Dan Small, the owner of Utica Feed and Hardware, sheds light on the multifaceted nature of his business, which encompasses a feed mill, a hardware store, and a gun shop.

Founded over a century ago, Utica Feed and Hardware has been serving the needs of farmers in the region, specializing in custom-made feeds for various livestock, including cattle, swine, poultry, sheep and goats. 

“We are a feed mill, a hardware store and a gun store,” Small told Mount Vernon News. “The feed mill pays the bills.”

With a dedicated team of about 10 employees, the feed mill produces approximately 30 mixes daily, tailored to each customer's specific requirements.

“Everybody has their own custom rations and they're all tailored to whatever their specific nature,” he said.  

Small underscores the vital role of local agriculture in society, emphasizing the importance of on-demand feed manufacturing due to the perishable nature of grain-based products. 

He highlights the sourcing of ingredients locally from surrounding counties and the state of Ohio, ensuring freshness and quality in their feeds.

“Local agriculture is a critical thing in today's society,” Small said. “When you're manufacturing steel and stuff like that, that can be shipped anywhere around the world. But once you process grains they have a shelf life. And there's always going to be a need for local agriculture as far as animal nutrition goes, because most of that stuff needs to be made on as needed basis. It's hard to stockpile. It does store for long periods of time. It's tough to ship a product like that. They're always there, it is going to be wherever there's livestock being raised, there's going to be some sort of feed manufacture in a relatively close location.”

Reflecting on the evolving landscape of farming, Small notes a rise in small-scale livestock production in recent years, driven by a growing preference for locally sourced products. 

““There's been quite a rise in the last few years of people doing small-scale livestock production,” Small said. “Chickens at home or a few pigs or if you've goats or stuff like that.The trend in the last few years is, drastically moved towards local. And you can see that anywhere in the food chain everybody wants to know where it came from. So yes. We've had a large increase in small-scale local people.”

Utica Feed and Hardware caters to this trend by offering essential nutritional knowledge and access to private nutritionists for larger-scale operations, facilitating the transition into livestock farming for interested individuals.

Despite shifts in the farming industry, Small stresses that the overall food production remains consistent due to advancements in technology and increased productivity. 

While full-time farming is on the decline, the demand for agricultural products persists, albeit concentrated in larger operations.

Beyond its role in agriculture, Utica Feed and Hardware operates as a full-service hardware store, providing a wide range of products and services, including plumbing, electrical, lawn and garden and paint supplies. 

“It's a full service local hardware. We have plumbing, electrical, lawn and garden paint,” Small said.   “Whether it's contractors or just, you know, homeowners doing small fixes. We're heavy on plumbing, electric, plumbing and electric. And that's the vast majority of our sales.”

Additionally, the establishment serves as a reputable gun store, offering firearms, ammunition, and accessories, contributing to increased foot traffic and community engagement.

“I started that years ago just as a way to feed customers to the store, just another reason to come here,” he said. “You always have to, no matter what you're doing, you have to give people a reason to go. I fill propane tanks for grills, stuff like that. That's just another reason for people to come here and once they get here they'll shop. And I'll tell you that the minute we started selling guns, you could see hardware sales increase.” 

Small said the gun offerings are robust. 

“We do carry all major brands and most all major brands.” he said.  

Small's commitment to providing diverse offerings and fostering community connections underscores Utica Feed and Hardware's significance as a pillar of local agriculture and a cornerstone of the community.