J.E. Meuret Grain Company has been family owned and operated since 1923 to assist you with your grain and feed operations.
Learn About Our 100 Year History
Joseph Edward (J.E.) Meuret moved from Wisconsin to Nebraska to manage an elevator in Orchard. In 1923, he purchased the Brunswick Elevator for $6,000 and named it J.E. Meuret Grain Company Inc.
In 1947, J.E. Meuret died suddenly at the age of 66, leaving his wife Katie as the sole owner. Their two oldest sons, Lee and John Sr., (ages 16 and 15 at the time) took turns attending high school and running the business on alternating days. Their younger brothers Joe and Dick joined in as they were old enough to help, too. After graduating high school, John and Dick ended up staying in Brunswick to run the business, adding additional bins to grow the capacity and fertilizer services to diversify their offerings.
When Burlington Northern planned to abandon the rail line into Brunswick, John and Dick instead succeeded in convincing the railroad to invest millions of dollars in upgrading it. In 1980, the improved rail line carried its first unit grain train loaded with 200,000 bushels of corn from J.E. Meuret Grain Company to Seattle, destined for overseas export. The ability to ship by rail meant better prices for farmers and additional growth for J.E. Meuret Grain.
By the late 1980s, John and Dick were ready to take a step back and allow the next generation to take the reins. Two of John’s sons, Pat and Jim, had worked at J.E. Meuret Grain since they were children and returned quickly to the family business after just a few years away at college. Pat oversaw the grain trading and shipping, Jim managed the day-to-day operations, including the growing number of employees.
Throughout the 1990s, Pat and Jim saw possibilities that existed in expanding the business, branching into feed production and livestock including turkeys. A giant fiberglass turkey even sat in front of the main office for a few years and occasionally making its way onto a parade float.
A new main office was needed soon into the 2000s, as the fourth generation of Meurets returned to join the family business. Pat’s sons, John, James, and Justin, were first to return. Jim’s sons, Matt and Riley, soon followed. John Sr. loved stopping into the office to talk shop with his sons and grandsons, and they appreciated hearing his wisdom and his wit.
The 2010s saw J.E. Meuret Grain Company continue its expansion. The headquarters remain in Brunswick, with additional facilities in Copenhagen, Creighton, Dakota City, Crofton, Atkinson, Orchard, and Pierce.
In 2023, J.E. Meuret Grain Company celebrates its centennial: 100 years of helping farmers throughout Northeast Nebraska to prosper and feed the world.
In June 2023, J.E. Meuret Grain celebrated its centennial with a large party to thank employees, customers, neighbors, and friends. A roast hog, a live band, and an open bar provided a night of celebration and thanks to all who helped the Meuret family reach this milestone.
