A May 16 trip to Lexington gave a touring group of Louisville-area ag leaders a great look at one of Central Kentucky's newest attractions along with a tour of a long-standing agribusiness that has supported some of the equine industry's brightest stars.
Members of the Agribusiness Industry Network and the Ag Club of Louisville joined forces to check out Hallway Feeds blending and packaging facility, then headed slightly north to the new Bluegrass Stockyards where the area's top livestock producers come to buy and sell.
Hallway has gained a reputation as a premier source of equine nutrition products and is a prime supplier of feed to Bluegrass area thoroughbred farms. The company also ships its products nationwide and worldwide, and is noted for its skill at developing custom feed blends for horses with specialized nutritional needs.
The company was founded by Bob and Bonnie Hall, who in 1964 bought Farmers Feed Mill in Lexington, a reputable supplier of beef and dairy feeds in the region.
Some 30 years later the Hallway brand was introduced, and the firm's focus turned primarily to the thoroughbred industry. The resulting growth led the Halls to build and move into a state-of-the-art manufacturing and distribution facility.
Attesting to the quality and reputation of the brand, Hallway Feeds has "fueled" 11 Kentucky Derby winners and scores of other top racehorses in Kentucky and across the globe. The Halls' son Lee and daughter Julia currently play lead roles in the company's management.
The second stop on the tour, the new Bluegrass Stockyard facility on Iron Works Pike near the Kentucky Horse Park, is a must see for anyone who has ever visited or patronized a working livestock market.
The front entryway is a massive wood beamed multi-story space, lined with modern offices and opening into a welcoming restaurant, a livestock themed classroom and a small museum and artifact area still being developed by manager Jim Akers.
The slogan on page one of the company's website says it all-Eat, Shop and Learn 'Till The Cows Come Home. And of course, sell some livestock while you're at it.
The yard's history dates to 1946, and it operated on Lisle Industrial Avenue continuously until a Jan. 30, 2016 fire burned it to the ground. Some 20 months later, the current facility opened its doors, allowing the stockyard to continue its service legacy to farmers while becoming a destination tasked with educating a non-farm public about livestock production.
And part of that education-a top quality meat shop with fresh cuts of locally grown beef. Nothing more educational than a great steak.
Gary Huddleston | AIN Chairman
