Champaign Works
  • Home
  • Jobs
    • Post A Job
    • Internships
  • News
    • Share Good News
  • Volunteer
    • Share Volunteer Opportunities
  • Students
  • About
    • Where We Work
    • Where We Learn
    • Where We Play
  • Contact
    • Champaign County on Facebook!
    • Advertisement

What's Happening in Champaign County?

Farm family buys school site

2/19/2021

 
From Urbana Daily Citizen

Michael Family Farms has acquired the former site of Urbana Local and plans to construct an agricultural facility on the land at the intersection of state Route 54 and Hickory Grove Road.

The property was auctioned off by Urbana City Schools district for $75,000 after new schools were constructed.

The old school site will be home to two former students’ farming business.

Siblings Kyle Michael and Kathy Michael Sponheim purchased the former site and plan on starting construction this month on the 40,000-square-foot facility.“ We have recently been able to expand our operation in Champaign County,” said Sponheim in a prepared statement. “We have picked up some land and continue to look for additional irrigated acres to increase production. Demand continues to rise for locally grown food that is good for you, and our potatoes provide a delicious, nutritious, addition to any meal.”

Potatoes are the main fare of the agri-business venture, which is rooted in family.

“We are thrilled to be able to build two stateof- the-art potato storages and a grading facility to support our growth. The controlled atmospheric storages will hold 1 million pounds of potatoes that will be distributed to grocery stores across Ohio and surrounding states throughout the year,” Sponheim said. “The location is ideal for business but also holds special sentiment as our father Todd also attended grade school at Local as part of Urbana City Schools. With this facility, we will be able to better support a localized supply chain to deliver fresh produce with fewer food miles from farm to fork.”

Sponheim said growing a family business has its challenges. “However we feel very fortunate to be able to do what we love and do it together,” she said.

Todd has been active in the potato industry for decades and the passion for farming and agriculture was nurtured in Kyle and Kathy from a young age. Now taking over the operation, Kyle and Kathy plan to continue that legacy. Kyle recently was reappointed to serve on the U.S. Potato Board, following in both his father and grandfather’s footsteps.

“Our philosophy at Michael Family Farms is driven by putting family first; after that we are committed to growing the business, sustainable cropping practices and delivering complete service to our customers,” Sponheim said.

Comments are closed.
    Champaign Works job board
    Share Your News
    Browse Jobs
    Volunteer!
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Agriculture
    Aviation
    Education
    Food Scene
    Fun
    Fun Things To Do
    Government
    Health & Wellness
    History
    Key Industries
    Local Arts
    Non Profit
    Recreation
    Senior Citizens
    Small Business
    Sports

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019

    RSS Feed

Picture
Jobs
News
Volunteer
Champaign Works
​40 Monument Square, Suite 306
Urbana, Ohio 43078
Champaign Economic Partnership Ohio
Champaign Works is supported by the Champaign Economic Parternship. Learn more at CEPOhio.com.
​
All drone photography courtesy of Jassen Dobyns of UAVisions LLC.

​Site powered by Berry Digital Solutions, LLC
​
Champaign County, Ohio
  • Home
  • Jobs
    • Post A Job
    • Internships
  • News
    • Share Good News
  • Volunteer
    • Share Volunteer Opportunities
  • Students
  • About
    • Where We Work
    • Where We Learn
    • Where We Play
  • Contact
    • Champaign County on Facebook!
    • Advertisement