1960s
Products such as weigh buggies, grain bins, and corn cribs helped establish Honeyville Metal Works as a trusted name among farmers. During peak production, Honeyville built and installed roughly 100+ corn cribs a year. Weigh buggies, bulk bins, and economy bins were also a substantial part of Honeyville’s product line and growth in the 60s.
1960s
During the 1960s, Honeyville continued building a strong reputation in the agricultural industry. Early team members (pictured left to right) Levi Lambright, Elmer Gingerich, C. Duane Yoder, Alton Yoder, John Knepp, and Melvin Gingerich, played a key role in shaping Honeyville’s future.
1960s
Participation in farm shows has always been an important part of Honeyville’s growth. These events enabled Honeyville to showcase its products, build relationships, and expand its customer base across the Midwest region. This photo was taken at the annual Farm Progress Show.
1977
In 1977, Christian and Inah’s oldest son, Ora Hochstetler, became President. Under his leadership, Honeyville entered a new phase of growth, focusing on operational improvements and expanding production capabilities. Ora had a passion for marketing, brand development, and brochure design. He spent many nights in his print shop creating literature.
1977
As demand increased, Honeyville expanded its buildings and manufacturing space across the road from the farm. This investment laid the groundwork for increased production capacity and long-term scalability. The first phase (C) was built in 1971, and additional building expansion projects occurred leading up to this aerial shot from 1977.
1980s
The 1980s brought advancements in dust collection systems, including work with companies like KraftMaid Cabinetry. Improvements in filtration and system design allowed Honeyville to serve more complex industrial needs. Honeyville has sold thousands of fans, cyclones, and filters to a wide range of industries across the U.S.
1982
Honeyville continued to expand our presence at farm and industrial shows, reinforcing a reputation for quality equipment and dependable service. This photograph was taken at the Farm Science Review Show in 1982. On display is a Honeyville bin, corn crib, and elevator.
1998
To keep pace with growth, Honeyville completed a major facility expansion in the 90s. The added space allowed for increased production and improved efficiency. The weld shop (D) was completed in two sections from 1992 to 1995. The first part of building E was built in 1998 with the second addition completed 10 years later in 2008 for storage and assembly.
1999
In 1999, Ora Hochstetler transitioned to Board President, and Mark Hochstetler (Ora’s oldest son) became President of Honeyville. Mark’s creativity greatly expanded Honeyville’s product line. Under his leadership, towers and distributors were developed and became a large portion of the business. This 3rd generation of leadership continued our legacy of innovation, commitment to quality, and strong customer relationships.
2000s
In the early 2000s, Honeyville’s Board of Directors gathered for a photo (pictured L to R) Mark Hochstetler (Past President), Duane Yoder, Ivan Birky, Mel Gingerich, and Ora Hochstetler (Past President). This moment reflects the strong leadership foundation and continuity that has guided Honeyville through generations.
2006
In 2006, Honeyville employees gathered together for this photograph to celebrate fabricating our 1,000th distributor (a product line developed in 1998). This marked a significant milestone in Honeyville’s growth.
2010
Honeyville continues its commitment to nonprofits by supporting organizations such as the Salvation Army. Throughout the years, Honeyville has fabricated three giant buckets for the Salvation Army. Projects like this allow Honeyville to give back to our local community.
2022
2022 marked a transition to new ownership and direction for Honeyville. Nate Hochstetler (Ora’s youngest son) and Rhonda Hochstetler purchased the company. Under their leadership, Honeyville has expanded product lines and prioritized adding automation and updated machinery for more efficient manufacturing processes.
2023
This old group photo from the 1980s (left) was replicated years later in 2023 (right) featuring some of the same employees. At Honeyville, the years tell a story—but it’s the people who continue to make it memorable.
2023
In 2023, Honeyville equipment was installed at Schaendorf Dairy. The farm exclusively features Honeyville grain handling equipment and dust collection systems. The project showcases our capabilities in large-scale, modern agricultural and industrial solutions.
2025
Since 2023, Honeyville has partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Elkhart County to complete panel builds each fall. Through this effort, employees come together to support affordable housing and make a meaningful impact in the community. This photo was taken during our 2025 two-story panel build.
2025
Honeyville’s expansion continued with building F completed in 2014. The solar field (G), built in 2023, produces approximately 95,000KWH of power per year (80% of Honeyville’s annual usage). 2026 marked the completion of building renovations, moving the offices from multiple buildings into one central location (E), and unveiling the new employee breakroom and production offices in the original building (C). Our major building renovations and solar field project are a testament to Honeyville’s investment in growth, innovation, and sustainability.
