A local alpaca farm will open its barn doors soon to allow the public the educational experience of learning about alpacas.

Cornerstone Farm Alpacas will host its “shearing day” April 8 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 26298 Spivey Town Road in Windsor. The event will include demonstrations of spinning, weaving and felting, craft items for sale, concessions by the Isle of Wight 4-H Club and music by local bluegrass and gospel band Route 58.

Alpacas are gentle animals that have fur called fiber, according to a press release from Chris Wingard of Cornerstone Farm.

“Alpaca fiber is softer, stronger and warmer than wool,” he said. “People are always amazed when they touch our alpacas — their fiber is like cashmere. We hope that people will realize the potential that alpaca fiber has in the U.S. textile industry and support their local farms.”

Cornerstone Farm is one of more than 100 alpaca farms in the United States. It was founded in 2004 with three alpacas. It now has more than 40 alpacas and offers sales, breeding, consultation and natural alpaca yarn.

Admission to the shearing day event is $1. Children 4 years old and younger are free.

“When people come to Shearing Day, they see the entire process of getting fiber of an animal to turning out an end product. They watch fiber artists use alpaca fleece in many different ways and they learn the important part it plays in our world,” Wingard said.

For more information on the farm, visit www.cornerstonefarmalpacas.com.