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Farm and Dairy | Thursday, September 17, 2015
FarmandDairy.com | 800-837-3419 or 330-337-3419
Warmth. Comfort. Quality. Serving the community and providing warmth since 1977
Full Line of Accessories 2925 Columbus Ave. Phone 937-324-4429 SpringďŹ eld, Ohio 45502 Fax 937-322-1276 XXX TIVNBOUSBOTQPSU DPN t TTUSBOT !ZBIPP DPN
We Haul Farm Machinery - Full loads or partial Specializing in combines & sprayers
To All The Buyers Who Supported the Stark County Junior Fair Livestock Sales! We had a record breaking year because of you! $884,000 THANK YOU KIKO AUCTIONEERS FOR YOUR AUCTIONEERING SERVICES Please visit our educational web site at www.starkcountyjrfair4h.com
Able Property MGT LLC Acorn Rentals Agro-Culture Liquids Fertilizer & Hubner Seed Alan Harold - Stark County Auditor Alicia McCracken Tastefully Simple Consultant All Creatures Big & Small All Pro RV American Engineering & Metal Working Ameriseal Amherst Meadows Care Center Anderson, Mark Anstine Machining Corp Anthony Feed & Supply Anthony Petitti Garden Center ARSL Resources AultCare Bair’s, Inc. Baltzly, Elisabeth Batdorf, Ed Beaver Excavating Co. Beck Energy Corporation Bennett, Keith Berg, Nancy Biery Cheese Biller, John and Mary Margaret Bills Broadway Truck Repair Bill’s Works Contracting Bishop Construction Inc. Bishop, Mark & Mellisa Blocher, Theresa Boak, Jana Bonfert Glass Bosler, Eli Bosley Drain and Service Boswell, Kristen Brechbuhler Scales Brenner Trucking LLC Brewster Cheese, Co. Broadview Farms LTD Broken Board Percherons Brooks, Jean Brown, Anthony Bryan, Patrick & Beth Burns Equipment Co Busted Y Cattle BYOB Custom Catering C - 3 Jackpot Arena C.R. Action Cable Inc. Campbell Bros. Inc. Campbell Oil Company Canton Banding Tire Company Carnation Electric Motor Carnation Rentals Carrie’s Meadow Dairy Goats Carroll’s Well Drilling Casalinova, Chuck Cathy Cowgill Flowers Central Painting & Sandblasting, Inc. Chaddock, Joe & Susan Chick-Fil-A Chief Magistrate Dave Nist Chislers Monuments Chuck Reiman Const. City Limits Western Clark,Clark & Chaddock Attorneys at law Clear Sky Realty Clearview Farms CMJ Show Cattle Colonial Title Agency Commercial & Savings Bank Connect USA Conser Run Farm Consumers National Bank Cope Farm Equipment Country Corner Santa Creekview Acres Criswell, Scott Cut & Curl Corner D & J Sales & Service D & K Supply D A Cattle D. N. K. N. Cattle Damascus Livestock Auction Daniel and Shelly Johnson Dasco, Pete Dawson, Jacob Dawson, Jarrod & Alyssa Dean & Bobbi Pugh - Pugh Farms DeerďŹ eld Farms DENCO Marketing Devies, Robert Dickerhoof, Aaron & Codi DiRusso’s Sausage Discount Drug Mart Inc. DiversiďŹ ed Services Domer, Ed Donald Kemp Insurance Agency Don’s Custom Meats Dover Brake Inc. Downtown Ford Lincoln Mercury Doyne & Pam Reinbold Farms Dr. David Mungo Dr. Michelle Hall - Red Star Vet
In Stock
Shetler’s
Wood & Co
es al Heating Stov
Dr. Thomas Krupko, M.D. Drs. Danielle Kiko & Steven Willard OB/GYN Dutchcraft Truss & Metal Inc E&M Liberty Welding Earl Wolfe Farms Earnest, Jim Eberling, Denise Eckroate, Bill EJ Stuntzman Inc. Eleet Cryogenics Inc. / Gary Sears Ellington, Casey & Charlie Elliott Family Farms Enervest Operating Engravers Gallery & Signs Enviroscapes Eslich Jr., Richard Eslich Wrecking Company Ewenique Fibers Expert Auto Collision F.S.R.C. Tanks Factory of Terror Farm Credit Mid-America Farmers Exchange Farmers National Bank Father & Son Property Maintenance Finney Refrigeration Firehouse Grille and Pub Navarre First National Bank of Orrville Flanigan, Rhonda Flood, John Flying Caprine Dairy Goats Flying CJ Farm Franklin Equipment Fraternal Order of Eagles Friends to Elect Thomas Hippley Fulton Animal Hospital G & F Farm Repair Ganyard, Nancy L. Gary Ritchie Construction Gaydosh, Ron Gentry & Rachel Shane, Dick & Debbie Gerard, Fran Gerber Feed Service Giant Eagle - Louisville Glavan, James Grayce Ann’s Family Restaurant Greco, John & Sheryl Green Farms Inc Green Lines Transportation Greer, Bud Gregory Industries Grey Haven Farm Gromes, Beth Habrun, Damon