Elys washington crossing

But while he makes hundreds of pounds of award-winning, aged cheese each year, enough to supply 30 restaurants and stores, his real expertise is in meat processing.

This year, Ely, 62, will put that knowledge to good use, as president of the American Association of Meat Processors, a 1,plus association that includes Western cattlemen, hog farmers from the Corn Belt, poultry hatchers and wild game processors. Some of them may have vast herds and acreage or large processing plants, but it's Ely's knowledge of how to run a small operation that is in demand.

Now it's farm to table," said his wife, Susan. Since the COVID crisis critically affected meat production last year when employees of some of the major beef and pork processors were hit hard with the virus, consumers have turned to smaller processing operations.

The AAMP is all for promoting these businesses. During the pandemic, former President Donald Trump labeled the meat processing industry as a critical infrastructure. As president of the AAMP, Ely has already started traveling to other state associations to offer advice to new farmers and meat processors as more small operators enter this agricultural specialty.

Ely said he realized when he was a child that he wanted to continue the family tradition of farming. His brothers studied engineering at Princeton University but after he graduated from Council Rock High School, he won a full scholarship for wrestling at the University of Tennessee where he majored in animal and meat science and met a professor, Gordan Davis, a meat-processing expert from Texas Tech. Working at a Hatfield processing plant also played a role.

But, he said, he couldn't have done all he's accomplished without divine help. The Lord inspired us and blessed us and gave us the idea to start a meat business He sustains us. They met and worship at the Upper Makefield United Methodist Church and, each fall, process deer meat for area hunters, helping out with the Hunters Share the Harvest program of providing venison to charitable organizations.

The deer meat is processed in a separate building from the farm animals. The farm has received a "robustly humane" designation from the USDA for the care and "harvesting" of animals, Dwight Ely noted. He's planning to build a new, larger butcher store than the current one at the farm on Woodhill Road.

It is open for customers on Thursdays and Fridays, 9 a. In a juried competition during his college days, he came in "second in the country" in judging, he said, before taking a visitor to a walk-in freezer where he pointed out what parts of a side of beef are used for steaks, roasts and stews.

The Ely farm is known for its smoked hams and sausages, including kielbasa links shown in a smoker. The couple have three children: son Aldan, who is married; daughter, Elizabeth, and son, Luke, who all now work on the farm. A winter vacation from their home schooling led to a new venture for Ely Farms. It was during a trip to the French Alps that the family got interested in cheeses. Boneless meat can also be brought in from any state. Call for boneless meat pricing and details.

These are PA Game Commission rules. Newest item — Pepperoni! Open 24 Hours for deer drop off! Deer meat vacuum sealed! We can still accept skinned and quartered deer. We have been trying for months to get a special exception from them, to no avail at this point. Continue to check our website. We are still seeking an exception. See instructions below.