A new family-owned business is preparing to open its doors in Whitesville, offering a hometown option for feed, equipment, and farm supplies.
Royal-Lampkin Feed and Farm Supply is a joint effort by Caleb and Brooklyn Royal alongside Rob and Jenny Lampkin. The store will be located in the former Whitesville Fire Department building at 9950 Main Street in Whitesville, and the families have been renovating the building for more than a month.
“We’re going to carry horse feed, livestock feed, chicken feed — just about everything,” Caleb Royal said. “We’ll have wood posts, fencing materials, fertilizer, seed, and used and new farm equipment for sale or consignment.”
Delivery will also be available throughout the area. Customers can call in the morning and have their order brought directly to the farm later that day.
The shop will even include a full drive-in area, allowing customers to pull inside the building to load their feed — something especially convenient during winter months.
Royal, a full-time farmer, said opening a farm and feed store has been a longtime dream.
“Rob owns his own excavation company, and Brooklyn works from home, so it all came together,” Royal said. “We wanted to build something for our families and for God — and to do it in our community.”
The Royals live in Deanefield and the Lampkins live in Philpot, so Whitesville was a natural fit. The group said the local support has already been overwhelming — even before the store has officially opened.
“The community here is amazing,” Royal said. “There’s nothing like this close by. Most people have to drive all the way to Owensboro for anything farm-related.”
Lampkin added that part of their mission is to bring back the feel of a true hometown store.
“There’s not many of those left,” he said. “Everything is big box now. But people have told us they want to support something local again.”
Beyond product selection and convenience, Royal said the level of service and agricultural knowledge they plan to offer will set them apart.
“If somebody’s having an issue with their animals or needs advice on what seed to plant, they can call us,” he said. “We’ll put together what they need and even deliver it. That kind of service just doesn’t exist at the bigger stores.”
They also hope to create a welcoming environment, with a space for farmers and locals to stop in, grab coffee, and talk shop.
“We’re not doing anything too fancy, but we want a place where people feel at home,” Royal said.
The couples hope to be open by early April, depending on a few final touches — such as the arrival of a new roll-up door for the drive-in area. They’ve already started placing inventory orders and are looking at expanding with help from local students in the summer.
“We’re building this for the long haul,” Lampkin said. “And it’s been really cool to see how many people are excited for us to open. It just confirms we’re doing the right thing.”
