Note: The Icon acquired a manuscript titled “A Brief History of Bluffton’s Industrial Developments.” This publication was prepared by the classes in Marketing and Small Business Administration from Bluffton College, under the director of Dr. Howard Raid. Publication date is May 1959. We’ve updated some current addresses so viewers may identify locations.
Gold Leaf Mineral Company
Started in Bluffton, 1954;
Owner – Paul Steiner
The Gold Leaf Mineral Co., owned by Paul Steiner and located in the old Bluffton Manufacturing behind the A & P Grocery Store manufactures Gold Leaf Mineral and Gold Leaf Silo-Joy.
(2016 reference - this location is behind the former Town and Country Flowers, on South Main Street. Today a portion of Riley View Apartments is located where the Gold Leaf Mineral once stood.)
Gold Leaf Mineral is a quality mineral, without filler, prepared from pure minerals of the highest quality obtainable.
A supplement for all livestock animals and necessary for a balanced diet, the mineral is mixed in three formulas: Gold Leaf Mineral, Gold Leaf Free Choice and Gold Leaf 300.
Gold Leaf Silo-Joy is a flavor and vitamin preservative for silage and hay. Introduced only four years ago, Mr. Steiner has already found a sizeable market for the preservative.
Gold Leaf Mineral has been in existence for approximately 50 years, but it has been manufactured in Bluffton for only the last five years when Mr. Steiner purchased the company from Lima businessmen.
The business keeps three men including Mr. Steiner occupied part-time. The actual hours worked fluctuate from month to month, depending upon the demand from his customers in northwestern Ohio.
Mr. Steiner has been successful in maintaining a stable operation in spite of the strong competition from the larger companies manufacturing complete concentrate feeds.
Two factors contributing to the success of the company are the uniqueness of the mineral and the good management of Mr. Steiner.
Reference: Paul Steiner
Interviewers: Ruthann Dirks and Fred Lehman
