About

about me

Living the Country Life with Heart and Purpose

Hello, and welcome. I’m Leslie—the heart and hands behind Drummond Farms Alpacas and Woolens. This farm is more than a place; it’s the result of a lifelong love for animals, fiber arts, and living close to the land.


I’ve been raising Suri and Huacaya alpacas since 2008, and they remain at the center of everything I do. With attentive care, clean shelters, and a nourishing diet, they thrive here. Their soft, luxurious fiber fuels my passion for spinning and weaving. Using my spinning wheels, Ashford rigid heddle loom, and LeClerc Nilus and Union floor looms, I transform raw fiber, commercial yarns and other materials into beautiful, functional pieces—each one crafted slowly and thoughtfully by hand.


Drummond Farms is home to more than alpacas. My horses add companionship and character to daily life on the farm and enjoy regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and attentive farrier care. We also raise chickens—both cold-hardy laying hens and carefully managed meat birds—humanely housed and well cared for. Their fresh eggs and quality meat reflect our commitment to ethical, responsible farming.


Keeping me company through it all is my faithful golden retriever, an affectionate helper and watchful presence. Our barn cats round out the team, quietly doing their part to keep things in balance. Every animal here has a purpose, and all are treated with respect.


When I’m not tending animals, you’ll usually find me in the garden. I’ve always practiced natural, organic gardening—not as a trend, but as a way of life. Growing food, preserving it through canning and dehydrating, and baking from scratch are simple joys I never tire of.


My path to farm life began in Dearborn, Michigan. I studied nursing at Henry Ford Community College before earning degrees in K–8 education and early childhood development from Western Michigan University. I later homeschooled my five children, an experience that deepened my love for teaching and lifelong learning.


I’ve also been active within the alpaca community, serving as Education Chair for the Upper Midwest Alpacas Association and as Volunteer Coordinator for the Minnesota Alpaca Expo. Mentoring new alpaca owners and sharing knowledge with others has been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey.


Drummond Farms is my little slice of heaven—a place of hard work, creativity, and everyday wonder. Thank you for stopping by. I’m always happy to connect and share a bit of this life with you.

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream" - C.S. Lewis

Drummond Farms Alpacas and Woolens Thistle - leaves on right.

Drummond Farms - Why the Name?

My Scottish Heritage

 

People often ask, “With a name like Peterson, how did you come up with Drummond Farms?” The answer’s pretty simple—it all ties back to my family roots! On my side of the family, we’re a mix of Scottish, English, and Irish, with the Scottish heritage tracing back to the Drummond clan from the Perthshire area of Scotland.

 

The Drummond name originally comes from a little parish called Drymen, nestled in Western Stirlingshire. Over the years, our family has embraced and celebrated this connection to Scotland through Highland dancing, bagpiping, and drumming. It’s a big part of who we are and something we’re really proud of.

 

Our Tartan

 

We proudly wear the “Drummond of Perth – Old and Rare” tartan as our official family tartan. It’s a stunning design that connects us to our Scottish heritage and has become a special symbol for our family.  That said, we’ve also enjoyed exploring other variations of the Drummond tartan over the years. Whether it’s been for Highland dancing or just for fun, these different patterns have added a little variety to our celebrations. Below, you’ll see some of the tartan designs we’ve worn, starting with the official family tartan.

Drummond Farms Alpacas and Woolens - swatch of scottish tartan - drummond of perth, old and rare
Drummond of Perth Old and Rare
Drummond Farms Alpacas and Woolens - swatch of scottish tartan - drummond of perth, dress red
Drummond of Perth Dress Red
Drummond Farms Alpacas and Woolens - swatch of scottish tartan - drummond of perth, dress green
Drummond of Perth Dress Green
Drummond Farms Alpacas and Woolens - swatch of scottish tartan - drummond of perth, light weight
Drummond Tartan Light Weight

Take a moment to watch our two sons compete at the World Pipeband Championships in Glasgow, Scotland (2014) playing with the St. Thomas Alumni Pipeband out of Texas.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p024xrs6

 

Our oldest gets a great profile shot at the 34 second mark; our youngest is the tall tenor drummer with his back to the bass drum player.

Drummond Farms Alpacas and Woolens - map of Scotland's Council Areas
Drummond Clan Family Crest
Drummond Crest - Gang Warily (Approach Carefully)
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