Meet Meghan Stalzer | The Camel Chick- Homestead Gal, Mother, Fiber Artist, Camel Milk Soap and Fudge Maker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Meghan Stalzer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Meghan, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My husband, Matt, and I started, Mudita Camel Dairy, our farm, with the intention of creating a self-sustainable homestead that could also help people. Our journey to creating that self-sustainable homestead has had ups and downs, which have had us to pivot a few times. One of those was moving our farms’ location. We moved to a beautiful property outside of Capulin, CO, which allowed us to have more grazing opportunities for our camels and other farm animals. We also created Camels and a Yurt, a glamping experience where people can come and stay the night with us in our hard-sided yurt and get to meet the animals and humans of our operation. I also started The Camel Chick, where I sell my Camel Milk Fudge, handspun yarns, Camel Milk Soaps, and Donkey Milk Soaps. We have built our new home from the ground up, and are in the process of revitalizing the old homestead that are land was a part of. It is very important for us to create income that allows us to stay home daily on our homestead as we grow it and and our family. We delight in being with our animals and working our land. By doing so we are able to provide products that can be so beneficial to our selves, to our community, and people beyond that.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I create handspun Art Yarns on my spinning wheel. My yarns are fun and pretty and can really make a knitted or crochet piece pop, or it can add a different texture to a weaving. I also create our Camel Milk Fudge. I love working in the kitchen and combining the simple ingredients. I love the creativity it allows when I add a special topping, knowing that each time someone buys my fudge they are putting a nourishing food into their body. To me, my fudge is a passionate piece of art work I do each time. In addition to these, I create Camel Milk and Donkey Milk Soaps. I love being able to create products that I know will be so beneficial to others. I have been spinning since I learned how to during our time in Michigan, where we got hands on experience learning about camels and milking them. When we returned to Colorado I began to learn about soap making and creating my recipe for the Camel Milk Fudge. That was back in 2014. Today I am selling my yarns, soap, and jewelry in local stores, from the farm, and online. I am also in the process of getting my Fudge into local stores. It took me 7 years to get to where I am today. Our farm experienced hardships, our finances tanked, and our mental health suffered. We sold our first farm and moved further south in the San Luis Valley to have a restart. My journey in that 7 years hasn’t been easy but I would not change it. We can fall into this belief that we need to constantly be working/doing. The reality is that we need to follow our passion but to make sure that we are taking care of ourselves mentally and physically. My art mediums are my forms of expressions and part of my ability to reach out to others. I need to focus on being the best me in my life, to follow my dreams, but to understand that both of those things will take time. There is no rush. To not be afraid to reach out for help. I have connected with so many wonderful supportive people and found programs through the local Small Business Development Center, the Rural Women Led Business Fund, and Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute. These entities and the programs that they offer have built my confidence in being a better business woman.
I have learned many lessons along my journey and I know I will continue to learn more. I am, The Camel Chick, a self-sustainable homestead dreamer, creating products that inspire and nourish your mind, body, and soul.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When my best friend visits, the first thing that is done is heading out to meet the camels and donkeys of our farm! I would also take them off roading into the National Forrest/BLM that surrounds us. We would travel up to Terrace or La Jara Reservoir, and even venture out to Platoro. We would also visit the Sand Dunes National Park. For ice cream we would take them out to Frosty Acres Rolled Ice Cream in Alamosa. We would also visit the Main Street in Alamosa to enjoy the businesses and restaurants along there. I would take my friend to the BoxCar Espresso and Ice Cream Shop in La Jara. We would also visit both the Rio Grande Farm Park and the Alamosa Farmers’ Markets. We would visit the SLV Apothecary in Alamosa to get locally harvested/crafted teas. We would also visit Kathy’s Fabric Trunk in Del Norte and visit the many stores and restaurants there. I would also take them to Salida to visit the Colorado Wool Company Artisan Studio and Gift Shop to show them my beautiful booth and the other fiber artist there.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Our family and friends have been the biggest supporters to our journey. They have been there for us in so many ways! From cheering us on, being a shoulder to cry on, lending a hand in building. providing food and shelter when we needed it, to sharing our story and sharing on social media. Marlin Troyer, with Camel Milk Association, is the best mentor we could ask for and who gave us the opportunity to get hands on experience with learning to milk camels and how to take care of them. My dear friend Ann who taught me to spin and the Marion Spinning guild in Michigan who encouraged and inspired me as I started my journey learning to spin wool. Everyone who has come to stay with us on our farm has also contributed to the success of our businesses. They have supported us and when they fall in love with the camels, the land, and our dreams, we too fall all over again.

Website: www.camelbnb.com

Instagram: @thecamelchick @camels_and_a_yurt

Facebook: The Camel Chick and Camels and a Yurt