Westerville 250th Murals - Farmers In The Field - Artist Yao Cheng
Agricultural Foundations: Farmers in the Field
Before Westerville became the city we know today, much of the land was farmland. In the 19th century, early settlers cleared trees, drained swampy ground, and planted crops such as wheat and corn. Over time, dairy farms became an important part of the local landscape, supported by businesses that served farmers and connected Westerville’s agricultural work to a wider market.
That history comes to life in Farmers in the Field, a Westerville 250 mural by Columbus-based artist and illustrator Yao Cheng. The mural is located at the Westerville Electric Division, 139 E. Broadway Ave., on the wall underneath the window.
Created in watercolor and gouache, the mural uses bright color and layered texture to celebrate the richness of Westerville’s agricultural past. Farmers work among tall crops, a horse-drawn wagon moves through the field, and farm buildings rise in the distance beneath a wide blue sky. Cheng was inspired by the stories of the Westerville Farmers Exchange and the Westerville Creamery, both of which are reflected in the mural’s imagery.
The Farmers Exchange, founded in 1920 near the railroad tracks on East Lincoln Street, served as a hub for feed, seed, fertilizer, and grain processing. The Westerville Creamery, which began in 1900, produced milk, cream, ice cream, and, later, evaporated milk for the military during World War II and the Korean War. Other local companies, including Hance Manufacturing and Bennett Manufacturing, also supported agricultural work through machinery and equipment.
For Cheng, the foreground crops were especially meaningful. Drawn to texture and pattern, she imagined the plants swaying in the wind and inviting viewers into the scene.
As part of the Westerville 250 Mural Project, Farmers in the Field honors the agricultural foundations that helped shape the community. It reminds viewers that today’s city grew from land once worked by farmers, families, and local businesses whose efforts helped build Westerville’s early identity.
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The Westerville News is a reader-supported publication by Gary Gardiner, a lifelong journalist who believes hyper-local reporting is the future of news. This publication focuses exclusively on Westerville—its local news, influence on Central Ohio, and how surrounding areas shape the community.
