August 15, 2021: 151st Anniversary of Star of the West Milling Company

WHEREAS, in 1870, Johann M. Hubinger began the Star of the West Roller Mills where the present boat launch area is on East Tuscola in Frankenmuth, Michigan; and,

 

WHEREAS, the name of the company, "Star of the West," was taken from a side-wheel merchant steamer of that name; the steamer was normally used on a New York to New Orleans run, but was secretly chartered for $1,250 a day to carry soldiers and supplies to Fort Sumter in January of 1861; and,

 

WHEREAS, in 1903, a group of farmers formed a partnership and bought Star of the West from Lorenz Hubinger; within a few years, the new owners realized that the original plant needed extensive renovations, so they decided to build a new plant, which was opened in 1911 at the corner of Hubinger and Tuscola Streets; this plant remains in operation today; and,

 

WHEREAS, the partnership remained until July 1929 when it became a corporation, and the name was changed to Star of the West Milling Company; when the corporation took over, minutes of company meetings were then recorded in English rather than German; and,

 

WHEREAS, Star of the West Milling Company has continued to grow over the years and has expanded from one mill to five flour mills today, in four different states and nine country elevators, handling corn and soybeans, processing edible beans, and providing local farmers with their crop inputs; and,

 

WHEREAS, the daily flour milling capacity now stands at 33,400 cwts, making Star of the West the 11th largest miller in the United States; and,

 

WHEREAS, in 2018, Jim Howe became the fifth president and CEO of the company, following Art Loeffler, Richard Krafft, Jr., Otto Rummel, and Jacob Rummel; and,

 

WHEREAS, on August 15, 2021, Star of the West Milling Company celebrates its 151st anniversary;  

 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim August 15, 2021 as the 151^st Anniversary of Star of the West Milling Company in Michigan.