MARSH VALLEY’S LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE

Marsh Valley Forest Products LTD is renowned for its custom millwork, another Middlefield-based and Amishowned small business making a big impact on the design industry, not just locally, but globally. The lumber manufacturer’s custom cabinetry, countertops, flooring and moldings (aka moldings) can be found in such illustrious locations as the US Embassy in Japan, and the celebrated Hunting Valley home of art philanthropist Scott Meuller, which is being bequeathed to the Cleveland Museum of Art. Marsh Valley has been serving local carpenters, builders and contractors, along with the general public, since 1998, and its name has become synonymous with quality.

The business began with the insights of Pete Miller, whose woodworking career began in 1967 with the Hardwood Lumber Company. In 1982, he became the active founding member of Sheoga Hardwood Flooring, where he served as President for 38 years until 2020. In 1986, Pete partnered with William W Byler and formed a small trim and molding operation, Will Mill Forest Products, on State Route 608. Pete’s son Mervin shared a love of woodworking and joined his father there in the late 80s. By the late 90s, Pete’s commitment to the flourishing hardwood flooring operation consumed most of his time, and the Will Mill Forest Company partnership dissolved. Mervin’s experience and interest in the molding business continued, and Marsh Valley Forest Products was established in 1998 with him in the driver’s seat.

In 2006, Pete’s son, Sam, came aboard after 8th grade graduation, as is customary for Amish boys, and joined the team of about 10 at the time. Before he was old enough to run the heavy machinery, he learned a lot about different species of wood while stacking lumber. Today Sam runs the business with Mervin, operating as Sales Manager. Starting out with 6,500-square-feet of floor space, today the business is operating with over 46,500 square feet (including the production floor, office and showroom), and is equipped to produce the best quality wood products available. Today Marsh Valley sits on eight acres and currently employs a team of around 40 talented craftsmen.

A tour of Marsh Valley reveals a wellorganized blur of activity where safety comes first, and modern amenities like a coffee nook and new breakroom keep employees happy. Because the manufacturer is off-grid, a 750-horsepower natural gas engine generates power to hydraulic motors that power all the equipment. Marsh Valley utilizes in-house grinders in order to custom make tooling to match any design profile for specialized moldings. Wood moldings make up the core of the business, followed by an interior/ exterior trim package. Everything is sanded by hand. No part of the wood

isn’t used: Marsh Valley sells two semi loads of sawdust shavings every week for use as beds for horses, but the walnut sawdust must be housed in a separate silo because walnut shavings are toxic to horses.

Marsh Valley keeps 18 species of American wood in stock so orders can be fulfilled as quickly as possible (typically two weeks plus shipping time). As interior design trends change, so do the top selling woods. Poplar is always popular for painted finishes. Sam has all types in his house, but he especially likes the character grade of white oak. He’s not alone, it’s been a bestseller for over 10 years, partly for its ability to withstand the elements better than other woods; white oak makes for a good exterior door. While red and white oak have been dueling for top seller status for decades, Sam sees the market trending back toward red. “White oak has always been a bit more expensive than the red, and prior to 2009, red oak was the people’s choice. Then for years everyone was choosing white. Now that white oak has more than doubled in price in the last four years, red oak is coming back.”

Lumber prices tend to change depending on the demand for new housing or renovations, and by now consumers have learned to expect the unexpected when it comes to the limits of the supply chain. (At the moment the price of poplar is up 25% from what it was pre-Covid.) The recession of 2008 hit the business hard, but Sam points out that with difficult times came the wisdom to weather them. “We learned to be more diversified with the product line instead of solely focusing on wood moldings, and started branching out into different regions,” he said. Marsh added wood plank countertops and butcher blocks, and began shipping all over the United States.

The pandemic created new challenges in March, 2020, when the lockdowns began, and Marsh Valley was forced to contend with higher shipping costs. Not knowing what the future held worried Sam, since they had just recently laid the foundation for a new 24,000 square foot addition to the space. The steel had already been ordered, so they decided to focus on finishing it. With Covid-19 safety precautions in place, Marsh Valley opened back up as soon as they were able to find they were busier than ever. Sam attributes that to the housing boom and the high-end customers that furnish those homes with a lot of custom woodwork. “People were at home more, so they had time to look around and notice home improvements they could make. A countertop or an island top can be simple to replace.”

Marsh Valley’s business philosophy is built on respectful customer service to all their customers, at every price point, which leads to relationships with vendors who return for multiple jobs. Sam attributes their success to word of mouth and referrals. “We have found that if we treat the carpenter with respect and get him what he needs, then he’ll go to the customer and tell them to get your product from Marsh Valley.” They don’t do any formal advertising and don’t have a dedicated website.

Sam seems to love his work at Marsh Valley, and generally embodies the demeanor of a person too blessed to be stressed; Life is good. “We’ve had a lot of support from the community and have a great team,” he says. “And, obviously we wouldn’t have what we have today without the blessings of our Creator.”

PLAN YOUR VISIT!

Marsh Valley Forest Products

14141 Old State Rd Middlefield, OH 44062 Ph: 440-632-1889 Fax: 440-632-0413

Hours

Mon-Fri 7am-4:30pm Sat 8am-Noon Sun Closed