West Deer alpaca breeder left corporate living for 'huggable investment'

Chewbacca is a stud.

The champion alpaca struts around Silvercloud Farm, where he's apparently loved by the ladies and envied by other males.

"We have about a dozen of his babies now," breeder Jim Humphreys said, watching the lanky animal head across the pasture toward a herd of females.

A decade ago, Humphreys never imagined he'd be playing matchmaker to livestock. The North Allegheny graduate toiled in advertising for a while, always dreaming of a simpler life in the country.

In 2000, Humphreys and his wife, Helen, moved out of their suburban townhouse and bought a 10-acre parcel in West Deer. A large, empty barn sat on the property, waiting to be occupied.
After researching alpacas, the couple toured the country, visiting farms that raise the South American creatures for their luxurious fleece -- known in ancient times as the "fiber of the gods."

A few months later, they bought their own 15-head herd. That number now hovers around 60.
Unlike horses, sheep or cattle, alpacas have padded feet that are easier on the land.

Farmhand J'Nay Wuenstel spends most of her day cleaning up after the alpacas. But she doesn't seem to mind. Her own house is teeming with pets.

"Basically, I just love animals," she said.

With their long necks, spindly legs, shaggy heads and inquisitive eyes, alpacas look like they stepped off the pages of a Dr. Seuss book.

"They call it the 'huggable investment' because they're kind of cute," Humphreys explained, patting Colonel Mustard.

The small, tan-colored alpaca hums as if to affirm the statement. The farmer smiles and scratches the little guy under his chin.

"He's like my PR alpaca."

The United States imported alpacas from 1984 through 1998, thousands of years after the Incas first domesticated the beasts. There are about 100,000 registered alpacas in North America.

Bringing in more would require approval from the national Alpaca Owners & Breeders Association.

Pennsylvania is home to about 200 alpaca farms, with more than a dozen in the Pittsburgh region.

Helen recently completed her term as president of the Pennsylvania Alpaca Owners & Breeders Association, or PAOBA.

Twice a year, the Humphreys manage an alpaca auction at Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort in Chester, W.Va., about an hour south of Pittsburgh. They sell some of their herd, and animals from other farms.

Although the alpaca industry is competitive, it maintains a familial atmosphere.

Silvercloud Farm co-owns Chewbacca with Absolute Alpacas in Southern California. During the winter, the alpha male heads West so he can sire babies -- known as crias -- all year long.

His offspring are a hot commodity on the alpaca market. They are sheared each spring, producing anywhere from 2 to 12 pounds of fleece, which is soft, like cashmere, but lighter and warmer than wool.

The Humphreys run a small store on their property, where people can buy sweaters, socks, scarves and teddy bears. Alpaca meat, however, is not on the menu (at least not in this country).
"That's part of the reason we chose alpacas -- we wanted to raise something we wouldn't have to slaughter," Humphreys says. "You get attached. I wouldn't want to eat Chewbacca."