Eye on Agribusiness

Owner: Dan Ruter

History: Dan Ruter has owned Marshfield Mills for about nine years, but he has been a part of the business for more than three decades.
His parents, John and Mavis, purchased the Marshfield Mill in 1981, and it has remained a family-owned and operated business since that time. Mavis, at the age of 82, still works at Marshfeild Mills, and other family members, including Dan’s wife Dana, and his brother-in-law Leon Jalas, who serves as nutritionist for Marshfield Mills, work at the business as well.
Marshfield Mills has been a part of the Webster County landscape since the 1950s. The business originally opened under the name Burchfield Mills.
“I think when we brought the place, we had eight or nine employees, and we have 17 employees now.”

Products and Services: Marshfield Mills offers both bag and bulk feeds.
“We’ve got cattle feed, hog feed, chicken feed, duck feed, dairy feed, just anything you need, we can do it,” Dan said, adding that Leon is a “big part” of the services and products offered by Marshfield Mills by working with producers to develop custom rations to meet the needs of their livestock. “Anything they need, he can make it.”
“He really does a good job in getting customers what they need and want,” Dan said.
Custom rations can be developed for producers of all sizes, with orders as small as 1,000 pounds to “whatever will fit on the trucks.”
Customers who only need smaller amounts can also be accommodated with bagged feeds.
The business operates four bulk trucks that make deliveries to farmers up to 55 miles away. Marshfield Mill also has three over-the-road trucks.
“We do get around,” he said.
Over the years, Marshfield Mills has changed some of its product line, but the business, Dan said, has remained the same, as has the philosophy of the business.
“We try to take care of our customers the best we can,” he said. “We’ve got a good staff and the way I see it, you have to do it right to keep your customers, and we do have a good customer base.”