Yesterday

In 1978 Alf Budweth Sr. saw an opportunity when John Sheardown, the owner of the Nobleton Feed Mill, announced his intention to retire. Alf was a farmer and one of John’s biggest customers. He knew what worked for people living in a rural environment and had some interesting new ideas about how the local feed mill might better serve the community – especially when it came to horses.

Originally established in 1945, the Nobleton Feed Mill serviced the local area livestock feed market. With the change in ownership in 1978 came some new ideas, including the addition of a specialized feed mixing facility. Here the Budweth’s began to manufacture custom equine feeds tailored to the specific nutritional needs of horses of various types and ages. Unlike many feed mills, Alf Sr. steered clear of added medications, drugs, hormones and animal by-products, and his specialized feeds soon gained a reputation for natural ingredients, quality and effectiveness.

Like most family run businesses, the Nobleton Feed Mill became the centre of the Budweth family. For Alf Sr., his four children (Christine, Darlene, David and Alf Jr.), and his wife Margaret, the mill was simply a part of life. For the boys, Alf Jr. and David, it gradually grew into a way of life. From the age of 9, Alf Jr. pitched in: sweeping floors, stocking shelves, doing whatever his dad and older brother Dave would let him do to help. He loved being there. In fact, for Alf Jr., being kept away from the feed mill felt like being punished!

Over the years, as the boys and the business grew together, David took responsibility for more of the operational side of things, while Alf Jr. became increasingly fascinated by the science behind the specialized feed formulas. When Alf Sr. decided to hang up his hat and retire, the boys were ready to take over. David’s practical experience in the mill was complemented by a university education reflecting his wide range of interests: from criminal psychology to marketing; from forensics to cost based accounting. While Alf Jr. added an Associate Diploma in Agriculture, followed by a BSc. in Agricultural Animal Science to the expertise offered by the Nobleton Feed Mill. Together, the Budweth brothers provide their customers with a mix of knowledge, experience and skill that they can’t get anywhere else.

Of course the Budweth boys are their father’s sons, and it didn’t take long before they started to think about new and challenging business opportunities. Eager to bring their family’s unique expertise to a wider market, in 2006 they branched out with the opening of Budson Farm and Feed Company in the village of Erin.

A Bit About the History of Nobleton

The town of Nobleton was first settled in 1812. It sprang up mainly because of its location mid-way between King City and Bolton on the east-west route, and Kleinburg and Schomberg on the north-south route. Taverns and hotels were built to serve travelers passing between these larger communities, and general stores and a post office soon appeared to serve the fledgling businesses. The village is named after Joseph Noble, an early settler of the town, and local tavern keeper.

The slow urbanization of Nobleton began in the 1950s and the 1960s, with development of portions of the village's southwest. Housing developments began in the northern part of the village in the 1990s and 2000s. Nobleton is now the third largest community in the Township of King with over 4,000 residents.

Little Known (and possibly irrelevant) Facts from Nobleton’s Past

1867
The following entry appears in The Trade Review and Intercolonial Journal of Commerce [Vol. 3, no. 4 (Feb. 8, 1867)], in the section titled Patents of Invention.

• Robert Hill of the Village of Nobleton, in the County of York. Machinist: Certain improvements in the side gearing for “Threshing Machines”, in addition to those for which he has already obtained Letters Patent of Invention in Canada, bearing date the 2nd of August A.D. , 1865, (Dated Ottawa. 13th September, 1868)

1888
The following information about the Nobleton Post Office was recorded (as part of the Auditor General’s Report for 1887) in the Sessional Papers of the Dominion of Canada - volume 12, second session of the sixth Parliament:

• A tradesman named S. Cuthbert was paid 25 cents for repairing a mailbag for the Nobleton Post Office.
• The Postmaster of the Nobleton Post Office received an annual salary of $78.
• The Gross revenue from the sale of postage stamps, etc. for the Nobleton Post Office that year was $206.81.

1891
Among the petitions “Severally brought up and laid on the Table” before the House of Commons of the Dominion of Canada on Monday, June 1, 1891 was the petition (prayer) of Thomas A. Hambly and others of Nobleton. The petition was again read and received by the House on June 3, 1891. The document does not describe the content of the petition.

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