Gilliland's Heritage Georgia Alpacas

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Our family heritage of innovation and determination run deep. Our ancestor John Gilliland created the first functional double barrel cannon for the Confederate Army during the Civil War. The idea behind the cannon was that each barrel would fire a cannon ball simultaneously with a chain attached to each of the cannon balls. The chain, propelled by the cannon balls, would then mow like a scythe.

Field testing of the cannon successfully cropped the tops of many young trees in fields across Georgia even though the barrels did not always fire at the same time. This did not deter John Gilliland. After making some adjustments to the original design, he resubmitted his invention for more field testing. The Confederate army decided that the double barrel cannon, while a good idea, was not practical for immediate use because it was almost impossible to aim with any accuracy.

Gilliland’s cannon, however, remains on the steps of the city hall in Athens Georgia as a permanent reminder of our family history and heritage.

Quinton (Jim) and Angie have been married for 25 years and are part of the sixth generation "Gillilands Georgians" that date back to the 1840's. Quinton, whose friends call him "Jim," grew up at one of the first caged layer poultry houses in Georgia, on your typical southern farm with the day to day chores of caring for the farm animals leading to his love for animals and the family farm. Jim's love for animals didn't stop there; Jim and Angie have raised rottweilers for 25 years. Jim and Angie have 2 rottweilers of their own, Dixie and Rebel, whom they refer to as their "Rotten Rottweilers." Dixie and Rebel welcome every guest with sniffs and kisses into their home that they share with "Smokey" (a Norwegian Forest Smoke blue cat that they adopted several years ago) and with Angie's mother whom everyone knows and loves as Nana. Nana has a basement apartment with a beautiful view of the pristine pasture at Gilliland's Heritage Alpacas. Jim's father lives next door. Angie has three brothers and Jim has a sister, and together share eight nieces and nephews as well as six great nieces and nephews who love to visit the alpacas. They feel truly blessed to be surrounded by family.

Jim's father, Quinton Gilliland Sr., ran a poultry, beef cattle, and pig farm on 32 acres as well as the local butcher shop before retiring some 15 years ago, leading Jim and Angie to begin researching ways to save the family farm and, more importantly, a part of the Gilliland's Heritage. They not only wanted to find a way to save the farm, they wanted to be excited and driven by the way they saved it. Something that would forever be remembered as part of the "Gilliland's Heritage" that their family is so proud of.

Jim began researching alpacas, and in no time he and Angie began visiting alpaca farms. They volunteered for one year on a local farm learning about herd health, ultrasounds, cria care, and basic husbandry. Jim and Angie attended their first SEAA show in Shelbyville, Tennessee, and have helped on shearing day in April of over 90 alpacas, attended seminars as often as they could, and continue to have the desire to learn all they can about alpacas. They began Gilliland's Heritage alpacas by agisting several grand herdsires from another farm, and shortly after agisted alpacas from New Jersey that needed a place to stay while their owners were getting their farm ready.

Gilliland's Heritage Alpacas has continued to grow as well as the love and the passion that Angie and Jim have for their alpacas. They have opened their home welcoming the community to stop by the farm for "Farm Day," teaching others about the alpacas, if only to pass on some of the knowledge that they were fortunate enough to have someone share with them. Jim spends his days with the alpacas, or you will find him hard at work transforming the chicken houses into some lucky alpaca's home. Angie has been a nurse for 30 years, the past 20 years specializing in critical care pediatrics. Angie nurses a special needs child at night and is running to see her alpaca babies when her shift is done. If you are lucky enough to run into her, she will invite you to come and learn about the alpacas without hesitation.

Come and visit Gilliland's Heritage Alpacas and see why Jim and Angie have such a great love for and are so dedicated to these beautiful animals.

At Gilliland's Heritage Alpacas they believe that the welfare of their alpacas is more important than a quick buck. Angie and Jim hope by providing an honest service to other alpaca owners that Gilliland's Heritage Alpacas will help promote and insure the continuing success of the alpaca business not only for themselves but also for alpaca lovers around the world.

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