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When people come to the Feed Bin in Rochester, owner Diana Hardy often greets them by name and asks how their chickens, goats or horses are doing. She has been known to bring in a special type of pet food for just one van dorm sponsorcustomer, extend credit between paychecks and has even allowed regular customers to pay next time if they forgot their wallets. It’s that small-town trust, and personal touch that has drawn customers to her store for years.

The Feed Bin has been in business in the same location since 1979, offering animal feed and pet food and all sorts of pet toys, leashes and carriers. Diana used to be a customer herself. She bought her cat food at the store. In January 2006, the original owner had a stroke. The owner’s daughter was running the store and on a whim Diana mentioned she’d like to buy the business. A few months after, Diana received a call asking if she was still interested. “Two weeks later, I had a business I knew nothing about,” she says.

Feed Bin Diana Hardy Feeding
Diana Hardy tends the chicks. Photo credit:
Lauri Martin

Diana has learned a lot since 2006, like how the level of the Mississippi River effects feed prices throughout the country, and a how recent fire at a vitamin factory in Germany has raised the price of pet food around the world.

She’s continually looking for new ways to serve the needs of her customers and the community. The Feed Bin offers discounts and sponsorships to local 4-H and FFA students, and recently added curbside pick up to make shopping more convenient.

She has learned a lot about pet nutrition and the organic side of animal feed. The store now stocks organic feed for all livestock and many grain-free pet foods. They recently added a freezer in order to sell frozen raw bones, and raw food for dogs and cats. They partcipate in a frequent buyer program offered by certain pet food brands for customers who buy in large quantities. “It costs me to do it, but it’s a value to my customers,” Diana explains.

Feed Bin Chicks
From March through May it’s “chick season” at the Feed Bin. They sell several varieties. Photo credit: Lauri Martin

From March to May its “chick season” at the Feed Bin. At the back of the store, near stacked bags of animal food, are cages filled with chicks. They incubate eggs and sell several varieties of hatchlings. For a small fee, there is an incubation service for people who have the fertilized eggs but no equipment. The store has seen an uptick in the sale of chicks and chicken feed as there are more people interested in raising chickens. Even people who don’t raise their own chickens often come in just to view the baby birds chirping and pecking under the heat lamps.

Along a back wall is another set of cages where Sabine Greedy of Just Care Animal Rescue brings cats that are up for adoption. Several cats have found forever homes by people visiting them at the store.

They offer U-Haul trailer and van rentals, too. The store is a UPS access point, which means people can ship packages from the store, and also choose to have their own packages delivered to the Feed Bin rather than their home. This can be a handy option for people who may not be home during the day and want to make sure their packages are received.

Feed Bin Kristina
Kristina Daniel assists customers with a smile. Photo credit: Lauri Martin

The Feed Bin is also a drop-off and pick-up site for two other local small businesses. People can bring in all manner of garden tools, scissors and blades to be sharpened by Oaktree Sharpening, and horse blankets to be cleaned, mended and waterproofed by Naked Horse Blanket Service. Then pick them up again at the Feed Bin when finished.

Diana coordinates animal care classes which are held in an empty space next door. The Goat 101 class taught by Rachel Heinrich is popular for people wanting to learn about kidding, nutrition and general goat care. “We have hay bales in a big circle for people to sit on and put baby goats in the middle. It’s a lot of fun.”

Adding a grooming service and dog washing station are in the works and they are looking into the possibility of home delivery.

Feed Bin Bailey
Diana got her dog, Bailey, from a customer within a few months of taking over ownership of the store. Bailey has accompanied her to work ever since. Photo credit: Lauri Martin

Competition can be tough with online shopping and discount chains, but The Feed Bin has kept pace by adding value to the community in all the services they offer and the way Diana and her crew truly care about their customers and the animals they raise, and help other businesses and community organizations that in turn bring more people into the store.

“The customers make it fun,” she assures. All the thought and hard work put into the store is worth it.

The Feed Bin is located at 7505 183rd Avenue SW, Unit A, next to the Rochester school bus garage. They are open daily.

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