In the heart of Sayre, Oklahoma, you’ll find Kirk Feeds—a family-run business built on hard work, community roots, and a no-nonsense approach to getting folks what they need. Run by Shane and Lawanda Kirk, the store offers more than just cattle cubes and chicken feed. Customers are greeted with a smile, a hot cup of free coffee, and—if they’re lucky—a surprise appearance of fresh donuts.
There’s no schedule or sign for when donut day hits. It’s the kind of small-town mystery some might call Donut Roulette—and the only way to win is to stop in and see for yourself.
But the real draw isn’t the sugar. It’s the people behind the counter, the sense of purpose behind the shelves, and the deep local ties that make Kirk Feeds more than just a store.
The Kirks have spent the last 20 years in the feed and trucking business, with Shane hauling bulk feed to cattle ranches, farmers, and feed stores across the region. They launched their first retail location in Erick last year after purchasing a feed store Shane had long hauled into. When the opportunity came to expand into Sayre, the decision came naturally.
“This building was sitting here, and the opportunity was here,” she said. “We just jumped in with both feet.”
Having known each other most of their lives, Lawanda and Shane have been married for 17 years and worked side by side in nearly every venture since. “We’ve got four businesses together and five kids between us,” she said. “If we don’t like each other by now, it’s too late.”
Their journey from long-haul feed trucking to local retail began as a way to serve smaller, struggling communities. When the Erick location went up for sale, they seized the opportunity to reinvest in rural Oklahoma.
One of the key reasons the Kirks felt confident investing in Erick was longtime employee Steve McDowell, who has worked at the feed store through several ownership changes. “Steve is an icon,” she said. “Everyone in town knows him. People call him after hours, and he runs up to help them out. He’s two blocks from the store, and he’s been part of the backbone that keeps it going.” His experience and reputation made the transition smoother and gave the Kirks confidence that the Erick community would stand behind them.
The Sayre location, formerly the local coop, had been closed since January. Rather than let the space fade into disuse, the Kirks took it on—fully aware that every small-town business matters.
“These little towns lose these big, viable businesses, and they don’t easily come back,” she said. “We saw it in Erick. It’s about honesty, hard work, and building trust. You get to know the people. That’s what makes them come back.”
The business truly is a family affair. Shane still hauls feed, and one of their sons does too. Their daughters-in-law, Miranda and Laramie, both help run the stores. The family also farms and produces their own hay for sale, bridging the gap between customer needs and firsthand experience.
Kirk Feeds offers cattle cubes (20% and 30%), calf starter feed, creep feed, mineral tubs with IGR for fly control, sacked feeds, hay, panels, gates, water tanks, and bulk feed options for livestock of all sizes. They also carry feed for chickens, goats, pigs, and even pets. While they’re still expanding their product lines, she says they do their best to get customers what they need—often hauling it between stores themselves.
“Our goal is to be a onestop shop,” she said. “No one has time to run to four or five places.”
They’re even planning to begin selling farm-raised ground beef at the Erick location, with hopes of expanding that service to Sayre as well.
When it comes to customer service, she believes in the basics: greet people with a smile, remember their names, and offer a fair deal. “I don’t want to pay high prices up front and then pass that on to the customer,” she said. “That’s not helping any of us.”
While some might call it ambitious to open a second location so quickly, she calls it the right thing at the right time. “This is a way of life,” she said. “It’s not going anywhere. You don’t get rich doing it, but it’s who we are.”
With their roots firmly planted and their hearts in the right place, the Kirks are more than just business owners. They’re part of the lifeblood of the region, helping ensure that small towns like Sayre continue to survive— and thrive.
