2012年1月12日星期四

After 86 years, Maxfields hand off operation of family mill

A new chapter is being written in the story of Wauneta’s Roller Mills. Founded in 1925 by Bert and Edna Maxfield, Wauneta’s local flour mill and feed mill has operated with three generations of Maxfields at the helm over the past 86 years.Get information on Air purifier from the unbiased,

Raymond Maxfield will turn 93 in February and his sister, Emma Jean Maris,Information on useful yeasts and moulds,The magic cube is an ultra-portable, is in her late 80s. Raymond’s son, Jim, who has operated the mill in recent years, is pushing 70.

With no younger members of the family hearing the miller’s call the Maxfield family decided it was time to sell the mill and open the door on a new era for the longtime Wauneta business.

On Jan. 5, that transfer of ownership was finalized, with Rogan and Ashley Einspahr of Wauneta coming on board as the new owners of Nebraska’s last independent, family-owned mill.

“I’m glad this has worked out the way it has. They’re an awful nice couple,” said Raymond regarding the sale of the mill to the Einspahrs.

“But, at the same time, it’s tough. Since I was a kid there’s no other place I’d rather be than here and it’s hard to just quit,Husky Injection Mold Systems designs and manufactures a broad range of ” he said.

Raymond spends time at the mill each day, his wisdom and years of experience a valuable resource. Jean, too, is in the office for several hours daily, tackling bookkeeping tasks and paperwork, tasks she has handled since graduating from Wauneta High School in 1942. Their younger sister, Dorthy Dudek, was also a part of the family business for decades until health problems forced her to retire.

Jim is the last in the line of “Maxfield Millers.” His brother, Jeff, opted not to follow in those footsteps. Neither has the next generation of Maxfields.

Watching time take a toll on his father and aunts, Jim said he is pleased with the recent sale of the family business.

“I wanted to see the mill keep going, but I didn’t want all the responsibility of it myself,” said Jim.Handmade oil paintings for sale at museum quality,
Even with the change of ownership, however, the daily comings and goings of Raymond, Jean and Jim haven’t changed, as they continue to provide hands-on assistance as the Einspahrs learn the ins-and-outs of the milling business. All three agree they couldn’t be more pleased to see the young local couple coming on board.

Rogan, a 2000 graduate of Wauneta-Palisade Schools, will rely on a hands-on background in farm repairs and business as he learns the trade. He earned an associate’s degree in welding technology from Southeast Community College and is certified in flux-core. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing from Doane College. He grew up farming with his grandfather and in recent years has been employed with Bruce Kramer Farms.

Ashley grew up in northeast Colorado and graduated from Cottey College in Missouri and from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in family and consumer sciences. She is employed with ChampaGroup/Exceptional Prints where her eye for design has proven an asset.

While Rogan will join employees Rod McMinn, Jim Beacham and Tracy Hackney in tackling the daily work at the mill, Ashley will remain with ChampaGroup while at the same time working to establish a web site and online sales contacts for the mill. In time, she plans to take an active role in the office.

The Einspahrs have two young children: daughter, Addy, who will soon be three years old, and three-month-old son Riley.

没有评论:

发表评论