Maci Feed Store, a hub of the Hardin, Texas community, celebrated its re-grand opening on Saturday, Feb. 10.
More than 200 people turned out to participate in the celebration and to see the expansion, which has added 4,100 square feet of retail space and 6,400 square feet of warehouse space to the store, located at 10769 N. Hwy 146. The additional space has allowed owners Bill and Tammie Wingfield to introduce new products, such as hardware, plumbing, and supplies for showing and caring for animals.
A crucial part of this tight-knit community, Maci Feed Store offers far more than just goods. Locals frequently swing by to collect essential supplies like feed and hay, or to get advice on everything from worming cattle to picking the right feeds and scheduling a fish delivery for their ponds.
The store also serves as the everyday locale for the community’s older gentlemen to gather and exchange stories over a hot cup of coffee, which is always brewing inside the store. In recent days, the store’s new kitchen area has served as a meet-and-greet location for community residents to hear from candidates for public office.
“I get tickled when people call the store to ask, ‘Who moved into such and such’s old house?’ They think we have all the answers,” said Tammie Wingfield with a chuckle.
To recognize the community’s long history in raising livestock, the Wingfields are inviting local residents to bring their cattle brands to the store to be included in a “branding board.”
“We want our families to be part of the history of the store going forward. Today I had a 92-year-old customer, Frank Fajkus, bring in his brand, and I was so happy about it,” Tammie said. “I am very excited about the branding board.”
The Wingfields, residents of Moss Hill, Texas, purchased Maci Feed Store in 2019 from its former owner Connie Campbell of Hardin. While it was already a strong business in the community, the Wingfields enhanced it further, adding new bulk feeders and a new greenhouse for plants and trees, and a fenced yard for landscape materials. Today, the store has nine full-time employees and three part-time after-school employees. The store manager is Deidra Cessna.
Maci Feed is just one of four businesses operated in the Hardin area by the Wingfields. They also own 2830 Mini Storage, Wingfield Construction and Caseman Trucking, all of which are located on FM 2830.
Guests at Saturday’s event enjoyed a free meal provided by the Wingfields and prepared by Dozier Partlow and Dave “Showdog” Chesser.
