Location: Crane, Mo.
Owners: Dustin and Sarah Woodward
History: In September 2020, Dustin and Sarah Woodward set up a temporary location in Dustin’s father’s shop to sell livestock feed. It has now grown into a full-fledged farm and home store in Crane, Mo.
“We were just doing it part-time and built the new store, opening in March 2021, with full retail, services and regular hours,” Sarah said.
“We went from a 20-by-40 (feet) area to a 160-by-50 (feet) building,” Dustin added.
After the closing of the feed store in Crane, the couple, who are also farmers, saw an opportunity to start their own business.
“It had been there for 50-some years,” Dustin said. “The lady who owned it just wanted to be done. She was in her 80s, and they were going to tear the buildings down, so we saw a need and an opportunity. We just went for it.”
“We still farm, and this is something we wanted to be a part of,” Sarah added.
Products and Services: Rocking W Farm & Home strives to provide the products and services needed by local producers. “We want to serve their agriculture needs, but we also have hardware, lawn and garden, tools and other items,” Sarah said.
Other products include livestock feed and mineral, lick tubs, animal health supplies, saw chain sharpening, hydraulic hose repair, welding supplies, equipment rental, electrical and plumbing supplies, fencing supplies, wild bird seed, paint and much more. If Rocking W Farm & Home doesn’t have a product in stock, they can get it.
Six months ago, the Woodwards purchased Purdy Farm Center in Purdy, Mo.
“Now we make our own feed and have our own product line,” Dustin said. “We also do bulk fertilizer and feed through that location.”
The Rocking W line includes feed for cattle, horses, hogs, goats and poultry. They have also developed a specialty dairy blend. The Woodwards work with a nutritionist to formulate their feed blends and to work with customers to create rations that best suit the nutritional needs of their herds or flocks. The Purdy location also manufactures bagged feeds for the Crane store, which can take orders for bulk feed and fertilizer.
