pellets. You’ll fi nd a wide range of products at the ranch store. There are protein and breed-back tubs, salt and mineral blocks, a selec on of equine products (from feed to sweet tubs), rabbit food, cat food, three diff erent formulas of dog food, rolls of both barbed and bailing wire, and much more.
A dedica on to S llwater Milling Company is refl ected in the store inventory.
“With the excep on of wood pellets, all of our products come from S llwater Milling. They are my sole vendor,” said Bandy. “It’s an in-state company, headquarter in S llwater, of course. They are Oklahoma-owned and Oklahoma-grown, which I like.”
The addi on of cer fi ed scales and three large grain bins—two 30-ton and one 20-ton—means Bandy can now off er bulk feed in addi on to bagged product. The bulk feed opera on
required no small investment. The scales alone carried a $50,000 price tag.
S llwater Milling’s commodity feed blends are popular products with larger operators, especially. They know they can save about $80 per ton, which represents a savings of about 40%, on their feed bill.
“There’s a lot of savings there for your larger producers,” Bandy said. “It’s just like any other business. Your input cost determines your bo om line.”
Folks can bring feeders or carts to have them fi lled or request delivery by one of the store’s auger trucks. Bandy’s fl eet includes a 24-ton semi tractor- trailer, a 15-ton ten-wheeler, and an 8-ton single axle.
The Bandy Ranch Feed Store is a family aff air and all hands are on deck to take care of the growing business. John and wife Beckie, along with their three
children, all play an important role. Jacqueline is 13, John Dually is 9 and Jenna is the youngest at six years old.
“The kids help in diff erent ways,” Beckie said. “Dually runs the forkli and helps load, Jaqueline does the bulk feed—she can run the scales and do the paperwork, and Jenna’s our welcomer. She greets everyone with a smile. She’s always ready to visit.”
John is quick to credit his parents, Bud and Mary Bandy, with helping start up the business. “Mom and dad, they really came through in a pinch for us,” he said.
In many ways, the Bandy’s store is a throwback to a me when neighbors gathered to discuss the news of the day over a cup of coff ee.
“When people come in, sit down and visit, that’s one of my favorite things,” John said. “I think we all just enjoy knowing what’s going on. There’s
6 - NE Connection
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