BUCKEYE® Nutrition has been feeding America's horses for 100 years. The company traces its beginning to 1910 when the prestigious Pocock family of Massillon, Ohio, opened a flour mill operation, The Buckeye Cereal Company, to supply flour to growing population centers in the east. The Buckeye Cereal Company acquired a grain-buying station in nearby Dalton to purchase ingredients, using the by-products of those commodities (wheat middlings and bran, corn gluten and meal) to produce livestock feeds, including horse feed. Products were marketed under the "Buckeye Quality Feeds" name.
During the company's early years, railroad "milling in transit" rates made the area between Ohio and the eastern seaboard a prime market for The Buckeye Cereal Company's products. Commodities could be offloaded at Massillon, processed into flour or feed, and shipped east at the lowest shipping rate. The Pocock family recognized this potential and, owning several other businesses, hired Elwin M. Stults (general manager), Ted M. Stults (office manager), Wilbert W. Cox and J. Richard DaHinden (sales reps) to manage The Buckeye Cereal Company and Buckeye Quality Feeds operations. Buckeye faced tremendous opportunities, but encountered its share of difficulties, including a major flood that devastated the Massillon facility in 1911 and required the company to start over.
Thirty-two years later, a massive fire destroyed the main operation again. America was embroiled in World War II and no construction materials were available. Unable to rebuild, the Pocock family sold the small remaining warehouse and feed mill in Dalton to the management team. Management changed the name to Buckeye Feeds Mills and the company continued to serve customer needs for livestock feed.
Early horse feed had simple names like "Everyday Horse Feed" and "Horse, Mule & Pony Feed." The latter was often sold to mines in southern Ohio for the small mules and ponies that pulled carts laden with coal.
"Based on records from that era, the mines' mules and ponies did well on Buckeye feeds," said Ted Stults, former company owner, president and chairman of the board and the grandson of Elwin M. Stults. "These animals had to haul heavy loads and were under tremendous stress. They remained in the mines so long that they often had to be acclimated to sunlight when they were finally brought to the earth's surface." Over the years, as railroad spur lines began to disappear and the area east of Dalton became more urbanized, Buckeye began to produce more specialized livestock and pet products. The company was able to expand its customer base by targeting areas west of Dalton, using a fleet of semi-tractor/trailer rigs for bulk and bagged deliveries.
Tragedy struck in 1969 when the company was once again razed by fire. By this time, Buckeye enjoyed such an excellent reputation within the industry that 13 local and national companies offered to manufacture Buckeye feed products until the new plant (which is still used today) was completed. Buckeye began producing dog food in meal and pelleted form, primarily for hunting and farm dogs, soon after the Dalton operation opened. In 1979, the company installed an extruder/drier system and introduced its popular Gold 'N Bits® and Buckeye Chunks Dog Food products.
As the pleasure horse industry continued to expand during the 80s, Buckeye made its debut in the high-quality feeds market with its signature "Gro 'N Win®" product, which was developed as a supplement for horses fed grass or alfalfa. Buckeye had already expanded into Kentucky and the farm where Queen Elizabeth stabled her horses fed Gro 'N Win® and other Buckeye feeds to the Queen's 28 thoroughbreds.
When Queen Elizabeth learned the mares dropped larger foals after their return to England, she asked Buckeye to ship feed to the United Kingdom. Shipping costs, however, proved prohibitive, which led Buckeye to designate G R Bailey Ltd as a licensed manufacturer in England. G R Bailey Ltd also expanded into Ireland and France.
Both the Stults & DaHinden families remained involved in Buckeye Feed Mills ownership and management until the company was sold in 1996. In September 2005, another family owned company, Mars, Inc., purchased Buckeye and concentrated the company's focus on equine nutrition. Mars, Inc. is a global leader in confection (SNICKERS® and M&M'S®) and pet nutrition with nearly 65,000 associates worldwide. Today, the Dalton company operates as Mars Horsecare US Inc., with products marketed under the "BUCKEYE® Nutrition" brand.
"Buckeye has fed millions of horses-including Kentucky Derby Winners, reining and hunter-jumper champions, winners in pleasure and trail and backyard pets," said Ed Yuhas, General Manager, Mars Horsecare US Inc. "We will continue to prosper by committing to be the best at what we do-providing the highest quality products to horse owners and their horses."
Under Mars ownership, BUCKEYE® Nutrition invests heavily in product quality, research and development, marketing and sales. Mars Horsecare US Inc. employs nearly 60 people, primarily in Dalton, with its products distributed through an independent dealer network. Popular clinician and champion reiner Stacy Westfall serves as company spokesperson.
