FARMINGTON — Taking to the streets, an open trailer filled with green bales of hay now sits on Front Street across from the Farmington Farmers Union. Two handwritten signs posted on the back doors announce the product found within.
“A lot of customers ask for hay and we’re trying different things for a while,” said Larry Donald, the new manager of the farmers co-op owned by shareholders and founded in 1912.
After a summer of rain, the quantity of hay has increased but perhaps not at the same quality, he said.
The store has carried straw for a while and now he intends to carry hay on a regular basis depending on sales, he said. He’s sure of having first crop hay and some second crop bales as well.
The hay is all locally produced with a portion of it in this trailer load considered organic hay from his brother, John Donald’s farm in New Sharon. The trailer was located in Skowhegan and creates a warehouse for the hay saving storage inside the store, he said.
Donald officially became the manager within the last few weeks but worked at the Farmers Union for 10 years prior to opening Sandy River Farm Supply in New Sharon, which he operated from 1998 to 2006. He had returned to the store working as assistant manager before being named manager.
A new assistant manager, Ivan Moore, has also recently been named, said Lawrence Yeaton, president of the board of the Farmers Union.
The board oversees operation of the store that carries a variety of home, garden and farm supplies and tools, grains, paints and more, Yeaton said. The board meets monthly, hires a manager and assistant manager to run the store and grants approval for new ideas like the hay sales, he said.
The store will hold a customer appreciation day Saturday, Sept. 5.
A trailer full of hay sits on Front Street as the Farmington Farmers Union has added hay to the list of items it sells. New store manager Larry Donald and employee, Dayne Robinson, move bales in the trailer.
A trailer full of hay now sits on Front Street as the Farmington
Farmers Union has added hay to the list of items it sells. New store
manager Larry Donald and employee, Dayne Robinson, move bales within the trailer.
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