsEdge Wools Farm while the sheep herd
grew fewer in numbers, with almost every fiber producing
animal raised along the way!
When the first Peruvian import became available, the
Walkers were ready to step up and add these Peruvian
genetics into their huacaya herd, as well as starting
a suri herd. With her textile knowledge, which included
numerous silks they had imported from China and Japan,
Linda felt particularly at home with the suris. She
purchased bloodstock in every Peruvian importation.
When volume buyers were able to select their choices
in Peru, she traveled to Peru to make her selections,
always with the keen eye of a breeder with extensive
fiber expertise, as well as a distinct plan for what
she wanted to breed.
Linda In Tacna, Peru
Today, with hundreds of crias born at WoodsEdge, trunks
full of ribbons, and countless tons of fiber processed,
Linda is excited to team her breeding and fiber experience
and expertise with Bill Coburn's to take the Peruvian
Heritage Alpacas herd from its legacy of quality
into a future of notoriety!
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