Elzy Milling & Trade in Bellville is operated from this grain elevator. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

By Ken Drenten

Feed mills and grain elevators are the agricultural, economic and social glue that binds rural villages, townships and counties together in much of Ohio.

Not only do they provide what their name implies – animal feed for livestock – but also other commodities used on farms and around country homes. Vital products like seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides, salt, and other bulk items are common at feed mills.

They often serve as country stores by offering hardware, grocery items, pet food and supplies, home décor, yard care and gardening supplies and so forth. Many of them have been in business for decades and are community mainstays.

Some, like Elzy Milling & Trade in Bellville and The Homestead Store in New Hampshire, are expanded or converted business ventures. They are wonderful places to discover and explore.

These businesses are often community meeting places, where people meet, greet and gather informally to catch up on what’s going on in the community.

This feed mill was located in Butler, Ohio. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

Belmont Mills, one of the oldest continuously family-operated feed mills in the state, has a long history rooted in family and service. It began in 1888 as a flour mill, taking advantage of the railroad for distribution. The mill was converted to feed production in 1932, and a trucking division was added later. Today, in addition to feed production and agricultural supply, Belmont Mills offers aggregate products, reclamation materials, hauling, and brokerage for customer needs.

The O.P. Chaney Grain Elevator in Canal Winchester was built in 1880 and was restored in 2023-24 by the Canal Winchester Historical Society with a grant from the State of Ohio. The four-story structure at 10 Oak St. in Canal Winchester is the centerpiece of a community cultural space that includes the CW History Center Museum, the 1880 O.P. Chaney Grain Elevator (Elevate 1828) and an event venue.

For more information on feed mills and grain elevators, see Feed & Seed Mills in Dusty Tires.

Ken Drenten is creator and editor of Dusty-Tires.com, a travel blog for out-of-the-ordinary places in Ohio.

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