Chuck’s Feed & Grain has new owners — Terry Barth and Eric Nierstheimer. The duo have been doing extensive work at the former mill located at 427 Mill Street in Peterson since purchasing the business from Mike Eidenschink in March 2023. The milling equipment has been removed, the back of the building has been cleared out and is ready to be remodeled this spring and summer for its future use.
Barth and Nierstheimer have chosen to keep the name Chuck’s Feed & Grain to honor the history of the business. Sam Benson originally ran the mill for 20 years; in 1984, Chuck Eidenschink purchased Benson’s Mill and renamed it Chuck’s Feed & Grain. He and Mike Eidenschink celebrated running the mill for 30 years in 2014.
Both Chuck and Mike were happy that the business would retain the Chuck’s Feed & Grain name. Barth noted that Mike was instrumental in helping them as they took over the feed store business.
Chuck’s Feed & Grain is now open as a full service feed store, selling a plethora of feed and supplies for all species – farm animals, pets and exotics. Recently, they served a customer in search of camel yeast. Another new product available from Chuck’s are castration bands for calves and lambs that deliver lidocaine as a local anesthetic.
The business will now have a lot more products with lots of equine products. According to Barth, their products will be unique, different and priced right.
How do they have access to such a variety of goods? Terry Barth happens to own American Sales, a company he created in 2001 to serve as a rep agency for companies across the United States. Originally, in search of a large warehouse for products, Terry found exactly what he needed in the Chuck’s Feed & Grain building; Terry had known former owner Chuck Eidenschink for years.
After purchasing the building, Barth knew he needed someone who could run the business and who he could trust. Enter Eric Nierstheimer; Eric had been a farmer earlier, but in midlife went back to school to earn a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University. He worked in Texas in sales, but the Midwest was his home. As a very experienced new grad, Eric needed help finding a suitable job. Recruiter Tammy Jensen of AgriCareers put Barth and Nierstheimer in contact with each other. Nierstheimer moved to Wisconsin to work as a director of customer service and later to work as a salesman and in nutrition. Eventually he worked for a local mill in the Sparta-Tomah area.
Barth was brought into multiple companies as a fixer; he brought Nierstheimer to Starblends. When Barth decided to purchase Chuck’s Feed and Grain, he knew Nierstheimer was the man to run the business there. The two became partners in the venture with Nierstheimer in charge of running the feed store. Barth has lived halfway between Decorah and Waukon for 60+ years.
Nierstheimer will be moving to Peterson with his cat Cheddar soon; currently he’s been driving over daily from Ontario, Wis. Eric enjoys animals, agriculture, hunting and fishing; he looks forward to checking out the hunting and fishing opportunities in the area of his new home.
The experienced duo has adjusted well to running Chuck’s; Barth started in the feed business in 1985. Chuck’s Feed & Grain will be working closely with Hubbard and McNess Feeds; Barth has known the rep from Hubbard for 25 years and the rep from McNess for 40 years.
Barth commented that they just feel their way around and listen to their customer base as they strive to meet the needs of the customers. He noted they have been seeing a lot more business over the last two months.
When asked what area Chuck’s Feed & Grain serves, Barth replied, “If it makes sense, we’ll do it if we can bring value at an affordable price.” Chuck’s currently serves customers in Iowa, Wisconsin and Missouri; Barth will be traveling to California later this week to meet with another potential customer.
Both Eric and Terry enthused about how welcoming the people in Peterson have been. Eric makes an effort to reach out to people and get to know them; he remembers his customers’ names and needs.
Chuck’s Feed & Grain will no longer grind feed, but will be able to serve customers needing this through arrangements locally and regionally. The business will no longer be spraying gravel roads to keep the dust down.
The store will be open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; those hours may change as they adapt to customers’ needs. Both Eric and Terry just want people to know they are open and ready to serve them at Chuck’s Feed and Grain in Peterson!
Leave a Reply