T
he old Farmers Grain & Feed building on Railroad Street in Allenton is being demolished after 100 years of operation. Owner Tim Kreilkamp purchased the property in 2006 from Terry Theusch and Dave Schellinger, who inherited it from the original owners, the Hess family. The silos will remain, but the production facility is coming down.

    Kreilkamp stated that nothing from the demolition will end up in a landfill; everything will be reused or scrapped. Jon Schrock of Midwest Welding is overseeing the dismantling process and notes that the building's hammer mill, which ground feed using a big motor, was an essential part of the operation.

    The old facility processed grains and mixed them with ingredients like oats and corn before bagging and loading them onto trucks. The new Farmers Grain & Feed location, opened in November 2021 on Spruce Court, features a pellet mill and additional grinder, allowing for four times the volume of production. This expansion added jobs and encouraged agricultural opportunities across Washington County.

    As the old building is torn down, memories of its vibrant era are being preserved. While no historic treasures have been found between the walls yet, the community is invited to share their stories and photos from the mill's past. The new facility has brought significant changes to Allenton, but the legacy of the old Farmers Grain & Feed remains an important part of the town's history.