• Location: Rose Bud, Ark.
• Owner: Billy Caldwell
About the Business: Caldwell Country Store has been serving the needs of north central Arkansas livestock producers for more than 50 years. The store operation has seen a lot of changes over those five decades, but one thing remains constant, Caldwell Country store and the associated feed mill still dominate the Rose Bud, Ark., skyline.
Products and Services: In a rapidly changing market, it is unusual to find a single store operation, but owner Billy Caldwell attributes that uniqueness to the adjoining feed mill operating as Diversified Ag Nutrition (DAN).
“The market has dramatically changed over the last 20 years,” said Caldwell. “With the expansion of the chain farm and ranch stores, it puts the mom-and-pop feed stores at a huge disadvantage.”
To compete with that expansion by the big chain stores, Caldwell Country launched an expansion establishing several stores in surrounding communities in the four-county area. The Caldwells experienced a short-term fix from the expansion, but competition from the national chains proved to be too much. Eventually, it was decided to get back to the basics and the original business model that was the basis for success.
“From the beginning the feed mill has been the foundation for our business,” Billy said. “Caldwell Country Store was a direct affiliation of the feed mill.”
As the store front for Diversified Ag Nutrition’s mill, Caldwell Country Store provides a full range of custom mixed feed for livestock and smaller animals, as well as national name brand-products from ADM and Blue Bonnet. The store also stocks a full range of animal health products, and farm and ranch supplies.
Business Philosophy: Over five decades operating in the same location and four generations of Caldwells running the business, leads to a strong sense of community. The Caldwell wells are heavily involved in the Rose Bud and White County community. Rose Bud schools, White County 4-H, White County Cattleman’s Association, and the White County Fair. Caldwell Country Store is still very much a family operation.