EDC Honours Sawyers on 97 years in Business

May 6, 2016 · 0 Comments

The Economic Development Committee (EDC) held its Shelburne and District Annual Breakfast this past Thursday morning.

This is an opportunity for the EDC to acknowledge business achievement and provide an update on news that is relative to business and clients.

It also allows the Town of Shelburne and the EDC Committee to showcase new plans, projects and discuss important decision making materials.

At this meeting, Economic Development Achievement Awards were given to former EDC chairs Sam Young (2000-2005), Steve Marr (2006-2010) and Bill Roy (2010-2014).

Brian Besley was on hand to present a Special Acknowledgement Certificate to the Sawyers family on 97 Years of family owned operations of Sawyers Feed Mill.

“It’s not often we can recognize a family that has been in business for 97 years in the north end of Dufferin County,” Mr. Besley told those in attendance. “The Sawyers family have been involved in the feed mill industry since 1919 when James Richard Sawyers and his wife Eliza bought the Boyne River Feed Mill located on the 6th line of Mulmur (now known as Airport Rd.) just south of Mansfield.

“This mill was originally a grist mill powered by water. In 1940 James and Eliza’s son Harry and wife Anna took over the operation. In the early 1950s the grist mill was converted to a feed mill by Harry and Anna and continued on as a feed mill until 1965.”

Besley went on to note that “In the mid-1950s Harry purchased the burnt remains of the White brothers feed mill and storage at its present location 130 Adeline St., Shelburne.

“The Sawyers family rebuilt the Shelburne location with the help of the Collins brothers, Herb and Bob of Shelburne. In the early 1960s, Harry’s son Jim joined his father at the Boyne feed mill and has worked at both mills all of his working years. In 1965 the Boyne feed mill was closed and the Sawyers feed mill in Shelburne was the main operation. When Harry retired, Jim and Marion took over the business and it has been in the Sawyers name until 2016.”

In conclusion, Mr. Besley told us “Jim’s brother Joel worked at the Shelburne feed mill for a number of years from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. Not only were the Sawyers family successful in their business, but they contributed to the community. Jim and Marion are very active in the Shelburne Agricultural Society, Jim being president in the early 1970s. They supported 4-H clubs, Shelburne Fiddle Contest, and could always be counted on to support agricultural and community events.”

Jim and Marion Sawyers they tell the Shelburne Free Press, “We chose Sharpe Farm Supplies to carry on the Sawyers Feed Mill legacy and values.

“Sharpe Farm Supplies is a family-owned farm service company headquartered in Guelph. Serving agriculture since 1986 with grain handling, crop inputs, feed and farm supplies. They also serve the equine and farm communities with five stores in Guelph, Elmira, Fergus, Freelton and Mofat.”

The next event for the EDC is their Annual Golf Tournament being held May 26 at 3 p.m. at the Shelburne Golf and Country Club.

This tournament consists of nine holes of golf and dinner.

They are accepting the first 18 teams at a cost of $63 per person.

You can register by calling 519-925-2600 x226.

By Michelle Janzen