Sherry and Paul Duchyns are putting the finishing touches in place preparing for the grand opening of the Heartland Farm and Family Center in Hilton on May 1. Located in the old Agway building, the new store will feature an expanded line of products and more variety than was formerly carried, including Agway products, children's items, hunting and fishing supplies and even jams and jellies. According to Sherry: "We intend to make it into a store that the customers want." Photograph by Walter Horylev.

Heartland Farm & Family Center will be locally owned and operated

Less than a year after Hilton Agway closed its doors, a new business will be opening in the same Gorton Avenue location. Owners Paul and Sherry Duchyns hope to have their Heartland Farm & Family Center open for business as early as mid-April.

"The store ties in with my love of farming," said Paul, who grows corn, wheat and oats and raises dairy heifers part time on his Curtis Road farm. He plans to sell locally grown corn and oats at his new store, along with a complete line of Agway and Nutrena feed, plus pet food and birdseed.

Some area farmers say they have missed the Agway store and are looking forward to Heartland's opening. "There are so many incidentals that you need running a farm, but no one close by to buy them from," said Rocky Ellsworth, who operates a dairy farm on Hamlin Parma Townline Road. "The bulk items I have trucked in. It's those little things, like water tubs, bail and twine, that you can't do without. This store will really fill a void."

In addition to feed, Heartland Center will feature about 95 percent Agway products as well as items that carry the Southern States name. Southern States is the company that is now doing the farm product distribution for Agway. While Duchyns said he will stock the store in accordance with what his customers request, some of the items he plans to carry include hunting and fishing equipment, fertilizers and lawn care items, pool supplies, wood pellet stoves and hardware items. Sherry Duchyns will be selling cut flowers, dish gardens and hanging baskets in the front of the store, and seasonal annuals and perennials will be stocked in the greenhouse.

"We're going to have a suggestion box, so people can tell us what they want," said Paul. "Stock will change from week to week and customers will want to stop in to see what's new."

The store will also feature a complete repair shop where certified warranty repairs will be done on power equipment purchased not only at Heartland, but elsewhere as well. "We'll have certified mechanics and a parts room, so we can work on items like snow blowers and lawnmowers," said Duchyns, who recently attended Briggs and Stratton school.

Adding to the convenience of the new store will be delivery service. The Duchyns are also installing a double counter area near the front of the 4,000 square foot store to improve the traffic flow around the checkout area.

Eventually, the store will employ six to eight local residents. The Duchyns two children, Jarett, age 13, and Lauren, age 10, are anxious to help out their parents with the family business, too.

Heartland Farm and Family Center will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, Thursday evenings until 8 p.m. and occasional Sundays.