Carley Elk Farm

FFA Comes To Carley Elk Farm

Approximentally fifty-thousand teenage FFA members came to the Indiana Convention Center on Wednesday for the start of the 80th annual FFA Convention.  This is the second year that Indianapolis has hosted after winning a bid to host the National Convention for the next 7 years.  The FFA convention is the largest convention held in Indianapolis all year long.
  The convention opened on Wednesday, with all 50,000 plus FFA members, taking over the  Indiana State Fair Grounds, Conseco Fieldhouse, Indiana Convention Center, and the RCA Dome through Saturday.  This year many of the students helped out with Habitat for Humanity and Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, as well as touring many farms, and helping to maintain them by working the farms on National Service Day. 
One of the farms visited, was Carley Elk Farm LLC.  "At least  we had better weather  this year," said Cliff Carley, owner/operator of the farm.  There were two tractors running at all times with groups as small as 6 people to as large as 55.  Approximently 1100 students of the FFA toured the farm Tuesday through Saturday.  All tours included a guided tour around the farm, a sample of elk steak, fresh off the grill, and a complimentary drink.  After a tour of the farm, many of the students decided to hang out for a few and warm their hands by the campfire, or just throwing a football around.  Some of the students went to the store set up where they could purchase anything from elk jerky to T-shirts, to elk-skin gloves.
Some of the comments dropped in the comments box had said, "Thanks for such an informative tour." and "Can't wait to come back next year!"
Carley Elk Farm almost trippled the amount of students to tour the farm since 2006. "I hope to have the same turn out if not better next year!  Our farm is always open to the public to learn about the raising of elk." said Cliff Carley.