English's welcomes FFA members
Putnam County welcomed two bus loads of Blue Jackets Friday when Future Farmers of America (FFA) students visited English's Buffalo Farm near Bainbridge.
The students were from Avery County, North Carolina where they don't have commercial buffalo farms.
"We have one farm by us and he has about 13 buffalo on two acres but they just keep them to look at, more like a horse farm," said Brandon Cheek who was visiting the buffalo farm with his fellow members.
Despite chilly wet weather the group toured the fields where herds of buffalo stood grazing. They heard from owners John and Sheila English about the farm and the animals.
The farm also features a trading post and a concession stand. On this day nearly 100 FFA members tasted buffalo burgers, many for the first time.
"It's really different. But it's good," said Lesley Wooten who was eating a burger with friend Thomas Cole. The two said they would be heading back to downtown Indianapolis shorter and would attend more sessions at the convention.
At a table filled with the members talking in a soft southern drawl, there was laughter as one of the boys was heard to say, "I still like beef better."
In March of 1995 the English's purchased their first three buffalo, Cherokee, Dakota and Cheyenne (6 month-old heifers). In Aug. 1995 they added one-year old Chester (a bull). At the time they lived in Cloverdale.
The next year they added five more animals. By now, their 26 acres in Cloverdale were not large enough. So, in November 1996 they bought 102 acres in Bainbridge and moved their farm. One year later their first calf was born. Today, their herd has more than 80 animals and they plan to grow it to over 100 head.
More than 51,000 young people from across the country were taking part 80th National FFA Convention being held in downtown Indianapolis this week.
It is the nation's largest youth convention and Indianapolis' largest convention of any kind.
The National FFA Organization serves a half-million student members preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture with 7,300 local school-based chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. FFA seeks to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.