Farmers Elevator

1912-2002

The Farmers Elevator Grain and Supply Association of New Bavaria was first stated at New Bavaria on January 13, 1912 with a capital stock of $15,000.00.

Original organizers were Joseph Thome, Mathias Thome, Jacob Hornung, Andrew Swary, Charles S. Dietrick, Charles F. Hornung, Mathias Romes, Jacob Swary, Peter Mangas, and George Keeterle.

In March of 1935, the organization purchased the elevator at Pleasant Bend from the Okolona Grain Co. for $4,500.00 and in 1945 bought the North Creek elevator for $4,000.00. Fire destroyed the elevator at New Bavaria in July of 1951 and instead of rebuilding, the business was transferred to the Pleasant Bend Elevator. North Creek elevator suffered damage from a fire in 1952. In 1955, a new concrete elevator was erected at Pleasant Bend at a cost of $98,542.00 and the following major changes and additions were made throughout the years.

1956 - Quonset Building was built at Pleasant Bend for 55,000 bushel capacity at a cost of $16,284.00.
1959 - Behlen Storage Building was built at Pleasant Bend for 100,000 bushel capacity at a cost of $24,465.00. Also, the first grain dryer, a Behlen Grain Dryer, was purchased at Pleasant Bend for a capacity of 750 bushel at a cost of $8,976.00.
1963 - A concrete silo, a capacity of 15,000 bushel, was built at Pleasant Bend for $5,488.00. Also, two concrete silos and equipment was built at North Creek for a capacity of 28,000 bushel for $32,219.00.
1967 - A concrete silo and equipment purchased at Pleasant Bend for 66,000 bushel for $38,014.00.
1969 - A concrete silo was built at North Creek for 14,000 bushel at a cost of $13,374.00.
1970 - Remodeled the grinding room at North Creek at a cost of $10,983.00.
1972 - First floater was purchased at a cost of $25,163.00. Old frame elevator building at Pleasant Bend demolished.
1973 - Concrete silo and new dump equipment purchased for $106,003.00 with a capacity of 150,000 bushel. New grain dryers purchased for North Creek and Pleasant Bend for $65,081.00.
1974 - Concrete silo built at Pleasant Bend with a capacity of 75,000 bushel for $49,944.00.
1975 - New scales at North Creek for $24,002.00.
1976 - A concrete silo and equipment purchased at Pleasant Bend for $71,299.00 with a capacity of 75,000 bushel.
1977 - Traded a grain dryer at Pleasant Bend for $48,044.00. The old wooden elevator at North Creek was demolished.
1978 - Grain dump installed at North Creek for $29,951.00.
1979 - Two concrete silos and equipment and a driveway purchased at North Creek for $128,643.00 with a capacity of 80,000 bushel.
1983 - Purchased land owned by railroad for $45,740.00. Installed fertilizer blender at Pleasant Bend for $34,238.00.
1985 - Concrete silo and equipment purchased at Pleasant Bend for $181,761.00 and a capacity of 120,000 bushel. New grain dryer purchased at North Creek for $63,285.00.
1986 - Concrete silo and equipment purchased at Pleasant Bend for a capacity of 120,000 bushel for $185,674.00. Butler warehouse purchased at Pleasant Bend for capacity of 100,000 bushel for $102,309.00.
1996 - Constructed concrete hopper silo for a capacity of 45,000 bushel. Also constructed a new grain pit and purchased two Meyer Dryers, Model 2000 with equipment, such as legs and conveyors. The cost of the project was $487,240.00.
1997 - Purchased new computer system and equipment from CTN Data Service at a cost $35,000.00.
1999 - Purchased the Standley Elevator from Defiance Landmark.
1999 - Installed new railroad scale and loadout at a cost of $131,000.00.
1999 - Extended railroad tracks at the Standley facility to 15 cars at cost of $110,000.00.
2000 - Constructed two 150,000 bushel grain tanks and equipment at Standley. The cost of the project was $375,618.00.

Capital stock was increased on five different occasions. To $30,000 in 1920, to $60,000 in 1947, to $150,000 in 1951, to $500,000 in 1962, and $650,000 in 1983.

There are no available records of the association for 1912 through 1920.

Figures contained in the annual report of the association for the year of 1921, showed a net profit for the year of $130.95. There were gross profits of $9,734.72 with expenses of $9,603.77. Total amount of business for the year was $192,440.81.

Financial report of the association for the year ending June 30, 2001 showed total sales of $16,725,783.00 with a net margin of $201,396.00.

The past presidents of the Association are listed below:

1912-1937 John Fenter
1937-1952 Peter Buet
1952-1952 Lavon Peck
1952-1955 Marion Burill
1955-1955 Hugo Swary
1956-1960 Alvin Frank
1960-1963 Albert Verhoff
1963-1966 Carl Wenzinger
1966-1968 Paul Zimmerman
1968-1975 Richard Polhamus
1975-1976 Charles Young
1976-1977 Elmer Niese
1977-1980 George Troyer
1980-1987 Charles Young
1987-1990 Richard Lentz
1990-1993 James Thomas, Jr.
1993-1996 Roger Grim
1996-2000 James Sheeks
2000-Present Andrew Hoffman

At the same time there has been four secretaries for the Association:

Joseph Thome
Arthur Dobmeyer
William Klear, Jr.

Timothy L. Hockman, the present Secretary/Treasurer.

Managers at the New Bavaria Elevator, in order, were A.J. Hornung, Joseph Theisen and Cletus Swary. At the Pleasant Bend Elevator, they were Peter Hipp, Charles Hornung, Norman Rothman, William Klear, Jr. and Timothy L. Hockman, the present manager. The managers at the North Creek location were Lavon Conkright, Sam Carder and Roger Wenzinger, the present manager. These three have been the only managers at the North Creek Elevator since its purchase in 1945. Debbie Mangas has been the only manager at the Standley Elevator since its purchase in 1999.

The Association with elevators at Pleasant Bend, North Creek and Standley now have a total of twenty one full time employees and three part time employees.

Ed (Scrappy) Schuller retired from the Farmers Elevator after 39 years as the bookkeeper at Pleasant Bend. William Klear, Jr. retired after 47.5 years of total service with the Farmers Elevator. He was the General Manager the last 22 years.

The Farmers Elevator wishes to thank everyone for his or her many years of patronage and service.

THANK YOU!!!!!