Alpacas of Montana: Premium Alpaca Fiber and Immersive Farm Experience
Tucked in the wide-open landscapes of Montana, Alpacas of Montana is more than just a farm—it’s a passion-fueled operation built on curiosity, craftsmanship, and a deep respect for animals. Founded by Sarah and her husband James, what began as a leap into alpaca farming has grown into a thriving, vertically integrated business rooted in quality, sustainability, and care. Today, with a dedicated team including Annie, they continue to raise and care for their herd while creating products that bring the unique benefits of alpaca fiber to people everywhere.
Follow Alpacas of Montana on their social media channels:
Q&A with Co-founder, Sarah
How did Alpacas of Montana Start? What are you passionate about?
Alpacas of Montana has been in business for 22 years and was founded by James and Sarah Budd. Today, our farm is home to 80 alpacas, 10 llamas, horses, turkeys, and dogs. In addition to being a working farm, we are also one of the largest vertically integrated alpaca clothing companies in the country. We welcome nearly 10,000 guests each year for farm tours, giving people the chance to connect with the animals and experience the peace and beauty of Montana ranch life.
James and Sarah started Alpacas of Montana with a simple goal: to build a life in Montana where they could pay the bills and love what they do. James is trained as an orthopedic surgical PA, and Sarah has a background in psychology, manufacturing, and real estate. After researching alpacas and developing a business plan, we began by raising and selling alpacas. About three years in, we created our first alpaca socks and clothing, which eventually grew into a major part of the business. We are passionate about the animals, the lifestyle, and creating products that reflect the value of alpaca fiber.
What makes your farm unique?
What makes Alpacas of Montana unique is that we design and create our own alpaca products, which allows us to be deeply involved in every part of the business. We also opened our farm to the public and now offer tours every day, year-round. Another important part of who we are is that we are a no-kill farm. We love all of our animals and care deeply about sharing that connection with every person who visits.
.webp)
A challenge you’ve overcome or goals you have for this year?
One of the biggest challenges is that it is not easy to pay a mortgage by selling socks, especially in a place like Bozeman where the cost of living is high for both us and our employees. James and Sarah work extremely hard, often seven days a week, to make sure the farm runs smoothly, the team feels supported, and all 100 animals receive excellent care. A continuing goal each year is to grow in a way that supports both the animals and the people who help care for them.
What advice would you give other farmers?
Our advice would be to diversify and stay open to new opportunities. We were hesitant for 17 years before opening our doors to the public, but doing so has made a huge difference. Not only has it helped with cash flow, but it has also brought something even more meaningful: hearing how much guests appreciate the open fields, the farm life, and a little bit of mountain peace. That kind of feedback has been incredibly rewarding.
How do you use FarmKeep in your daily routine?
FarmKeep has been a huge help for our team. Our caretakers are able to document who needs what, including medications, care notes, health updates, and breedings. Having everyone working within the same system has improved consistency in animal care and made it much easier for our team to stay informed and on the same page. It has been a valuable tool for supporting both the health of our alpacas and the efficiency of our staff.
Q&A with Annie, Animal Caretaker and Tour Guide
How did you get started working with Alpacas of Montana? What are you passionate about?
I started out just wanting to rake manure to help the farm run. I was volunteering at many places - all outdoors and all animal-centric - and this one really called to me. I just wanted to be around alpacas. I started to ask Sarah if she needed a volunteer to .. (intending to say rake manure) and she stopped me right there and said YES!!!! We need help training our babies! OMG!!!!! I thought a unicorn threw up rainbows all over me!!!! It was (still is) a program with a few volunteers each night for a few weeks. Most people only do one session/week but after the first night, I did them all! When it ended, I couldn't stop the tears! They called me 2 weeks later to ask if I wanted to work with adult alpacas on my own. Yes please! It was scary and intimidating but I loved it. Shortly after, they asked if I wanted to help with farm chores for pay. Yes please! I was hired to work 2-3 hrs/day, 3 days per week. I did that plus I volunteered as well and have worked full time since then - still mostly as a volunteer. I have had to cut back to 4-5 hrs/day now due to a broken body (I'm 70 - lol).
I'm absolutely obsessed with and utterly passionate about all of the animals on the farm. Over 80 alpacas and I know each one personally, 8 llamas that are mostly rescues with 3 youngsters born on the farm in the last 3 years (we lost 2 adults this spring), 2 older horses, 4 amazing guardian dogs, a sweet kitty and some turkeys (and one chicken). I know every personality and much of their histories. I tell James and Sarah it is unreal how one couple can have so many incredibly special animals.
What makes the farm unique?
There are a few things. It is literally a farm to closet business. James and Sarah run 4 separate businesses on their own plus a staff of 6! They have the animal business, then James runs the textile business, inventing way to loom and ways to combine natural fibers to maximize the function of alpaca fleece. He is also an incredible self-taught clothing designer! He has dedicated himself to world class quality technical clothing that looks amazing while being extremely technical in functional design. and lastly, they run their online and on-site retail business. It's remarkable what they have built up from scratch!
A challenge you’ve overcome or goals you have for this year?
For the farm, I am amazed by how James and Sarah can pivot when most people would fold. They used to be top level show people. They were known nationally for their quality animals and their breeding program was stellar. Showing, breeding and selling was their business. The 2008 financial collapse hit the industry HARD. Instead of getting out of the business, they pivoted. That's when James dove into research on natural fibers, looming techniques, clothing design, and online retail sales. After Covid hit the economy so hard, they pivoted a bit again and got into the farm tour business to supplement the other aspects of their business.
Challenges for me personally are physical. I've been doing physical labor for 8-10 hours a day, 5 days a week (for a while, 7 days a week) for over 5 years and my body started shutting down a year ago and the decline is accelerating. I'm at the end now. That leaves me emotionally distraught but I have no choice. So my goal is to buy a small property in some isolated area that I can afford and retire with 6 alpaca males I am extremely bonded with. It's a mixed bag of heartache and excitement.
What advice would you give other farmers?
Take the best care of your animals, not only physically but also emotionally, and they will take care of you. People will feel your love and your passion and they will become loyal to your business because of that. Take care of your employees. When they feel valued, protected and cared for, they will return that in spades in their work and loyalty. And always stay flexible. The world changes. Stay light on your feet and pivot when needed. Keep learning! And share your passion with your customers. People like to support good stewards of the land and of animals.
How do you use FarmKeep in your daily routine?
Sarah uploaded all information on all medications we use on the farm. That allows me to look up the instructions so I don't have to bother her and we don't risk mistakes. We have a couple of new hires that have so much information at their finger tips now and that makes their jobs much more clear. I can set up tasks for them and I can see when projects are done so I can create new tasks. When we overlap on administering medications over several days, they know exactly what to do when I'm not there and I know when it's been done so I don't have to worry on my days off. They've used the photos to help learn who all the animals are, and we all have one central place to go to for records and notes. It's wonderful to have so much information available in one spot that we can access immediately while in the pastures or at home. It's been a wonderful upgrade to our operation!
One thing I have been especially impressed by and appreciative of is the INCREDIBLE customer service we've received! Nan has been available almost immediately as we've gone through the learning curve and she and her husband have been so responsive to particular needs for the program. I can't speak highly enough of the people and the app!
