Code,518016
Speaker,Tom “Skip” Wilson
Date,03/28/11
Interviewer,Joseph Petit
Abstract,This is an interview with Thomas “Skip” Wilson.  Skip has worked for the mill since 14 years old and been doing it full time since graduating college.  Milling is no longer the main focus of the facility and instead they are now focused on a customer oriented business.  They have a good relationship with the Park but have an innate fear of “big government.”  As a protection against this they opened up another facility not within the park in case they buy out the land.  All-in-all Wilson has spent his entire life doing what he does and he enjoys it.  He has good memories of living in the Cuyahoga Valley and of the Wilson Feed Mill.
Tags,Wilson Feed Mill; Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Special Notes,Minute 11 – Bird seed is “bread and butter” of Wilson Feed Mill; Minute 13 – When Tom was a child approximately 20 farms around. Now virtually none.; Minute 16 - “Skip” began at 14 with work permit. By college graduation was full time. Minute 20 – Wilson's father began the diversification process as Skip hit his teens.  Coincides with rise of bird feed; Minute 25 - “Skip's” brother is President and Skip is Vice-President.  Father has turned over majority control with age.; Minute 32 – Business is relatively more successful now than under previous generations.  Money and customers are up; Minute 33 – Wilson Feed Mill is on historic register; Minute 34 – Second location was purchased by brother as a backup to the parks in case park decides to take their location; Minute 37 – Second facility has been opened since April '10; Minute 38 – Wilson Feed Mill cannot be leased again without lawyers getting involved. He believes Park recognizes historic character of the Wilson owned Feed Mill; Minute 44 – Wilson wants a knowledgeable staff who cares about their customers. He believes this is the key to their success; Minute 50 – Increasing cost of corn is difficult; Minute 55:30 – Good recollection of his memories; Minute 60 – Has been a backdrop for news; Minute 61 – Wilson is a Confederate Civil War reenactor
,
0,Introduction
1,Family History – Wilson's purchase feed mill
2,Family has been millers for approximately 150 years
3,Milling changes; Feed is preprocessed; Turbine powered feed mill changed to electric
4,Cont'd.
5,Flooding of canal
6,Cont'd.
7,How the mills clientele has changed.
8,Cont'd.
9,Cont'd.
10,Mill building has been remodeled but ultimately is the same – 100 years
11,"Type of Grains - wheat, corn, etc. – mostly prebagged"
12,Any farmers?
13,Cont'd.
14,Cont'd
15,History of “Skip” Wilson
16,Cont'd
17,Next generation of Wilson family
18,Cont'd
19,What products do they sell?
20,When did diversification of products happen?
21,Cont'd
22,Cont'd
23,What is typical day like?
24,Cont'd
25,Decision makers of Wilson Feed Mill
26,Cont'd
27,Cont'd
28,Disagreements between generational decisions
29,Cont'd
30,Success of business
31,Cont'd
32,Arrangement between Wilson's and Parks
33,Cont'd
34,Wilson's brother buys second location
35,Differences between locations and customers
36,Cont'd
37,Relationship between Wilson's and Park
38,Cont'd
39,History of Park and neighbors
40,Park Authority
41,Cont'd
42,Loss of customers due to Park eminent domain
43,Cont'd
44,Philosophical approach
45,Cont'd
46,Cont'd
47,Cuyahoga Valley as a location for business
48,Notable years
49,Cont'd
50,Cont'd
51,Bad years?
52,Cont'd
53,Additional stories
54,Cont'd
55,One Story that embodies his work
56,Cont'd
57,What mill currently looks like and how its changed
58,Cont'd
59,Cont'd
60,Cont'd
61,Wilson as a family historian
62,Cont'd
63,Closing