King Feed and Supply named Friend of Beef
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Alvin King, left, and his sister, Linda Hostetler, received the 2016 Friend of Beef award Tuesday for their family-owned King Feed and Supply business. (EXAMINER PHOTO | NATE SMITH)
OCA Director encourages cooperation among farmers, neighbors Nate Smith, Examiner Staff Writer Farmers and livestock operations are better off continuing to cooperate and work with environmentalists concerned about algal blooms in waterways and dwindling populations of pollinators like the monarch butterfly, because any new rules or regulations aren’t likely to favor the agriculture industry. Ohio Cattlemen’s Association District 5 Director Frank Phelps of Huntsville told those in attendance Tuesday for a joint banquet of the Logan County Cattle and Dairy associations that additional rules designed to further prevent algal blooms, as well as to help decreasing populations of pollinators like the monarch butterfly, are being considered by state legislators as well as regulators at the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. “Mind your setbacks and the regulations, handle the spread of manure the right way and be considerate of your neighbors,” Mr. Phelps told the crowd. Mr. Phelps said that any new rules aren’t likely to benefit the farmer. “If this algal problem doesn’t get under control, we’re going to have these rules all over the state,” he said. “We’re only 1 to 2 percent of the population, and so we’re not getting a lot of help in these discussions.” The same idea applies to helping bring back the monarch butterfly population. “If you’ve got a corner in your field that you can’t get to, or maybe that’s bare and you’re not using, go ahead and plant some milkweed or something back there to help out the butterflies,” Mr. Phelps, adding that there’s a push to get monarch butterflies on the endangered species list. “If monarch butterflies are labeled endangered there’s going to be a whole set of rules impacting what you can and can’t do with your land, and I can promise you won’t like them,” he cautioned. |
A local, family- owned and operated small business with nearly seven decades’ of service to the community was recognized Tuesday at the combined annual banquet of the Logan County Dairy and Cattle associations in the Winner Harvest Barn, 7317 W. State Route 47.
King Feed and Supply was recognized as the 2016 Friend of Beef. The award was presented to siblings Alvin King and Linda Hostetler who now operate locations in West Liberty and Bellefontaine.
“The bottom line is it’s all the people of Logan County that have done business with us, and that’s why we’re here today, so it’s not really about us,” Mr. King said. “It’s about the good people of Logan County and agriculture.
“We’re honored.”
On top of years’ worth of doing business with local commercial and non-commercial beef producers, King Feed and Supply also has an extended history of support for junior fair projects and the livestock auction, presenter Bob Stoll said.
The business was started in 1948 by Loren King, father of Mr. King and Mrs. Hostetler.
Mr. King’s original business — Farmers Supply — was in the former West Liberty Mill which is generally considered to be the first building built in West Liberty in 1817, Mr. Stoll said. That building burned down on Mr. King’s birthday on May 19, 1962 after it was struck by lightning.
The next year, the business re-opened in a former alfalfa dehydrating plant at the west end of West Liberty along Runkle Street. The plant was remodeled for the new business.
In 1974, the business was incorporated and the name was changed to King Feed & Supply. Progressively, Mr. King doled out more of the business responsibilities to his children, Alvin and Linda, as his focus shifted toward helping in the planning and fundraising of Green Hills Community.
Today, Mr. King and Mrs. Hostetler say they are out to service commercial and non-commercial farm operations alike. Additionally, consumer goods and assorted items are sold out of the general store King’s Country Corner in Bellefontaine.
“We’re just trying to give back to the community because the community has been good to us,” Mr. King concluded.
Seven dairy operations were recognized for recording data and growth of their herds. Recognized for their participation in the Logan County dairy industry were: Drifty Hollow Holsteins; Louis A. Davidson & Son; Mark Henry; Molly and Kyle McGuire; Ray and Colleen Jackson; Robert and Jay Ackley and Sieg Dairy.
Winners of scholarships given by the Logan County Cattle Association include Kyle Ackley, Kaylee Copeland, Ella Jackson, Tyler Myers and Troy Selhorst.
Kyle and Ella were also recipients of scholarships from the Logan County Dairy Association.
Bellefontaine Jazz Band provided the entertainment.