What it’s like to live with 150 alpacas

When Yussy El-Hibri and her husband, Travis McManus, wanted to start a ranch, they agonized over which animals to get. The result? They settled on Black Barn Alpacas, a 50-acre farm in Finksburg, MD, with over 250 alpacas.

How they got started: El-Hibri and her husband both grew up around agriculture and tried out corporate careers but eventually boomeranged back to the farm; it turns out the land, the animals, and the lifestyle don’t let go that easily. “Alpacas weren’t on our radar at first,” she admits. When they started exploring livestock options, they spent time with these animals and fell for them hard.

The pros: “Alpacas are truly unique animals—gentle, intelligent, curious, and incredibly calming to be around,” says El-Hibri. They’re also easy on the land, grazing gently instead of tearing it up, all while producing “one of the most remarkable natural fibers in the world.” Basically, these animals check every box: husbandry, agriculture, sustainability, and helping people reconnect with where their stuff actually comes from.

The cons: Running a farm can be a money pit, from animal care and feed to property upkeep, equipment and the daily grind. “Plus many factors are outside your control,” says El-Hibri, from sudden heat waves to blizzards and beyond.

Their advice: Tap a variety of revenue streams to keep cash flowing. Black Barn relies not only on sales of fleece clothing and yarn but also on agritourism events from farm tours to alpaca yoga. This works great for El-Hibri, who points out, “We wanted to build more than a ranch. We wanted a place where sustainability, education, and community come together.”

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