A long time ago, most farmers grew only enough corn for them to use for feeding their animals or families. If any corn was then left over they then put it into a horse and buggy and took it to the local grist mill. This mill would then grind the corn up to make animal feed or corn flours. Most corn in North Carolina is used for animal feed. Some farmers drive the corn straight from the farm to a grist mill where it is then turned into feed.
Some farmers take their corn to a corn buyer who buys corn from lots of farmers and stores it.
Once the buyer has a lot of corn, he or she then sells it in bigger quanitities to the mills. North Carolina doesn't grow as much corn as it needs. There are so many hog farms and poultry farms in North Carolina that a lot of corn is needed to feed the animals. North Carolina doesn't grow enough to feed all the animals that need it in-state. To make up the difference, North Carolina must buy corn from other states.