Co-Owner Helen Humphreys (Silvercloud Farm)

Helen Humphreys is a graduate of Penn State University (Bachelor's, Liberal Arts) and La Roche College (Master's, Human Resource Management). She has worked as Human Resource Manager for her family's business, a contracting company for Utility Companies. Helen has always been an animal lover and longed to be a Veterinarian. Jim & Helen were married in 1998 and soon after bought a farm on ten acres north of Pittsburgh. It was Helen who was determined to "put something" out in those pastures and barn, and began to do research on Alpacas.

In the alpaca business since 2001, Helen has been extremely involved and loves the alpaca industry. She served on the Pennsylvania Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association Board of Directors for four years as both the President-Elect and the President of the association.  Helen also served as the Show Coordinator of the PAOBA Breeders Showcase for (3) years.  Currently she is serving her second term on the AOBA nominating committee.

It’s been a very long journey, but in 2007 Helen went from an Apprentice Judge to an AOBA CERTIFIED HALTER AND FLEECE JUDGE!  2007 also marked another milestone for Helen and Silvercloud Farm.  In January of 2007 Helen and her partner and dear friend Debbie Hirt launched Silver Penn Sales, LLC.

Co-Owner Debbie Hirt (West Penn Alpacas)

Debbie Hirt graduated from California University of Penn with a BS Degree in Marketing.  She was employed by West Penn wire as Marketing Co-coordinator.

In 1996, after purchasing a farm with her husband Todd, the first investments were made into the creation of West Penn Alpacas.  After the birth Alexis in 1998, Debbie left the corporate world to be a stay at home mom and full time alpaca farmer.

West Penn Alpacas started as a Suri farm and as the farm , family and herd grew, Debbie sold the entire Suri herd to concentrate solely on Huacayas.  With 12 years raising alpacas, Debbie was an initial member of  PAOBA,  The Suri Network, AFCNA, and MAPACA.

Debbie was also a founding partner in the Eastern Extreme Auction.  And most recently, a partner with Helen Humphreys, in the creation of Silver Penn Sales.