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By Jerry Curry, Writer

The Feed Store in New Pekin has been passed to new hands. After 34 years in business, Jim and Demma Sanders, who are in their 70s, have decided to retire. Having a great love for the business, they wanted someone to take it over and continue their famous hometown style of service. When Whitney Smith’s father mentioned his daughter had always wanted the business, a bridge was formed to the new owner.

Will and Whitney Smith took up the challenge to continue service with a smile and hometown hospitality. They took over the store on November 1 with Jim hanging around as a mentor. The store continued with a few tweaks, like accepting credit cards, goat feed and a Christmas Tree. However, the process of handwritten orders continued on.

The Smith’s are juggling a lot. On top of the new Feed Store, they have two boys in the 4th and 6th grades at East Washington Schools, and Will still has his night job at UPS as a mechanic. Whitney, however, had previously worked ten years as a teacher's assistant at East Washington Middle School. They will be married for 15 years in May. Whitney is a lifelong resident of New Pekin and said, “I always wanted to own a store here.” They also have plans for a face lift of the building.

You can find nearly everything here. They offer bird, dog, bones, chicken, rabbit, hog, fish, horse, cat and goat food. Most of these products come from Danville, Kentucky and are the Formax Feeds brand. Plus, they also offer cedar and pine shavings and pet supplies. Customers can buy anywhere from one bag to a ton of food. Thankfully, they have a forklift for loading products along with a delivery service at an additional price.

One of their more popular items are their concrete figurines which tend to sell fast. Whitney hand paints each figure and applies a sealant to preserve the finish. She also makes a bird seed ring shaped with a bundt cake mold that sells for $10.

Once Spring rolls around, the Feed Store will offer plants for sale in addition to their usual products. These are all locally grown by the Amish.

Located at 76 IN-60, New Pekin, the new store hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. More information can be found on The Feed Store LLC Facebook Page or by calling (812) 967-3333. There is also a review that can be found on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNi2oHMNp6E by Chase Stanfill. Be sure to pay The Feed Store a visit!

Will and Whitney Smith.

Photos by Jerry Curry.

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Who can join Junior Leaders?

Any Washington County 4-H member in grades 7-12

Tentative Learning Topics for the Year:

Car care

Adulting 101 series

Cornucopia-Agritourism

Service Learning

Local Business Tour 

Career Exploration Panel

Upcoming Meetings:

December 10 at The Extension Office 6-7 PM

January 16 at The Extension Office 6-7 PM

February 12 at The Extension Office 6-7 PM

March 11 at The Extension Office 6-7 PM

April 9 at The Extension Office 6-7 PM

May 5 at TBD 6-7 PM

June 10 at the Fairgrounds 8 AM - Noon

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The Indiana Chamber’s annual Coolest Thing Made IN Indiana contest is down from a record 90 competitors to the Sweet 16 as the fourth round is now underway through November 21.

The Indiana Chamber is joined this year by the Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC) in putting on the program. The IDDC’s “IN Indiana” marketing campaign is incorporated into the single-elimination, Hoosier Hysteria-style tournament. 

The “Coolest Thing” Sweet 16 manufacturers are from 14 cities throughout the state, with Fort Wayne and Nashville each having two companies still in the field. Remaining competitors and their locations are below:

• Bear Wallow Distillery, Nashville
• Blue Fox Farms LLC, Wawaka
• Clabber Girl, Terre Haute
• Country Roads Coffee, Albion
• Fort Wayne Metals, Fort Wayne
• Gator, Columbia City
• Goshen Brewing Co., Goshen
• Guardian Bikes, Seymour
• Hard Truth Whiskey Co., Nashville
• Harpsicle Harps, Rising Sun
• Hiker Trailers, Columbus
• Kimball International, Jasper
• L3Harris Technologies, Inc., Fort Wayne
• Polygon Company, Walkerton
• Rolls-Royce North America, Indianapolis
• Smoker Craft, Inc., New Paris

“With such fierce competition, it’s no easy feat to get to the round of 16, so these victors should be very proud to march on in the tournament,” offers Vanessa Green Sinders, Indiana Chamber president and CEO.

“Just one more victory and these organizations will be in the coveted quarterfinals. From there it’s three short, yet difficult, steps to claim the ‘Coolest’ title – and bask in the brightest spotlight. We can’t wait to see how the contest plays out.” 

The matchups and product descriptions can be seen on the event’s website atwww.indianachamber.com/coolestthing; it’s also where fans and followers of the competitors can vote.

A person must vote for all matchups in any given round.

The quarterfinals take place November 22-26, followed by the semifinals November 27-December 2 and the finals December 3-5.

New this year, the IDDC will produce high-quality videos showcasing the eight quarterfinalists, which those companies will be able to use for their own promotions – and bragging rights.

Entry in the Coolest Thing Made IN Indiana contest is free. To participate, a company did not need to be headquartered in Indiana, but the product entered must be manufactured in the state. Companies are limited to having one product nominated for entry.

