WOODBURY — The queen of the ag department crossed over the rainbow bridge on Jan. 15.
Pearl was 26 years old, almost a world record for the longest alpaca ever to live. She arrived at Nonnewaug in 2019. Her personality made her a special part of the agriscience program here at NHS.
“Pearl was truly one of a kind. She was grumpy, stubborn, and full of personality,” said Kathleen Gorman, the agricultural production teacher and also the person who was with Pearl the most. “She wasn’t the type to greet you warmly, but she certainly made an impression on everyone who met her.”
Gorman has many memories with Pearl, but her favorite ones involve the students.
“Some of my favorite memories of Pearl was watching new students try to win her over,” Gorman adds, “only to be met with her signature disapproval.”
Pearl was a funny but tricky animal that sometimes tried to escape her pen.
“Another unforgettable moment was a time she managed to escape her pen in the large animal lab, casually strolling around the lab like she owned the place, which, to be fair, she probably thought she did,” says Gorman. “Getting her back was a lesson in patience, teamwork, and humility — because, as always, Pearl did things on her own terms.”
Pearl taught the students and teachers many skills. The main one is personal space.
“In her own way, Pearl was a great teacher,” Gorman adds. “She taught students the importance of reading animal behavior, respecting personal space, and embracing the quirks of every creature.”
Anyone who was allowed to touch or be able to put on her harness without her fighting was considered one of her favorites.
Devon Zapatka, a 2024 graduate of NHS, had a bond with Pearl that is unmatched compared to others. He even got the opportunity to show with her.
“The first time I met Pearl was that spring when everyone was getting assigned animals at the Woodbury FFA 4-H club,” Zapatka said. “Mrs. [Jennifer] Jedd gave me and another student a choice between showing a sheep or showing the alpaca. This was far before I knew Pearl, but I knew very well I wanted to show the alpaca.”
Even though Zapatka had no background with an alpaca, that didn’t stop him from taking the opportunity to work with Pearl.
“I had no prior knowledge of Pearl,” Zapatka adds, “but I immediately took up the offer that day to show her.”
Just like Gorman, Zapatka also had tons of memories with Pearl.
“The situation that followed consisted of me falling flat on my face in the pasture trying to catch her,” Zapatka adds. “I don’t know if Mrs. Jedd or anyone else saw that, but no matter how embarrassing that faceplant was, it is by far my favorite memory.”
Ashlynn Graziano, a senior and four-year agriculture production student, also had loads of experience with Pearl.
“When I first came in freshman year, we used to say that Pearl was past her expiration date,” Graziano adds. “She was about to be a world record for the longest-living alpaca ’cause she was 26 and the longest-living was 27.”
Many ag students were terrified of Pearl, but some students took that risk to halter her in order to pass a quiz.
“Sophomore year we were able to get out of our haltering quiz: The only way to get out of it is if you could halter Pearl,” Graziano said. “I did that and passed with ease. She was a colorful character in her old age.”
The age-old adage — gone but not forgotten — is true of Pearl, according to those who knew her best.
“She may not have been the most welcoming animal on the farm,” Gorman concluded, “but she was certainly one of the most unforgettable.”
