Dee Dee feeds a baby goat just learning how to take a bottle, as “Trey,” the Three Chicks mascot looks on. Before his death this past January, people would come from far and wide to visit “Trey,” and he would even pose for their photographs.

Three Chicks Feed, Seed & Café is a feed and hardware store with a café on the side and a place to party in the back. It is one of the most unique places in the Texarkana area with the most caring staff. From young to old, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Three Chicks is owned and operated by Dee Dee Rogers, Angie Watson, and Julie Miller. Dee Dee is the serious, organized, money-oriented, calm spirit that is the head of the business. Angie is outgoing, personable, and has a great memory. She is the voice of the business. Then Julie is the creative, cook, and food artist which would make her the heart (or stomach) of the business. Angie said that Dee Dee is a methodical cook who can follow a recipe, and Julie cooks because she’s passionate about it. Together, the three of them make a solid team.

Dee Dee said, “Every single morning, I’m grateful for this business, for my employees, and for their loyalty.” She is the calm one between the three women. She said she is the “yin” to Angie and Julie’s “yang.”

*Dee Dee and Angie stack feed sacks while unloading a truck at the feed store.*

Angie said, “It’s the commonalities that bond us and bring us together. We have the same common goals. We all have caring, passionate hearts. We all care more about the staff and community than we do ourselves.” These three strong women are the hands and feet of Three Chicks because they each do everything they can to provide for their customers. Three Chicks’ staff all have the same mission statement: customer service, taking care of the animals, and taking care of the people.

They don’t dread tomorrow because every day is another chance to see what God has planned. Angie, Dee Dee, and Julie were working at the Texarkana Country Club when one day Angie went to buy feed at four o’clock and by eight o’clock that night, they owned a feed store. “That’s the way God works,” said Angie. They believe that every day, they have another opportunity to make someone smile and help others be happier. These women love to work with people that they love.

*Angie, Suni Renee Hensley and Miranda Morris-Bisbee hanging out in front of the Chicken Coop.*

Lending a hand and being available to anyone who walks through the door is what service means to them. Angie said, “I think you can give great service with anything you do. Service is giving advice, greeting them with a smile, and saying, ‘How can I help?’

Angie mentioned that someone once told her, “the soul of the feed store is out back.” They have goats, guineas, chickens, about 150 baby chicks, two roosters, and a garden in the back. Even though they go through changes every day, Three Chicks care about their animals, and they don’t want any of them to suffer. They have a peach tree that kids love to play on and eat fruit from. Angie said that they love to see people go out back, play, see, do, and check it out.

Three Chicks had a turkey named “Trey” that died during 2019. Many people have asked if they are getting another turkey but Angie said, “The reason why everyone loved that turkey is because he had a spirit of love and kindness. There wouldn’t be another bird like him.” Once they had a deaf customer who flailed around and was in a very large wheelchair. Trey would run to stay next to him where the size of the wheelchair and the flailing would scare most animals away. There was another little boy who was crying when his mom was giving his favorite puppy away from their litter. There are pictures of that little boy sitting out back, crying, with “Trey” sitting between his legs for comfort because he knew the boy was upset.

They have a sign-in book full of names and messages from people that would come into the shop specifically to see “Trey” the turkey. There were people coming from Ireland, Switzerland, New Mexico, Russia, Puerto Rico, Michigan, New York, California, and even Arabia. Someone from Arizona wrote in the book, “Came for the turkey and got myself some cowboy candy.” Another wrote, “Great place, caring people. You don’t find people that care like that anymore. They are the true meaning of community.” That is how Three Chicks has grown over the years and how they’re continuing to become the kind of place that they’re striving to be. Their motivation is the relationships with the staff, the people, and even the turkey. “That’s what keeps it from being just another feed store and just another day of work,” Angie commented.

Julie said the best part about working with her friends is that she doesn’t have to do it all. “They do all of their stuff really well, and I get to do my stuff really well, and I trust them.” On any given day, all three of them are on site about 75% of the time, and at least one of them is there 100%. “Each one of us has our place. We know our place. We do our job and we trust each other.”

Customer service is at the heart of this flourishing business. If someone comes in for something, and they don’t have it, they try their best to get whatever they need. Angie said, “You can be successful in whatever it is in life as long as you are willing to work hard, be passionate about it, surround yourself with great staff, and be truthful.”

It’s so important to support local businesses like Three Chicks Feed, Seed & Café. “It’s not about Three Chicks; it’s grown into a whole flock,” said Angie. They are working owners who do so much more than people realize. They know their customers personally and care if their grandkids are sitting in the car waiting for them. They have to make sure everything is in order in the morning. It’s not like a normal store where you unlock the doors and start selling. They have to tend to the animals and make sure there are no injuries, mow the grass, prep the food, pay bills, order more products, and the list goes on.

Angie said, “If you show people love, it overcomes fear. Like right now in the middle of this coronavirus, it is a unique opportunity for this country to show who we are. I hope we look back on this and realize what a rare and unique moment this was ... that people came together, that they loved each other, that they practiced kindness.” For more information about their story, go to www.threechicksfeed.com and keep supporting local businesses!

*Angie, Dee Dee and Julie with KTBS’s Rick Rowe as they prepare to be interviewed for his show.*

*The Three Chicks’ crew participated in the Harvest Regional Food Banks’ Taste of Texarkana where they won the Spirit Award.*

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