Sharon Berry is not a typical non-traditional student at Winston-Salem State.
She works in public relations at BB&T in downtown Winston-Salem and she raises llamas, rabbits, and chickens on her own farm.
Berry grew up on a farm named Bloomtown Acres in Yadkin County. It’s the same farm she lives on today.
“I joke that I spent about 13 years trying to get away from that farm and the next 13 years trying to get back home to it,” Berry said.
Bloomtown Acres is rather large.
“My husband and I own a few acres,” Berry said. “My parents own the rest of it. Together it’s about 90 acres.”
The animals that Berry and her husband, Mark take care of are very diverse.
“We have seven llamas, five rabbits, a crowd of chickens and three bee hives,” Berry said.
This list does not include her two Labradors and her cat.
Even with such an ecclectic group of animals, Berry said that the dogs, cat, llamas and roosters all get along. However, the rabbits are placed in cages while the hens are fenced in.
“They [the hens] don’t get to socialize with the others,” Berry said.
Berry has been raising her animals for several years. “We’ve had chickens about five years, llamas for three, rabbits for two and the bees just over a year,” Berry said.
The animals on Berry’s farm have many purposes. Berry said that she and her husband shear the fibers from the llamas and rabbits and spin it into yarn. They also make use of the chickens and bees.
“We mostly eat the eggs from the chickens, but I confess we have eaten a few [chickens],” Berry said.
Berry said they also harvest the honey from the bees two or three times a year, but during the winter, they must leave some of the honey or the bees will starve.
Berry has competition llamas.
“We have shown two of our male llamas and won third and fourth place ribbons.
“We’ll be showing the baby boy for the first time next month in Tennessee.”
Now that Berry has experienced life on the farm and away from the farm, she can appreciate it that much more.
“I took it [farm life] for granted when I was young but it didn’t take long after I’d moved away to discover that I missed the solitude and access to nature, and wildlife that you have on a farm,” Berry said.
The farm is a hobby for Berry and her husband.
“It’s like cycling and kayaking.”
Bloomtown Acres serves as an escape from a stressful day.
“There’s something very soothing about walking down our long dirt driveway to feed the animals in the evening after a hard day at the office.”
While farming is a hobby for her, she said it is also a full-time job.
“If I were a full-time farmer, like some of my neighbors, I suspect I’d feel similar types of work-related stress with farming.”
Berry says the key to anything you do in life is enjoyment.
“Regardless of whether you’re going to farm or work at a bank or go back to school, you need find enjoyment in what you’re doing.”