NORTH ROBINSON, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)–A new company is filling a need by providing feed and more to livestock farmers and pet owners in Crawford County and beyond.
Fire, Feed & Supply, LLC opened about three months ago at 2423 Western Avenue. The 3,000-square-foot building is a one-stop shop for all types of animal feed and supplements, plus a variety of lawn and garden supplies and products.
“Many feed stores carry some of the products we have,” said Brian Knowlton of Crestline, part owner of the business with David Taylor and Josh Horst. “We wanted to be able to offer more products. We all have the entrepreneurial mindset.”
“Quality farm nutrition” is the tagline for the store, which carries a full line of food for horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens, goats, and more. Even rabbit pellets, wild bird seed, cat and dog food, and deer supplements for food plots for the winter months.
Knowlton, 39, is a volunteer firefighter and a farmer. He owns a livestock farm on Hook Road north of Crestline, but said that as a farmer, it’s sometimes difficult to find a retailer close by where he can purchase feed for 150 head of cattle and 700 sheep.
He started brainstorming with Taylor and Horst, who own a property maintenance company in the same Western Avenue building that had extra space. “It became real apparent that the feed store would be great in that location.”
In addition to the main showroom and office, Fire Feed & Supply maintains a 12,000-square-foot warehouse to the west. It’s also a source for mulch, gravel, and other landscape supplies, as well as turf products for baseball and softball fields.
Knowlton said the business is committed to supporting youth, especially those involved in the 4-H program, since he himself showed dairy cattle and swine at the Auglaize County Fair years ago and dairy cattle for 18 years at the Ohio State Fair.
The store is even hitting the road with trailers at eight county fairs, where 4-H’ers can buy electrolytes, sprays, and grooming supplies for all species of livestock so they shine in the ring on show day. “It’s a major convenience factor for families at the fair.”
“It’s bigger than a feed store. It’s helping to empower youth,” Knowlton continued. “Anywhere you look, there is an opportunity to start a business. It’s an opportunity to help youth and help them grow to the next level.”
And in just a few months, business has also grown for Knowlton and his partners. “It’s actually kind of surpassed what we expected. The amount of foot traffic in the door has gone 10-fold since the last month. It was unexpected to grow that fast.”