Hagan For State Representative Hagan Heating and Plumbing Hamilton Ins. Agency Hamlin, James Harland Farms Harolds Equipment Inc Hartville Hardware Hartville Marketplace Hatherill Insurance Co. Herb’s Transmission Hermann, Earline Hills Supply Hilscher-Clarke Electric Hometown Veterinary Service Honaker & Company Hoopes Fertilizer Hoopes Fertilizer Works Horner Law OfďŹ ce LLC Irish Acres Isreal Funeral Home Ivy Rose Dairy J K F L P Ventures J Kevin Miller Plumbing J. Miller Plumbing J.A. Mehl Restoration J.C. Masonry Jason Pugh, Atty - Bixler & Moore Co JB Solomons Flea Market JD’s Storage Units Jerry’s Trucking and Excavating Jim’s Auto & Truck Repair Jim’s Meats Jody Seward DVM Johannings Inc. John GrifďŹ th Transport Johnson, Jerry P Jones, Sandy & Todd Judge Mike Howard Judge Rosemarie A. Hall K & M Curtains K & M Transport Inc. K & S Millwrights Inc Kalleker Drywall Kara Kirkbride Howard Hanna Realtor Keim Concrete Kempthorn Motors Kevin Miller Plumbing Kiko Auctioneers Kiko Meats Kiko, George and Becky Kiko, Jim & Louanne
4809 Kinsman Rd (Rt. 87) MiddleďŹ eld, OH
440-693-4477
Kiko, Jim & Sue Kiko, Matt and Amy Kiko, Roger Kiko’s County Auction KilKenny, Lora Kishman’s IGA Kline Family Livestock Kramer, Tammie Kraus Pizza Kreighbaum-Sanders FH Kristen Donohue Guardado for Judge Lantzer Funeral Home Lavery Automotive Family Lee and Carolyn Gabric Lehman Alumni Assoc Lemons Disciplined School of Tae Kwon Do Leppo Rents - Bobcat of Canton Lewis, Hank & Jeannie Lindlaw Holsteins Little Flower Matthew 8:20 Mission Little Sandy Creek Ruritan Club Loby’s Bar and Grille Lorrie Fuchs Attorney at Law Louisville Kennels, Inc Louisville Physical Therapy Louisville Vision Center Loy, Ken Macy Family, Jim & Amy Mahindra of Massillon Maibach Tractor Main Street Deli Maple Dell Farm Maple Wood Farm Maplewood at Cuyahoga Falls Martin Pallet Mayle, Kacie McBurney Concrete McCoy, Robin McCracken Club Lambs Mcintosh Oil Co. McQuilkin Lumber Company Meece, John Menches Brother Mercer Angus Metkers Mulch Miller & Company Miller Cattle Company Miller, Carol Miller, Mike Minerva Area Federal Credit Union Minerva Touch of Class LLC Mobility Works Monter Excavating Montrose Ford Alliance Moore, William Moran, Terri Morgan Engineering Systems, Inc Motter & Meadows Architects Motts Old Mill Bulk Foods Mt Eaton Elevator/Hubbard Show Rite Feeds Mt. Eaton Elevator Holmes Ag Svc Mt. Hope Auction, Inc. Mullet, Jim & Rita Muse, Rev. Tim Navarre Animal Clinic New York Life Nichols Field Services Noll Rentals Noll, Donald North Winds Stable Northeast Ohio Endocrinology Ohio Cat Olde Wood Ltd P & R Rentals Palmer, Chris Paris and Washington Insurance Parker Farms Parker Insurance Agency LLC Parrish, Floyd Pat Kiko PBS Animal Health PC Cattle Pellegrino, Chris Perkins, Mario Pero Dairy Farm Peterson, Rich Pizza Oven Pole Barns Direct LLC Postity / Tomasino’s Prather, Don Project Live Pusateri Sales INC. Pyle, Sue Pyramid Pipeline Inc. R.G. Smith Co Rabbitt, Jeff & Stacy Rampage & Git’er Done Pulling Team Ramsey Hoof Trimming Rapid Mold Repair Red Star Veterinary Clinic, LLC Reiter Family Farm Rhome, Brian Richard Regula for Stark County Commissioner
Hours: M-F 7:30-5; Sat. 7:30-4; Closed Sunday
Richardson, Mike & Diane Richville Bingo Riviota, Tony Rob Reinhart Excavating Robertsville Grange Rock Solid Cut Stone & Supply Roesol, Joel Rohn Ranch Trailers Rohr, Andrew & Brittany Rohr, Phillip & Mary Ruegg, Michael Rufeners Congress Lake Farms RunTime International LLC Runzo’s Outdoor Sports S & M Electrical Contracting LLC Sancic Family Farms LLC Sarchione Ford of Waynesburg Schaller, Scott Schmidt, Lura Schmucker Bros. Farm Schmuki, Mike Schnackel, Don & Jean Marie Schory Cement Schott Feed & Supply Schrock, James Servpro of Stark Co. Seward DDS, Larry Shafer, Thomas Shaffer, Diane Shaw, Jeannine Simon Technology Solutions Sippo Valley Longbeards NWTF Slicker Farm Sloan Club Lambs Smith, Bill Smith, Myron Snelling Snyder Show Cattle Souder, Duane Soupline Express Pulling Team Staley Technologies Star Mills Stark County Cattlemen’s Assoc. Stark County