Last year, Hoosier Racing Tire was crowned as the producer of the Coolest Thing Made IN Indiana for its racing tire. Janus Motorcycles of Goshen took top honors in the inaugural competition, and in 2022 the Indiana Chamber honored Maple Leaf Farms of Leesburg for its roast half duck. 

Awards for this year’s top finishers will be presented at the 2024 Best IN Manufacturing Awards Luncheon on December 11 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom.

The Coolest Thing Made IN Indiana and Best IN Manufacturing endeavors are supported by spirit sponsor Purdue Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Purdue MEP), with gold sponsor Kalenborn Abresist Corporation and silver sponsors Evonik Tippecanoe Laboratories and Kimball Electronics Jasper.

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Just ahead of Organization Day at the Indiana General Assembly, theIndiana Chamber of Commerce has unveiled the advocacy element of its tax research that’s designed to inform state lawmakers’ decision-making on potential changes to Indiana’s tax structure.

 Conducted by Ernst & Young LLP for the Indiana Chamber Foundation, phase two of the tax study is entitled “Indiana’s Tax System: Actions to Drive Future Prosperity.” It examines the potential revenue effects of various changes to Indiana’s state and local tax system, presenting policymakers with actionable data to support the state’s economic growth and competitiveness.

“Providing policymakers with data-driven insights is central to the Indiana Chamber’s mission of fostering a strong business environment,” says Vanessa Green Sinders, president and CEO of the Indiana Chamber. “This analysis examines potential scenarios to help legislators evaluate the impacts of different reforms before the legislative session. By taking this proactive, informed approach, we aim to ensure Indiana’s tax policies remain competitive and supportive of long-term growth.”

Phase two builds on the findings of phase one, which highlighted Indiana’s strong overall tax competitiveness but also pinpointed challenges in key industries. The latest analysis offers recommendations to update Indiana’s property tax system, targeting the tax burden on manufacturing and life sciences – two industries essential to the state’s economic success.

Currently, businesses pay personal property taxes on equipment and other assets. These assets are classified based on their expected life into "pools," each with its own depreciation schedule and individual floor. Additionally, an aggregate floor requires that the total taxable value of all property cannot drop below 30% of its original acquisition cost, regardless of depreciation. This complex system creates significant compliance challenges for business owners.

Indiana businesses currently pay approximately $1.5 billion annually in business personal property taxes, representing about 15% of total property tax collections statewide. This tax is a significant burden for capital-intensive industries like manufacturing and life sciences, which face higher effective rates compared to other sectors. 

The phase two analysis evaluates potential reforms, including exempting newly acquired equipment from taxation and eliminating depreciation floors that require minimum taxable values for property. These reforms are designed to enhance Indiana’s competitiveness, particularly for industries vital to the state’s economy, while also recognizing the importance of maintaining revenue stability for local governments.

Exempting newly acquired business equipment from taxation would phase out $1.5 billion annually in business personal property tax revenue over time. This reform would reduce the cost of capital for businesses by 4.85%, encouraging investment in new equipment and modernization. The policy change is estimated to add $3.1 billion to state gross domestic product (GDP).

Eliminating depreciation floors would reduce annual business personal property tax revenue by $45 million. This reform would lower taxable values, easing the burden on capital-intensive industries. The projected macroeconomic benefits include an $80 million annual increase in GDP, further enhancing Indiana’s competitiveness.

The study also evaluates other potential policy changes, including reforms to the maximum levy growth quotient, adjustments to local option income taxes and alternative approaches to taxing business pass-through income. These options were designed to balance revenue needs with economic growth, providing legislators with a comprehensive view of how each reform could impact Indiana’s fiscal health and economic competitiveness.

“Indiana’s competitive tax climate is the result of deliberate, forward-looking policies,” offers David Ober, Indiana Chamber senior vice president of business operations and finance. “However, our property tax system continues to create challenges for industries vital to our economy. These proposed reforms present an opportunity to reduce barriers for these sectors while maintaining our state’s reputation as a leader in business-friendly policies.”

The Indiana Chamber believes part two of the research provides a foundation for discussions between state and local leaders as they explore ways to modernize Indiana’s tax system.

“These findings mark the next phase of an important dialogue,” Sinders states. “We look forward to collaborating with policymakers, local governments and other stakeholders to craft reforms that position Indiana for long-term economic success.”

The tax study was informed by consultations with the Indiana Chamber Tax Research Advisory Committee, comprised of representatives from key business sectors, tax policy experts, consultants, relevant state agencies and economic development professionals.

Lead investors in this two-phase tax-study are Ambassador Enterprises and AES Indiana. Other key contributors are Maple Leaf Farms and bp America, along with the support from dormakaba Americas, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., Al and Kathy Hubbard, and CountryMark. 

View the full Indiana Chamber Foundation study at www.indianachamber.com/tax.