Ventura's Feed and Country Store set for grand opening in Hillsboro

What Master Feed Mill of Hillsboro owners Steve and Becky Ventura have called a long-time dream of theirs has come to fruition with the opening of a brand-new retail supply store, Ventura’s Feed and Country Store, located just two doors down from the feed mill.

The Venturas decided to begin working on this store because they wanted to be Purina dealers and expand their feed mill to include pet food and supplies. The Venturas visited several Purina stores to determine their store’s layout.

Becky Ventura said the building has undergone a complete restoration.

The new store will focus on feed for pets, as well as for birds, deer and squirrels, along with a variety of pet supplies, such as chew toys, collars and treats.

In addition to the feed and supplies, Becky Ventura said the new store will include unique items such as western jewelry, purses and belts, featuring merchandise from Montana Silversmiths. Local youths will be able to find a wide variety of Weaver and Sullivan show supplies. She said that they will also sell knives and wildlife supplies, such as deer stands, bird feeders and bird houses. Lawn and garden items, such as fertilizer, will also be sold.

“It’s been a dream for a long time,” Becky Ventura said.

The new store will include the addition of about 10 new employees. One of the hallmarks of the retail store will be a commitment to customer service, and the store’s drive-thru loading service will play a large role. As is the case with the feed mill, customers shopping at Ventura’s Feed and Country Store can expect to have help carrying bags of feed.

“You can come in and shop and pick out your feed, and if you decide to get 10 bags of feed, you can pull into the drive-thru and we will load your car,” Becky Ventura said. “If you buy one bag, we’ll take it to your car for you. We’re all about customer service.”

She said that they will also keep some retail items in the drive-thru area, so if customers pull into the drive-thru and realize they have forgotten something, they can easily add items to their order.

“We are very customer-oriented,” Becky Ventura said. “We are going to start here with what we think our customers want, but we will listen to customers and do our best to get other products they want.”

The new store will also expand the feed mill’s selection of horse supplies, with added feed and grooming supplies as well as some tack. Becky Ventura said one of the biggest additions will be a variety of horse supplements.

Master Feed Mill and Ventura’s Feed and Country Store are family-owned and operated. The Ventura family moved to Hillsboro in 2003. The Venturas’ four children, Avery, a senior, Alexander and Anthony, both freshmen, and Annamaria, a third-grader, are enrolled in Hillsboro City Schools.

In addition to a commitment to family and customers, Steve Ventura said that one of the most unique aspects of the store is that the original building has been completely restored. While Ventura said they had the option to bulldoze the former building and construct a pole barn, he and his wife chose to renovate the existing building.

The building on North West Street was previously owned by Homer Shoemaker and was formerly a motorcycle shop. Ventura researched the history of the building and found that it had been owned by the Highland County Farm Bureau in 1943.

Ventura said that a local business owner told him that decades ago, it had been a feed and appliance store, so they are excited to restore the building to its roots.

“He was very pleased to see I saved the building,” Ventura said.

During the Highland County Fair, Ventura said he had the opportunity to meet several men whose fathers had worked in the building, who told him stories about the history of the building as well.

“The biggest reason why I didn’t tear it down instead of restoring it is just because of the historical aspects of the building,” Ventura said.

“It is a unique building. It has a lot of character.

“Once you start tearing down a building, not only do you erase that building, you erase the past in some way.”

Ventura said that learning the history of the building has been an interesting part of the restoration process and was further proof of the importance of saving it. The stories of local business owners and members of the community who remember being in the building throughout its different functions, Ventura said, show that the building “has benefited the community, and we’re just glad that we can continue that today.”

“The building is part of Hillsboro,” Ventura said.

“It’s been a functioning building since at least 1943, and to tear it down … what a loss of all the memories and what Hillsboro was back then.”

A grand opening celebration, which will include promotions, vendors and Purina representatives, is planned in the coming weeks.