In a very busy part of Oxford, Locust Street hosts many gathering locations for the city residents. At night, many of the local teens can be see socializing at the Walmart parking lot, sharing stories, gossip or just hanging with other teens.

     The same can be seen in the mornings with another group that gathers at Walmart’s Locust Street neighbor. In the early hours of the day, typically between 8 and 10 a.m., McDonald’s fills up with other members of Oxford who share a common bond, the farming community.

     “There is no other place in Oxford that brings the farming community together than McDonald’s,” said Ernie Sclichter.

     Sclichter, born and raised in Oxford, owns a farm in Reilly Township, where he raises hogs, cattle and horses. “(McDonald’s) is accessible. It’s very easy for people to get to,” Sclichter said. “It’s also very accommodating. It’s always clean and welcoming. The management is very personable, and even the owner, Pat Paulding, is very patronizing.”

     Schlicter said that he’s known many members of the community to gather at the foodchain for at least 10 years.

     “It’s a way for farmers to keep up with what’s going on in the community, from politics to gossip,” Schlichter added.

     His father, a retired Oxford farmer, has been a part of the Oxford farming community for almost 60 years and “feels” the change of the community. According to Ernie, McDonald’s is a place that keeps them together. It’s become tradition. It’s something familiar to the whole farming community.

     From large to small farmers, McDonald’s is a morning ritual. It is a place where many rural residents come to discuss politics, local or national, farming equipment, or to just talk about Oxford life in general.

     The McDonald’s dining room had a somewhat high school cafeteria feel. Every time another person entered the room, he or she was greeted with warmth and friendship. At first, there seemed to be cliques or groups of friends, but then many would get up and move around to share with others in the room. The scene was constantly changing. While enjoying an Egg McMuffin, I overheard a woman discussing her plans to run for trustee to replace her late husband, asking for signatures of those who seem to have known her and her spouse for years.

     If some aren’t eating breakfast, they’re having their morning coffee, reading the newspaper, or just catching up with old friends. I heard two older men comparing farming equipment, one boasting about his new John Deere tractor. Like students at lunch, jumping from one idea to another, the conversation then led to one’s disgust of the local teens driving drunk and the danger of the many trucks that drive through the town at night.

     “There’s not much that can be done,” one of the men said.

     The group even seemed to have well-known farmers of the community habitually sharing their mornings with the rest. When I asked the manager, Tina, if any farmers come in the morning, she said, “Of course.”

     So I asked who would be the best to talk to.

     “Take your pick. The place is packed with them every morning,” she said. “But you know a very famous one is Gordon Butterfield. He’d be good to talk to. Everyone knows him. He’s here all the time.”

     Gordon Butterfield, an owner of one of the larger farms in Oxford, said that he used to go to the doughnut shop until McDonald’s opened.

     “I’ve been going there (McDonald’s) for the last 10 to 12 years,” Butterfield said. “It’s become a habit. Friends get together there to talk about what’s going on.”

     According to Butterfield, people continue to catch wind of the morning routine and decide to join. It’s become a place not only for friendly discussion, but a place to network, find deals and make connections.

     “I’ve made a lot of big deals there,” Butterfield said. “You get to meet all walks of life.”

     Butterfield added that the restaurant is more crowded in the winter season. Now that the weather is becoming more conducive to farming, there’s more work to be done.

Read a story by Kevin about the Butterfield farm