Michlig Energy has not been bought out

MANLIUS — Despite rumors that Michlig Energy has been bought out by River Valley Coop, owner Steven Michlig urges there have been no changes to his business, nor will there be.

Michlig Energy is a separate business from Michlig Grain, which was purchased by River Valley Coop this past spring.

Michlig Energy continues to operate in three communities including Manlius, Cambridge and Bradford.

Its service area covers a 12-county region — Bureau, Henry, Knox, Lee, Whiteside, LaSalle, Rock Island, Marshall, Mercer, Putnam, Peoria and Stark.

According to Michlig, his business is the only independent petroleum business left in Bureau and Henry counties.

The crew at Michlig Energy have years of experience in the lubricant, fuel and propane business and can take care of all your petroleum needs. The business also carries a full line of filters and truck and automotive parts with a delivery truck that runs five days a week.

The business has been a family-owned business from the beginning. In 1973, Joe Michlig, father of Steven, bought into the original Rich’s Ag when it was just a feed mill. Joe and his partner grew the business to add fertilizer, chemicals and continued to grow the grain storage and drying.

In 1986, he added fuel, propane and lubricants to the business. In 1988, Joe became the sole owner and changed the name to Michlig Agricenter.

In 1993, Joe sold the business to his daughter and son-in-law, Don & Val King. The Kings continued to grow the business and expanded it to buy TWAG in Walnut and grain elevators in Bradford, Mineral and Cambridge.

In 2011 Michlig Energy became what is today, a family-owned business that works very hard to make sure their best assets are taken care of first, which is their employees, their customers and the small communities they service.

“Prior to buying the petroleum division, I worked in the business full time since 1996, and part time through high school and college since 1986. I remember going out with my father in the fuel truck on many occasions before I was even able to drive,” Steven said.

Steven now has two young sons who work their summers at the business doing maintenance and painting tanks and are happy to be a part of keeping the family operation going.