Pete Hofmann

Pete Hofmann is the founder of Top Knot, a multi-state alpaca shearing and herd health company operating on a structured seasonal routing model.

Pete Hofmann's Shearing Background

Pete began shearing sheep at 15 under his father, a competitive sheep shearer who represented the United States at the World Championships in Scotland. Each of his ten children was required to shear 1,000 sheep before they were allowed to quit.

Pete never quit.

At 18, he began shearing alpacas professionally while attending college. What began as a way to pay tuition during Bible school and missionary training developed into consistent seasonal work across multiple states.

Founding TopKnot Care

In 2009, he formally began TopKnot as a small mobile operation, traveling between states in an old Chrysler Concord with a few friends, shearing alpacas on weekends and writing college papers in the passenger seat between jobs.

The business was originally intended to support overseas missionary work. After completing ministry training and exploring a move abroad, Pete chose to remain in the United States with a simple conviction: be faithful where you are.

TopKnot became the vehicle for that commitment.

Building a Multi-State Alpaca Care Company

From 2009 to 2018, the company operated as a single-crew seasonal business.

In 2019, after relocating to Montana and hiring a business coach, Pete expanded the operation intentionally. The company grew from one crew to multiple crews, eventually operating six crews at peak scale. 

The objective was not scale alone. It was opportunity – for team leaders, for young men working seasonal crews, and for families supported through disciplined seasonal income.

Today, TopKnot operates across multiple states with defined seasonal routes, centralized scheduling, standardized biosecurity protocols, and structured team leadership. Pete’s current focus is operational stability, profitability, and serving ideal clients rather than maximizing volume.

Leadership and Crew Development

Beyond operations, Pete views the business as a leadership platform.

Each spring, crews spend extended time traveling together. That time is intentional. Work ethic, responsibility, character, and service are emphasized alongside technical skill.

Crews begin jobs in prayer and aim to represent Christ through conduct and professionalism.

Life Beyond TopKnot

Pete lives in St. Ignatius, Montana with his wife and five children.

He met his wife at Bible College – she first noticed him unicycling across campus in a neon yellow shirt! They have been together for over a decade and have built both a family and a business side by side.

Outside of TopKnot, Pete and his family operate a small ranch, raising 100% grass-fed and finished cattle on regenerative pasture.

The seasonal nature of TopKnot allows him to work intensely during the shearing season while maintaining location flexibility and investing in family and ranch life the rest of the year.

The avenue is alpaca care.

The focus is people.

And the commitment is long-term.