A unique farm open house offered people in western Wisconsin a chance to mingle with animals from a different continent.

The Harmony Hill Alpaca Ranch near Boyceville opened its gates to the public to teach others about the fleecy animals from the Andes Mountains.

Owner Bonnie Scheel says she and her husband started farming alpacas six years ago as a hobby, and says the animals eat very little and produce incredibly soft wool.

She says, "They are extremely sweet animals, they're very easy to take care of and they love the environment, and they've become our stress release everyday when we come home after work."

Scheel says dozens of families came to see the alpacas this weekend, and for many -- it was their first time being around the South American animal