The Brightside: Getting to know the owners of Outstanding Dreams Alpaca Farm

PRESTON, Md. – For over a decade, a local alpaca farm has been bringing smiles to the faces of people all across Delmarva.

Phil and Vickie Liske are the proud owners of Outstanding Dreams Alpaca Farm in Preston.

Phil Viske said, “We started [it] in October of 2007.”

Phil is a hard core animal lover.

Phil Liske said, “What’s not to love?”

Vickie is a master of multiple trades.

Vickie Liske said, “I have a beauty shop and I work about 25 hours a week with that and then these guys I work with in the store.”

Years ago, Phil brought to his wife a unique idea.

Vickie Liske said, “At first he kept saying, ‘You need to look at these things!’ and I said ‘Okay, what are they?'”

Phil wanted to start an alpaca farm before he retired. It didn’t take long for him to convince Vickie, but their kids took just a little bit longer to get used to the idea.

Vickie Liske said, “Our kids thought we had lost our mind. ‘You’re going to what?!'”

They called their farm Outstanding Dreams for a reason.

Phil Liske said, “Our very first alpaca was named Outstanding Omen. When we bought the farm, we adopted the previous horse named Dreams. It had always been a dream of mine to own a farm, so Vickie came up with the combination of Outstanding Dreams Farm.”

What Phil loves about these guys is that he doesn’t have to harm them for their crop.

“All they have to do to work for a living is grow hair. Pretty easy,” he said.

Beyond that, Phil loves that he can open up his farm to the public to make people smile.

“The joy that these animals bring to other people is just contagious,” he said.

We’re told the alpacas can melt even the toughest of hearts.

Vickie Liske said, “A lot of guys will stand there while their wife is all over the alpacas and it’s like the alpacas know, ‘Well he might think he don’t like us, but he’s gonna like us before he leaves!'”

But the alpacas benefits don’t just stop there. Their fiber makes some of the softest clothing you could imagine.

Phil Liske said, “Most of what we have is clothing made from alpaca fiber. We have all kinds of hats and gloves and scarves and beautiful sweaters and coats.”

More than anything though, the alpacas are just plain cute, and some of them are extremely friendly.

Phil Liske said, “Most alpacas are somewhat reserve. It’s very rare to have ones like these three that are very friendly and absolutely love people.”

If all of this isn’t cute enough for you, when we visited the farm, we were treated to a special surprise. We watched another alpaca be born into this outstanding family, and we got to witness first hand the love and care Phil and Vickie have for these animals.

So the next time you’re driving through Preston, visit the Outstanding Dreams Farm. You’re sure to leave with smiles and maybe even some comfy clothes. As Phil says, what’s not to love?

The Outstanding Dreams Farm will be hosting a Holiday Open House on Saturday December 7th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Outstanding Dreams Farm is open Wednesday through Sunday. Their store hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Just make sure you give Phil and Vickie Liske a call before you visit so they can know to stay home. Their number is: 410-673-2002.

For additional information about the farm, you can visit their website: www.outstandingdreamsfarm.com