ETNA GREEN - Forty-one years ago Donald L. Guy started working for Etna Elevator mixing and delivering bulk livestock feed.

Today is his last day at the elevator, and a lot has changed on the face of Kosciusko County agriculture in his 41 years.

Guy remembers a bygone agricultural era that has been replaced with what he calls "hobby farmers" with just a few animals.

"When I first started working here every place along the road had three kinds of animals," said Guy. "Now you can go for miles and nobody has nothing."

Those hobby farms include herds of buffalo and ostriches and many county 4-H projects. Guy loads feed and supplies for more horses, goats, dogs and cats than he used to, he said.

"When I first started we made our own feed concentrates and probably eight people worked here at that time," said Guy. Now two feed mixers, one full-time and one part-time, can meet the needs of Etna area customers coming to the mill.

"There used to be an elevator in every town; now, they are kinda slim," he said.

Guy, 65, has moved on, too.

"I just lived a mile north and a mile east (of Etna Green)," said Guy, adding that of his old farming neighbors only three remain in the old neighborhood. Guy and his wife of 39 years, Donna Jean, moved to Warsaw in 1990, when he sold his farm and bought a house in town.

"Boy, are we ever going to miss him," said Ruth Hartzell, owner of the Etna Elevator. "I really appreciate the public and my employees."

Hartzell, who with her late husband Robert "Curly" Hartzell bought the elevator in 1968, has also seen changes. "At one time we had flocks of chickens, and we had hogs on contract," she said. Now the business handles more gardening products and small animal food, she added.

But one thing has not changed: A man's commitment to his job.

When Guy moved to town in 1990 he considered getting another job. But it didn't happen.

"We moved in May and Bob died in October. I didn't figure I could leave Ruth, so I'm still here," he said.

That commitment was greatly appreciated.

"I am really fortunate to have such employees," said Hartzell.

Hartzell's niece, Lisa Fisher, manages the books, and her son, Rocky, stops by the elevator almost once a day, Hartzell said. A third part-time employee will take over Guy's duties on Friday.

Patrons are encouraged to stop by the elevator and bid Guy well as he heads into retirement. Sources at the elevator report that Guy is going to take care of "odds and ends around the house" when he retires Thursday.

"I've been telling everybody that I am not going to do anything for the first month," said Guy.

But after 41 years of working in the agriculture business, that isn't likely. [[In-content Ad]]