Valley Agronomics: A Legacy of Agricultural Support and Local Commitment in Lewis County

Photo Courtesy of The Chronicle

Darrel Arthur, Location Manager at Valley Ag in Chehalis.

By Cynthia Mudge
For the C-C Chamber of Commerce

Valley Agronomics (Valley Ag) has been a vital part of the Lewis County agricultural landscape for over 40 years. Although the company has operated under a variety of names and ownership structures, its mission has remained remarkably consistent: to help local farmers produce healthy, high-yielding crops through reliable access to seed, crop nutrition, and crop protection products.

The company’s origins trace back to the early 1980s when it began as Western Farmers, operating as a retail outlet at its current location in Chehalis. Following a series of ownership changes—including acquisition by Cenex—Valley Ag gradually shifted its focus from retail to wholesale manufacturing and distribution. For decades, the company produced and hand-blended many of its own agricultural products on-site.

While that manufacturing legacy continues at other Valley Ag locations, the Chehalis facility ceased its own manufacturing operations in August 2022 due to challenges with environmental permitting.

Despite this shift, the Chehalis site remains a critical distribution hub, serving as the primary supply center for a territory that spans roughly 60 miles. This includes the Boistfort Valley, Grays Harbor, Battle Ground, and much of East Lewis County. Today, Valley Ag is the only commercial agricultural supplier operating in this region. In addition to supporting area farmers directly, the Chehalis team also provides product to retail outlets such as The Farm Store and Kaija’s Garden & Pet, enabling access to professional-grade agricultural supplies for smaller-scale growers and hobbyists.

At the heart of Valley Ag’s Chehalis operation is Darrel Arthur, who serves as Location Manager. Arthur’s career with the company spans twenty plus years, beginning as a seasonal bagger in 1982—just as Cenex took ownership of Western Farmers. Over the years, Arthur has worked in nearly every role within the organization.

“I’ve done just about every job here before stepping into management,” he says. “Our longevity is a testament to our loyal customers and the strong relationships we’ve built. We’ve been able to stay competitive with pricing, and that’s helped keep us going.”

Today, Valley Agronomics employs more than 500 people across 28 locations in seven western states, including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Wyoming. The Chehalis branch has six full-time employees who oversee logistics, inventory, and regional support services.

Looking ahead, Arthur says there is hope that manufacturing might return to Chehalis in the future, though no timeline is currently in place. In the meantime, the facility continues to focus on delivering high-quality products with the level of service that local farmers have come to rely on.

A long-standing member of the Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce—collectively for over 20 years—Valley Ag stands out as a business that has successfully weathered industry changes, regulatory shifts, and evolving technologies. Its resilience is a reflection of both strategic adaptability and a deep-rooted connection to the local agricultural community.