IDEA File

More Than f ust Chicken Feed

A lumber dealer in upstate New York knows it takes more than building materials to attract new customers in a rural area.

That's why Ward Lumber, Jay, N.Y., recently hosted Poultry Night with complimentary pizza, a lecture by an animal nutrition expert, and the chance to network with other poultry aficionados.

"We started selling feed a while ago, when I realized how big a need there was in the area," said president Sidney "Jay" Ward III, who organized the event. ,,It was mostly from talking to people around town.', Ward provides free delivery of poultry feed and recently began selling all species of poultry, including chickens for meat and eggs, ducks, turkeys, and gamei birds such as grouse and pheasant. Special prices were offered on orders of at least 25 birds durins ,.Chick Days" through April 1.

"We do it through a hatchery in Ohio," said Ward. "We haven't yet gotten a huge response and we're new at this, but we're hoping for a good reaction.,' Guest speaker Terry Cushing, an animal nutrition specialist for Vermont-based Poulin Grain Feed Co., spoke about how to care for poultry in a healthy and cost effective way. He assured the audience that raising poultry isn't very hard, and stressed the importance of being self-sufficient.

"Who knows what will happen in years to come,,'he said. "It may be pretty viable to be able to raise your own food."

Ward also operates another store in Monroe, N.y.. as well as an eastern white pine mill and planing mill in Jay, pre-fabricated home package and components sup- plier Ward Lumber Homes, and manages over 6,000 acres of timberland.

Compass

Fletcher Wood Solutions [wwutenonusa.com]........................................39

Fontana

Lausmann Lumber [www.lausmanlumber.coml.

Manke Lumber Co. [www.mankelumber.com]...........................................49

Norman Distribution Inc. [www.normandist.comt.....................................35

Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Co. [www.plmins.com]...37

Redwood Empire [www.redwoodemp.com] ........,........23

Reel Lumber Service [www.reellumber.com] ............................................32

Reliable Wholesale Lumber Inc. [www.rwli.com] ,...........,..............,..........34

RlSl [www.risiinfo.com/crows]....... ................................38

Roseburg Forest Products [www.rfpco.com] ........,......19

Royal Pacific Induskies........... ..........,............................21

RoyoMartin [www.royomartin.com]................... .Gover lll

Simpson Shong-Tie [www.strongtie.com]...........................................33, 47

Snider Industries [www,sniderindustries.com]...,...........,,..........,............,40

Swaner Hardwood Co. [www.swanerhardwood.com] ................,,............S9

Swanson Group Sales Co. [www.swansongroupinc.com].......................2S

Thunderbolt Wood Treating [www.thunderboltwoodtreating.com].........51

Van Arsdale.Harris Lumber Go. [www.vanarsdaleharris.net].........,........51

Viance [www.heatedwood.com] .................................15

Western Woods Inc, [www.westernwoodsinc.com].........................Cover I

Woodtone [www.woodtone.com].................... ...............35