Farmers Flock To Beef Twilight Tour
SILVER LAKE — Area farmers and members of the public congregated at the Conley Cattle Farm for the 18th annual Beef Twilight Tour. The event was held Saturday, Aug. 22, and offered entertainment and information centered around the limousine breed and the history of the Conley Cattle Farm.
Legacy was a strong component of the event. Numerous area farmers visited the farm with young children, noting some of the children marked the fourth and fifth generation farmers. The Conley family was no exception. Mark and his wife run the farm alongside Mark’s brother, Tony and his wife Karen. According to Mark, his grandfather, Johnny Conley, purchased the adjacent farm, currently managed by his brother, in 1937. The land Mark and his family currently manage was owned by his grandfather as well. The land was sold to another party before the Conley’s bought the property back in 1974.
The majority of the family’s work involves seed stock and feeder calf. The Conley’s currently have 130 cows, only 10 of which are not of the limousine breed. According to the Conleys, it is hoped the family will grow their herd to 200 cows by 2018.
Mark’s daughter, Mikaela, 19, a graduate of Warsaw Community High School, explained the family utilizes the limousine due to the fact it is lean, low cholesterol and is great for crossbreeding.
In a presentation given to guests of the Beef Twilight Tour, Mikaela explained the family’s effort to keep operations “all natural” in order to be able to be Meyer natural food and handling certified. The efforts involve an all vegetarian fed diet, no antibiotics and on-site evaluations by Meyer Foods.
The Conley’s explained one of their primary reasons for volunteering to host the tour was to allow people to know they were there, and hopefully, encourage area buyers to visit the farm. The family graciously offered a tour of their beautiful farm, a judging contest as well as a ribeye supper with all the trimmings. Door prizes were provided by the Cattlemen’s Association, which annually sponsor the event.
The Purdue Extension as well as representatives from Purina attended the event to give information on legislative updates and the future of the beef industry. Featured speakers included Leon and granddaughter Hannah Tucker of Milford, one of the founding families to utilize the limousine breed in Indiana.