Reed Seeds closes at Jamesport

One of Jamesport’s oldest and continuous businesses closed their doors this week after 71 years serving the Jamesport community. Reeds Seeds, Inc. officially closed Tuesday, July 15, 2003, according to the owners, Blackie and E.L. Reed, who both reside in Chillicothe, and operate a seed and feed business there.

The business has been sold to a group of local investors who have identified themselves as Jamesport Ag Supply, LLC.

Through the years the Farmers Produce and Reeds Seeds has offered a variety of marketing for area farmers. They have sold feeds, bought and sold grain and been a great asset to the community.

W. L. Reed and his son, Charles Reed, traded a farm in Kansas to H. R. Currin for the Farmers Produce Company in Jamesport and took possession June 7, 1932. At the time of the purchase times were rough for the family, and when it came time for Charles and his wife, Chrystal to come to Missouri, they needed a little extra resources to make the trip so the elder Mr. Reed sent them some money, and they loaded all their belongings in a Model A Ford and headed for Jamesport.

Bill and his wife, Vee, settled in Jamesport to make their home, along with their children, Cliff and Olive Davis. Mrs. Reed was always a very busy lady, raising a big garden and tending to the farm.

W. L. (Bill) Reed passed away on September 15, 1977 and the business continued operating under the leadership of Charles and his sons, E.L. and Blackie from their business location in Chillicothe.

At the time of the purchase in 1932, they handled feed, eggs, cream and poultry. In the first years of their operation they would buy 75 to 80 ten gallon cans of cream on Saturdays and 100 cases of eggs. In addition to the cream and eggs and feed, Mr. Reed, along with Charles and many times, Charles’ wife Chrystal, drove a truck and hauled livestock to the market in St. Joseph.

Adding to the list of services the Reed family provided, Bill was the local auctioneer. Whenever the need would arise for the services of an auctioneer, Mr. Reed was called.

To add to the Farmers Produce business, the family extended their business by adding the seed business. Marvin Barnes was the manager of the seed division, and in more recent years, Troy Smith was the manager of the plant. In the seed division, the company bought and sold grain, cleaned seed and shipped grain all over the midwest.

In the early years of the grain business, the employees loaded grain by scooping it by hand into railroad cars to fill them. In 1940 the Reed family built a grain elevator north of the railroad depot and in 1942 started buying and processing seeds of all kinds.

The company purchased the old ice plant and creamery which was located in the old Farmers Tile Elevator that had been idle for years. They added onto it and made it into a modern plant. The business has been remodeled and additions added at different times during the 70 years of business.

In 1959, Reeds Seeds experienced continued growth and development. This was the year that the firm became incorporated and built the elevator and corporate offices in Chillicothe, Missouri.

The Chillicothe market provided Reeds Seeds, Inc. with a larger market and better opportunities for enhancement. At this time, two new members were also added to the firm when Charlie’s sons, E.L. and Blackie, joined their father at Reeds Seeds. This gave the firm the distinction of being a third generation, family owned business. The business continued to expand through the years and in 1979 a 100×200 foot warehouse and seven grain elevators were constructed to house the entire seed bean and seed wheat operations. Though expansion efforts seemed to be concentrated in Chillicothe, Reeds Seeds, Inc continues to develop their Jamesport elevator.

The produce has shipped out of Jamesport in 150 to 200 railroad cars of grain per year when the crops in the area were good.

Through the years, the business has sold several different name brand feeds, like Nutrena, Triple F, Purina and Kent. According to Blackie Reed, the biggest change in the business came when his “Grandpa Bill” passed away. The elder Mr. Reed lived next door to the business and whenever someone wanted something, Bill was available to get what they needed.

There are many memories of Reeds Seeds and Farmers Produce for their employees as well as the area farmers. Gordon Hale who has been employed at the business since February, 1976, says one of his first jobs was to unload 50 tons of fertilizer off a box car. Another experience, Mr. Hale remembers, was when he cut a gash in his head and Bill Reed told him he had better head for Dr. Bailey’s and get stitches.

The yearly Farmers Appreciation Pancake Day in March drew a huge crowd each year when around 400 people would arrive to enjoy a lunch of pancakes and sausage provided by Reeds Seeds.

Charles Reed passed away August 11, 1995 at the age of 82 and continued in the day to day operation until two days before his death. Mrs. Reed died April 28, 2002.

Reeds Seeds will continue to operate in Chillicothe, but many memories will last forever.