State Rep. Melanie Miller spent Friday, June 12, walking the production floor at Heffelfinger's Meats in Jeromesville, touring what officials describe as Ohio's largest harvesting facility. The family-owned plant, operated by third-generation owner Rick Heffelfinger, covers roughly 25,000 square feet and supplies fresh and frozen beef, pork, bison, elk, and other specialty proteins to regional markets.
In a press release from the Ohio House of Representatives, Miller, who represents the City of Ashland, is described as joining the Ohio Association of Meat Processors and the Ohio Department of Agriculture for the tour and spotlighting the plant's role in the state's food supply. "This is such an important industry in our great state and especially here in Ashland County," she said in the release.
A multi-generation operation
Heffelfinger traces its roots back to 1934 and, under state inspection, has been described as the largest red-meat harvester in Ohio. The Ohio Cattlemen’s Association reports that the operation employs about 23 people and processes roughly 600 animals per week. That tally includes a wholesale harvest of about 110 to 130 cattle and roughly 500 hogs, with meat headed to customers in Cleveland, Columbus, Akron, and Canton.
State dollars, past awards and how they are used
The state has made $14 million available to meat processors through the Ohio Meat Processing Grant Program with support from House Bill 33, according to an Ohio budget bulletin. The Meat Processing Investment Program list shows that Heffelfinger's received about $226,873 in 2022. Local reporting says the company used that award to buy a generator to protect the 25,000 square foot plant after several power outages in 2022, shoring up operations against future disruptions.
Why it matters for Ashland County
Officials and industry groups say the grants are meant to reinforce local food supply chains and help small processors modernize equipment and refrigeration. State guidance notes that the program allows awards of up to $500,000 for eligible upgrades. The funding push comes as Ohio attempts to expand in-state processing capacity and cut back on dependence on out-of-state packing plants, a priority highlighted in trade coverage of the tour and in state announcements.
