KV Feed Shed, 1810 Missouri Rd., Iola, is a growing business for a couple who has called Allen County home for more than 31 years.
What began as Orville Kroenke’s post-retirement hobby has turned into a family-owned business for him and wife Susan Kroenke. Orville’s interest in horses began when he was a child growing up on a farm just east of Walnut.
“Back on the farm we rode all of the time and then I got busy with life and got out of them. After retirement I decided to go back,” he said.
Orville retired from Mid-Continental Restoration, Fort Scott, in 2014. Susan worked at Herff Jones until 2015 when the company shut down its Iola plant. Both of the couple’s children graduated from Iola High School. Their son, Scott, joined the U.S. Army and is currently stationed in Portland, Ore., and their daughter, Amy Grizzard, a stay-at-home mom, lives in Valentines,Va.
Finding himself with much more time on his hands, Orville decided to live out childhood memories. He bought two horses; first a bay-colored gelding named Jake and then a palomino mare named Cricket. Orville was searching the equine food market for a product he felt would meet his horses’ needs when he was introduced to Total Feed, from the line of feeds created by Dr. R. Harry Anderson, Weatherford, Texas. The feed suited Orville, but it was a 30-40 mile trek from Iola to the nearest distributor.The inconvenience prompted the Kroenkes to open a small shop in 2016.
In addition to the horse feed, KV Feed Shed carries Anderson’s food for cattle, goats, dogs, deer and lambs. The Kroenkes stock a small array of horse tack and fly sprays as well, headstalls and chest straps made at Amish and Mennonite farms. But no matter what a customer may be looking for in regards to horse gear, even if it is not in stock, he can get it, according to Orville.
The hours are flexible at KV Feed shed, a reminder that Orville is retired.
“If we are here we are open, seven days a week,” Orville said. If not, “we are not usually that far away,” he said. For more information call 620-228-0907 or 620-228-8736. The store’s Facebook page can be found under KV Feed Shop.
Besides running the store, both Orville and Susan intend to travel this summer and set up vendor booths at area equine-related events.
Horsing around leads to business
