Country Lifestyles
Generations of Loyalty— Kerr Feed & Grain, Wade Bryant
By Jessica Crabtree
The rural town of Henrietta is the county seat of Clay County. Boasting a population of more than 3,000 people, the majority of its residents are made up of farmers and ranchers or decedents thereof. With the foundation based around pioneers settling the territory, famers growing crops and ranchers raising cattle, the rural town has gained recognition for its agricultural prominence and for the town’s feed mill known as Kerr Feed & Grain.
A multi-generation operation, Kerr Feed & Grain was the brain child of Louis Wilton Kerr, Sr., a Clay County native hailing from Joy, Texas. As a young man his interests were in agriculture, which shifted specifically to feed. In 1930 Kerr purchased the Cash Feed Store on Main Street in downtown Henrietta where he sold coal, wood, feed, and farm supplies to locals. That location was moved in 1934 to Bridge Street when Kerr started selling groceries. Two years later in 1936 Kerr purchased 30 acres to the east known as the Worsham on East Omega, offering Ful-O-Pep feed and farming supplies to the public as well as livestock hauling. There, Kerr Feed & Grain found its permanent home.
In 1948 Kerr’s son Louis Wilton Kerr, Jr., returned home from the U.S. Navy, and a partnership between the father and son was formed, renaming Cash Feed Store to Kerr Feed and Grain. With the addition of his son, the father-son duo worked great lengths, 10 and 12-hour days, to build grain elevators for storage to accommodate local wheat farmers.
The 1950s saw the Kerr family manufacturing a complete line of livestock and poultry feed under a private name and label. That addition increased service and advanced Kerr Feed and Grain’s customer base to a radius within 100 miles of Henrietta, especially during the 60s and 70s for local dairies.
The patriarch, Louis Wilton Kerr, Sr., passed away in 1968, leaving his son Wilton to manage Kerr Feed and Grain. During that time, Kerr Feed and Grain developed and grew into a full-line feed manufacturer and retailer with multiple employees and a small dealer network. Once Louis Wilton Kerr, Jr., passed away in 1999, his son-in-law’s Bill Bryant and Jeff Fitts, stepped into the managing role, although they had been working with their father-in-law many years, milling, marketing and developing relations with customers.
To read more pick up a copy of the June 2018 NTFR issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
From left to right, Trish Bryant, daughter Kaitlyn age 10, son Scott age nine and Bryant. (Photos courtesy of Trish Bryant)
Aerial shot of Kerr Feed & Grain. (Photo courtesy of Trish Bryant)
Pictured is Louis Kerr, Bryant’s greatgrandfather and Wilton Kerr, Bryant’s grandfather.
By: Bryce Angell
I drove to Sportsman’s Warehouse. Thought I’d buy a brand-new cap. My mistake was walking through the doors. They had me in their trap. I’m not talking ‘bout a mouse trap. Snares his nose and won’t let go. I’m alluding to the shopping trance. Why couldn’t I say no?
I grabbed a cart and made a beeline to a hat filled crate.
But switched gears to a sign that read, “Fifty dollar bag rebate.” Below the rebate sign were sleeping bags hung in a row.
One sleeping bag was rated down to 45 below.
The floor attendant tempted me. “It’s the best sale of the year!”
I had to have the 45 below with all my gear.
The bag was extra heavy. Totaled nearly twenty pounds.
But I stuffed it in my shopping cart. I had to make more rounds.
I was feeling so elated with my brand-new sleeping bag.
I wasn’t checking prices. That would surely raise a flag.
I pushed on past the hats and caps. Found a Levi coat to wear.
I didn’t need another but it’s good to have a spare.
I bought a pair of mittens that I doubt I’ll ever use.
I’ll save ‘em for my wife in case we take a winter cruise.
I purchased ammunition. That is when I heard the cue.
I had too many bullets for a single .22.
So, I bought another rifle. What the heck, it’s just one more. Then I moved on with my frenzy, hadn’t covered all the floor. Aha! My eyes beheld a sight designed for all to see.
A brand-new shiny wall tent that would soon belong to me.
I grabbed a wood stove for my tent to sleep warm through the night. Then I realized my purchases were climbing out of sight.
We totaled up my plunder. I was surely caught off guard.
Two thousand fifty dollars, I said, “Put it on my card.”
I’d spent a ton of money with no permission from my wife. Should I give my wife the rebate? Fifty might just save my life. Although I’ve never learned to save, for sure a shopping sap. But, this time I saved ten dollars ‘cuz I didn’t buy a cap.
By: Dal Houston
As wacky as it sounds, changing the way one sees the world, one of the most profound lessons a human can learn, can be exemplified by something as mundane and seemingly inconsequential as a trip to the men’s room.
Last week, I spent an afternoon at an event, which required three visits to the venue’s men’s room. Without getting graphic, there were three stalls in this restroom. The stall in the corner and the stall closest to the door were functional, but the stall in the middle was adorned with an “Out of Order” sign.
To read more, pick up a copy of the September issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By: Hannah Claxton | Editor
“I like 4-H’ers because they are dedicated to excellence.”
— Dwight David Eisenhower,
As the school year kicks off, local 4-H programs will be start- ing as well. The impact of 4-H in a youth’s life cannot be overstated. Famous alumni include Jimmy Carter, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, and Reba McEntire. Here are five reasons why you should encourage the youth in your life to be a part of 4-H.
To read more, pick up a copy of the September issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
-
Country Lifestyles2 years agoScott & Stacey Schumacher: A Growth Mindset
-
Country Lifestyles8 years agoStyle Your Profile – What your style cowboy hat says about you and new trends in 2017
-
HOME8 years agoGrazing North Texas – Wilman Lovegrass
-
Equine1 year agoThe Will to Win
-
Country Lifestyles5 years agoAmber Crawford, Breakaway Roper
-
Outdoor9 years agoButtercup or Primrose?
-
Country Lifestyles8 years agoDecember 2016 Profile, Rusty Riddle – The Riddle Way
-
Country Lifestyles8 years agoJune 2016 Profile – The man behind the mic: Bob Tallman