Visit Westerville

Agricultural Foundations

Farmers in the Field

By Artist Yao Cheng

Mural Location: Westerville Electric Division | 139 E. Broadway
Located on the wall underneath the window

For this mural, I wanted to portray the vividness of agriculture in Westerville with watercolor and gouache. By using bright colors, I hope this painting can showcase the richness of its agricultural history. I was inspired by the stories behind the Farmer’s Exchange and the Westerville Creamery, so there are various images alluding to them in the painting. Lastly, because I am always drawn to textures and patterns, learning about the popular crops in the early settlement was really interesting. I decided to bring these plants into the painting’s foreground- I imagine them swaying in the wind and inviting you into this piece.

Yao Cheng is a Columbus-based artist and illustrator who has been creating art since childhood. A 2009 graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in Textiles, Yao began her career designing for a corporate fashion brand before founding her own creative studio, Yao Cheng Design, in 2012.

She is best known for her joyful watercolor artworks created for products and licensing projects, with designs featured by brands like Samsung The Frame TV (coming soon), Google Photos, Target, Tervis, Chronicle Books, and BlueSky Planners. Passionate about community and collaboration, Yao is also deeply involved in fostering creative connections through leadership and mentorship.

Learn more about Yao at yaochengdesign.com

Westerville developed as a farming community in the 19th century. Early colonizers felled trees and drained swampy land, planting crops like wheat and corn.

Over time, dairy farms came to dominate the landscape. Beginning in 1900, the Westerville Creamery produced dairy products such as cream, milk, and ice cream. During World War II and the Korean War, it secured contracts to produce evaporated milk for the military. The creamery operated on East College Avenue until 1987.

Founded in 1920, the Westerville Farmers Exchange became a central hub for buying and selling feed, seed, and fertilizer, as well as processing grain. Its distinctive building near the railroad tracks on East Lincoln Street remains a recognizable landmark today.

Other local companies, including Hance Manufacturing and Bennett Manufacturing, produced agricultural machinery and equipment. Bennett Manufacturing’s stump puller was especially popular, with sales reaching international markets.