Feature Black Barn Alpacas

By Yussy McManus, co-founder of Black Barn Alpacas

From City Life Back to the Land

My husband and I did not set out to build Maryland’ s top agritourism destination. We simply started with 20 alpacas, a love of the land and a very loose idea of what the future might look like. Then one fall festival brought more than 20,000 people to the farm in a single month, and we realized Black Barn Alpacas could become something far bigger than we had ever imagined.

My path here was not linear. I grew up in Maryland surrounded by horses and farm life, and that early connection to animals never really left me. I eventually pursued a career in interior design, spending more than a decade working in high-end residential and commercial spaces. My husband, Travis, had a similar path. He grew up in Wyoming in a homesteading family and later built a career in construction.

On paper, we were successful. But over time, we both felt pulled toward something more grounded. We wanted to build work that reflected our values and created a real connection between people, animals and the land.

In 2020, we made the decision to close our construction business in Texas and begin seriously exploring what the next chapter of our lives would look like.

Photo courtesy of Black Barn Alpacas

Discovering Alpacas

Alpacas were not part of the original plan. In fact, they were not on our radar at all. But once we visited a few farms and spent time with them, everything changed. Their calm, curious presence immediately stood out. We were also drawn to how sustainable they are, gentle on the land, low impact and a source of naturally durable fiber.

We started small with a herd of 20 alpacas and a loose idea of what the business might become. At the time, we focused on breeding and fiber production, learning as we went and leaning on other farmers as we figured things out.

8 AcreageLife August 2026 AcreageLife. com