The Hills Friendship Days parade will feature former businesses in Hills, and among them is the Blue Ribbon Hatchery.
Started by Carl Ruud and Martin Kolsrud in 1929, the business began in the Ruud home, now the home of Eldon and Karin Soehl on North Main Avenue.
Karin is the daughter of Carl Ruud.
Bud Bush began working at the Blue Ribbon Hatchery at the age of 14 and was still working there when the business closed in 1968.
As the hatchery business grew, it moved to the former Sjolseth car dealership building on Highway 270.
There it expanded into a feed, fertilizer and custom feed grinding business, which also included egg and cream routes and hatching 20,000 to 30,000 chickens weekly.
Hills resident Sally Van Wyhe was one of the many employees who candled eggs there.
Other former businesses that will be featured in Saturday’s parade include:
Demuth Hardware,
D & J Body Shop,
Midway Shop,
John Deere Implement,
Pete Bush,
Hills Telephone Co.,
Bud’s Barber Shop,
Chuck’s Champion ,
Nuffer Hardware and
Orv’s Service.
(I am meeting with Marilyn Nelson tonight after school board meeting and may have more info for this article)
blue ribbon hatchery memorabilia included in parade
Lead Summary
, ,
By
Glenda McGaffee