In 2009, Rex & Jennifer Sanders took ownership of D&L Farm and Home Denton. As owners, they retain independent ownership of the store but work in conjunction with other D&L Farm stores in the region as part of a trusted network founded in 1988 by Dean and Lezlie MacElroy.
Rex and Jennifer work alongside three of their four children and a knowledgeable team to provide the freshest quality feeds, hay, pet products, and lawn and garden care in a warm and friendly environment. With a focus on animal care and nutrition, D&L Farm and Home Denton has everything needed to care for horses, cows, goats, chickens, pets, and more.
Additionally, the store is expanding the gardening department to offer more plants and herbs, which correlates with a growing trend Jennifer has noticed over the years. “I think people are becoming more and more aware of what they're putting into their bodies and want to know where their food is sourced from,” she explained. The new plant offerings will allow customers to participate more actively in their food production.
This perspective shift also includes people being more aware of the feed consumed by their livestock and pets. They try to cater to as many customers as possible by carrying two national brands, Purina and Nutrena, as well as non-GMO and organic feeds. The latter are particularly popular with their chicken customers.
The store receives feed shipments weekly and those frequent deliveries, combined with a high rotation of feed, ensure the feed is fresh and hasn’t been stored for long periods of time before sale. The result is a high-quality product distributed to customers in a timely manner.
Another area where Jennifer has noticed a growing trend is in families wanting to raise their own chickens and harvest fresh eggs. “I think when small homesteads and hobby farms began it was because people wanted to know more about their food and where it came from,” she said. “Then COVID really kind of sealed it for some people - they no longer want to rely on the grocery stores and they want to be more self-sufficient.”
D&L Denton began carrying live chickens year-round in 2012. Sales continued to trend upward until demand exploded during COVID and they sold over 12,000 chickens in 2020. Last year’s numbers rose even higher with an estimated 15,000 birds sold.
“It shocks me how many chickens we sell, and it keeps growing every year,” said Jennifer. “We work with five or six different hatcheries in order to bring in the breeds that people want and be able to have the supply shipments that we need.”
Because they are part of the community, Rex and Jennifer develop relationships with customers that help them understand local needs. “I would say that customer service is probably the number one aspect of being a locally owned business,” she shared. “We both enjoy getting to know our customers and we are going to try to do whatever we can to ensure our customers are happy.”
This includes providing customers with local delivery and helping local farmers even when weather conditions are not ideal. It’s not unusual to see Rex or one of their boys making deliveries to homes, even when there are four inches of ice on the ground. That’s one commitment they stand by, to be open when no one else might be because animals still have to eat, even during the winter.
These personal connections and providing for a community they know so well are both great reasons for shopping locally. Another huge benefit of supporting locally owned businesses is the economic impact on the community. According to a recent Capital One Shopping Research report, dollars spent at locally owned, independent businesses potentially recirculate in the local economy an average of six to fifteen times. Additionally, local retailers retain 289% more revenue for the local economy than chain stores.
D&L Denton also brings the community together in a special way by supporting local organizations like FFA and 4-H, and hosting events such as the annual fall Weenie Dog Race and Spring Chicken Show.
Stop by and meet the team of D&L Farm and Home Denton, which is located at 3105 Fort Worth Drive in Denton. For more information on products, services, and events, visit dandldenton.com or call 940-891-0100. Also, follow @DandLdenton on Facebook and Instagram.
"They no longer want to rely on the grocery stores and they want to be more self-sufficient.”