H&I Country Supply has been supplying the surrounding area for three decades and have built a reputation of trust, hard work, honesty, and being a good neighbour. Tinkess Photo

BRINSTON – For someone unfamiliar with the area, Brinston might be seen as not much more than a four-way stop on the way between County Road Two and wherever you’re headed. What they would be missing however, with that train of thought, is that while small, Brinston is an active community that is well supported by a surprising number of small businesses that have made the area their home. Some, like H&I Country Supply have been there quite a while, to the point where the store has become a way of life for more than one generation.

H&I Country Supply is owned by Harry Van’t Foort and his son Greg and for about 30 years it has been meeting the needs of the agriculture and country community in the area.

Greg Van’t Foort took a few minutes out of a busy schedule to speak with Eastern Ontario AgriNews about the history of the business. “My father, Harry, and my mother Lena were the ones who started the store,” said Van’t Foort. (Hence the initials H&I.)

“Originally, my dad comes from a dairy farm south of Chesterville. Dad worked for the Co-op when he got out of high school. He worked for them for several years, and then in 1994 the Brinston Co-op came up for sale and my mom and dad purchased it and then they built the new building we’re in right now in 1996. We’ve kind of added on as we went.”

Greg and his wife Maeghan are heavily involved in the day-to-day operation of H&I Country Supply now and they have maintained the customer-focused attitude that has always been a signature of small businesses who prosper by treating their customers like they would like to be treated.

The store isn’t huge by modern, big box standards, but they have managed to fit so many different things into the space they have, that the old phrase “If we don’t have it, you don’t need it,” is pretty close to the truth. They specialize in feed and seed, and take pride in their expertise as an agricultural business and strive to always offer high-quality, yet cost-effective products that fit their clients’ specific needs. If you need it on your farm, you can probably find it at H&I Country Supply.

They carry a wide variety of animal feeds, supplements, bedding and supplies for cattle, horses, sheep, poultry, and pets and specialize in lawn and garden seeds, bagged and bulk fertilizer, as well as high-quality, popular brands of seeds.

That isn’t all though: they carry footwear, high-quality outerwear and other assorted clothing items, and for the young country dweller, there is always a selection of toys and games.

Need something for your garden? You’ll find it at H&I Country Supply.

Need to increase the size of your flock? It’s also a great place to order chicks and it is a sure sign of the season when you see Facebook posts urging customers to reserve their selection early.

That’s a lot to choose from, but we’re not done yet. H&I Country Supply also offers a selection of locally sourced meats, St. Albert Cheese and Egg Nogg during the holiday season.

In the big city, questionable businesses can often survive due to volume, but in the country, to not only survive but prosper you must understand that your clients are looking for more than just the products you sell. The relationship you forge with them matters at least as much as the products you stock, and H&I Country Supply understands that and has a reputation built on trust, hard work, honesty, and being a good neighbour. It is a recipe for success that never goes out of style.

H&I Country Supply is located at 4129 Brinston Road, in Brinston. You can reach them by phone at 613 652-4828, by email at countrysupply@xplornet.com, or their website (hicountrysupply.ca).

The store is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. and is closed on Sunday.