Fairboard Stark County Farm Bureau State Farm - Jane Nicholson Still Water Farm Strouble, Pam Sugardale Foods Swine Committee T & B Construction T & J Lawncare Tabellion, Steve & Angel Taylor Companies of Ohio Ted’s Auto Sales Terry’s Truck and Trailer Terydon Inc. The Diet Doc & Friends from the Ohio River Thompson Animal Hospital Thompson’s Dairyland TLC Akers Tonnob Equipment Co. Tournoux Landcare Toussant, Terry Tower Co. Tri Pine Farm Turf Tailors Lawn Care Turf Tenders LLC TVC Concrete, Inc. Umbarger Feeds - Cliff Linder United Producers, Inc. Unkefer Equipment Uptown Auto Service Van Hala Dental Group Varner Insurance Village Farmhouse Wallace Farms Feed Drive Thru Wallace, Wayne Wallen, Carolyn & Dallas Wally Armour Chrysler Warstler, Simon Washington Ruritan Club Wells Family Farm Wentling Farms Wentling, Bill & Jennifer Werab Enterprises LLC Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway Company Wilson, Bob & Maggie Wimer, David Windy Way Farm LTD Witmers Inc. Wolfe Ag Service Wooded View Farms, Inc. Wooster Buildings LLC Yankee Peddler Festival Committee Yoder Auto Service Yoder Collision Depot Inc. Yoder, Kyle Young, Traci Zuchowski, Dave Zumbar, Andrew
Changing with the times
Loudonville Farmers Equity celebrates 100 years By Chris Kick ckick@farmanddairy.com
LOUDONVILLE, Ohio — In an era defined by mergers and consolidation, it’s rare to find a small-town, farmer-owned feed mill that has survived the test of time. This year, the Loudonville Farmers Equity, of Ashland County, is celebrating its 100-year milestone. The mill was started by a group of farmers in July 1915, and continues as a farmer-owned cooperative today. The values and traditions remain the same — but like other feed mills — the mill has had to change and evolve to stay competitive. “It’s changed dramatically, just because of the technology and everything that’s gone on with (farming),� said Roger Stitzlein, the mill’s manager since 1978. “So for us to survive, we’ve had to change with it, and it’s always the challenge of keeping up ... with the farmers.� In addition to mixing and delivering feed, the mill now offers custom planting, spraying, fertilizer application, and rents about 100 different pieces of equipment to area farmers. Larger equipment. As equipment gets bigger, so does the need for more space. In 2009, the mill built a large, 300-by-70-foot machinery storage building to help accommodate the new equipment, and to store additional seed and fertilizer. “We’ve grown so much and you just got to get this inventory in earlier and earlier,� Stitzlein said. “You only sell seed corn and fertilizer once a year, and you’ve got to have it when (farmers) want it.� Still growing. When he started as manager in 1978, the mill had $2 million in sales a year. Today, it’s about $15 million, he said. And the mill is serving a broader area — about a 25mile radius today, which includes parts of five counties. Stitzlein was just 25 when he was appointed manager of the mill. But he was no stranger to agriculture and hard work. He grew up on his parents’ general livestock and crop farm, and completed an ag economics and business degree at Ohio State University. He then worked about three years at the Agricultural Technical Institute before accepting the top position at the mill. Stitzlein said he didn’t intend on returning to Loudonville. The family farm was too small to support all of his siblings, and he was on to something else. But then he got an offer to do something that was at least farmrelated and only four miles from the family farm. “I always wanted to be a farmer, but I had four brothers and we all wanted to farm,� he said. “This is as close as I can be to being a farmer, and I get Sundays off.� Full-time commitment. While he may get Sundays off — at least most of the time — the mill is very much an around-the-clock job. Stitzlein has a full-time staff of about 17 people, and he relies on them to be responsible for their own department. “My thing is keep me informed, if you need me let me know, but I’m (Continued on Page A11)