IN 1935, with a dream and $1,200, which she used to purchase her first two incubators, Vicie Mae Brown Edwards started the Edwards Hatchery. Vicie and her husband started out grinding grain and supplying land and meat chicken for their community, and within the first year, they were able to pay off that initial purchase. “At that time, not everyone could go to the grocery store to get food, so they had to raise it,” said Tim Edwards, grandson of Vicie and current owner of Edwards Feeds. The Edwards Hatchery was a staple in the community and played a significant role in connecting people with poultry. The business continued to grow and cement the legacy of the Edwards name within the Lebanon community.
Since the beginning of the family business, they have been breaking barriers and surpassing expectations. In a time when women were expected to stay at home, Vicie, being the businesswoman she was, decided that was not the life she had in mind for herself. She took the risk of becoming one of the first businesswomen in her community, and the rewards speak for themselves. Her bravery has led to the continued success of multiple generations of the Edwards family. When the couple bought a new building in 1958, they were told they couldn’t keep 10,000 birds in a 10,000-square-foot building. “My grandpa, being the person he was, had to prove them wrong,” Tim explained. Their determination and drive eventually grew the hatchery into an operation that maintained 500,000 chickens year-round and hatched approximately 60,000 chicks each week.
In 1985, the Edwards family decided to get out of the chicken business and become a feed manufacturer and a wholesale retailer. This resulted in the change of Edwards Hatchery to Edwards Feeds. Today, Edwards Feeds is a fifth-generation family business with 21 employees. Tim explained how he has a great crew where every- one is like a family. With larger stores gaining popularity, Edwards Feeds is one of the only feed manufacturers left in the community. They make feed for just about any animal you would expect to see on a farm, with over 50 custom-made livestock feeds and tons of other products. Edwards Feeds also manufactures a brand of packing peanuts called Puffy Stuff, which is made from grain and is 100% biodegradable.
Despite their success, the Edwards family has never lost sight of the importance of community. On top of providing locals with much-needed feed, farm, and garden supplies, Edwards Feeds has made it a priority to contribute to their communities’ organizations. They have aided programs like National FFA Organization and 4-H and worked toward constructing an Agricultural Learning Center building. This building will serve as an education center to help teach young people various skills in agriculture. Over the several years they have been collecting money for this project, they have raised $4.2 million dollars. In addition to supporting their community, they have also made a point to support their employees. Edwards Feeds has set up a program to aid its employees working toward sobriety. Having been in their shoes in the past, Tim finds this mission to have a special place in his heart. GN
To learn more about Edwards Feed Inc. and the family behind the success, visit their website at https://edwardsfeedsinc.godaddysites.com/.
