Noah Johnson Daily Press Kush and Pronk Farm in Rapid River now have four alpacas on their growing fiber farm.

RAPID RIVER — A local couple is working to install a fiber plant in the Upper Peninsula.

Dominic and Jennifer Guzzetta, owners of Kush and Pronk Farm in Rapid River, recently posted a survey on social media, seeking community feedback to see if there was interest and/or support for a fiber plant in UP. There are several fiber farms. across the UP However, they are unable to process fiber collected from sheep, alpacas, rabbits and other animals.

“There are no fiber mills, so there is no real way to process raw wool into a finished yarn or other finished wearable product,” » said Jennifer.

She explained that fiber producers who need processing either do it by hand, which takes a long time, or they have to pay a significant amount of money to have their fiber shipped to a fiber mill in the north in-state or out-of-state.

Even if farmers send the materials to be processed, Dominic said it could take between a year and 18 months before the processed products are sent back.

“There is a huge bottleneck in the range of products available, but they are not usable. It’s in a very raw way,” Jennifer explained.

The lack of fiber mills in UP is partly explained by the cost of obtaining the necessary equipment. Dominic estimated it would cost about $200,000 just for the equipment, not including installation or routine maintenance.

Fortunately, Dominic is an experienced journeyman millwright, which means he has spent a lot of time maintaining, installing, repairing and moving machinery in an industrial environment.

“I will build the building, I will even build the machines” he said.

Their plan is to approach scrap yards or scrapyards that contain pieces of equipment that are no longer usable and refurbish them to build the machines needed to run a fiber mill.

It will take some time to get the factory up and running, but the couple are optimistic it will be completed within a year to 18 months, depending on funding and the supply of necessary machinery.

The Guzzettas said they started this project because they saw a need for it in UP.

In addition to Dominic’s knowledge as a millwright, Jennifer is a certified veterinary technician, making her the perfect person to start a fiber mill. They currently operate a fiber farm with newly acquired rabbits and alpacas.

“It took years to get there, but ultimately it’s a blend of both of our careers, and it fits a niche market that has sort of disappeared,” » said Dominique.

Dominic and Jennifer explained the fiber manufacturing process, which begins with raw material cut from sheep or other animals. The raw material is placed on a table where the fibers are inspected. Next, the usable fibers are placed in an industrial-sized washing machine to be cleaned. The washed fiber then goes through the carding phase, where a machine or hand-held tools use metal teeth to comb the fibers, align them, and remove any remaining impurities. The material is then placed on a spinner, creating a bundle and turning the fiber into yarn.

Key to the Guzzettas’ plan is to produce the yarn locally by working with area farms and other businesses.

“It can also pave the way for many other industries to start and, in fact, allow the Upper Peninsula to be more locally owned.” » said Dominique.

They explained the difference between authentic thread, like they make it, and the synthetic thread found in stores.

“I would say 98 percent is synthetic.” » said Jennifer. She explained that you may be able to find a wool or cotton blend, but most products will be acrylic or polyester, which is basically plastic, according to Dominic.

However, real wool is antibacterial and antimicrobial, meaning it lasts longer and doesn’t need to be washed as often as other materials. She said typical clothing will “remember” the smells and smells it comes into contact with, ultimately leaving a funky smell as the clothing is used more.

“One thing I was always taught is that plastic remembers. So if you ever like to use it as a plastic container and you put spaghetti in it, it’ll still have that little tint of red, right? He will always remember the little bit of tomato sauce that was in it. Jennifer explained.

Genuine wool doesn’t remember odors and can last longer than plastic materials like acrylic or polyester.

“You can leave a (wool garment) out in the sun, and it will naturally, through sunlight and the microbial process of just being wool, get rid of the bacteria on it. The bacteria cannot thrive and cannot grow, and it eventually dies. » she said.

Another advantage of wool is that it is warmer than other materials.

The general public can help the Guzzettas by responding to the Fiber Mill Community Interest Survey. The survey can be accessed at the following address and takes less than five minutes to complete. For more information, visit kushandpronk.wordpress.com.