JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It's been six years since Louise Elliott quit her corporate job, cashed in her 401(k) and decided to do something she always dreamed of.
"I'm on a mission from God," she said with a laugh.
It was six years ago when she bought her first alpaca and started Accoyo Acres farms in Macclenny.
"I woke up one morning and thought, girl, you are not getting any younger," she remembered. "[I thought] if you're ever going to have an alpaca farm you need to get out and buy some."
She truly loves the adorable animals and is basically a mother to them.
"I don't really know why, they're basically my soul animal, my spirit animal."
According to AlpacaSeller, there are some 53,000 alpacas in the United States. You'll find way more of them in South America, namely in Peru where they are native.
They're an extremely unique animal, with soft, hypoallergenic hair -- accurately called fiber -- that's used to make all sorts of clothing.
She does sell the fiber, which is certainly a part of the reason she has the farm. But the bigger reason she has all these animals is education, and to share the love.
You can visit Accoyo Acres by appointment, or see them at any number of farmers markets or public events she visits as well.
"They're in essence the perfect animal."