Robby Kirkland – Rooted in Legacy

By Lindsey Sawin

With deep generational roots in Vega and Oldham County, Robby Kirkland finds a sense of pride in carrying on the tradition of cultivating crops, livestock and community in the area.

“Both sets of my grandparents were proud of Vega and Oldham County and the lives they were able to build and the families they built together,” Kirkland said.

While his family has been involved in production agriculture since they moved to Vega, it wasn’t until the 1980s that they began operating a feedyard. Kirkland Feedyard was started by Robby’s parents, Perry and Melanie Kirkland, in 1983.

​What started as the purchase of a small grow yard has expanded over the years, and he has had a front-row seat to the growth of the feedyard.

“I watched my dad grow it from the time I was 12 until I graduated high school,” Kirkland said. “He grew it from 1,000 head to about 5,000 head and when I went to college it was still growing.”

When Kirkland graduated high school, he knew one thing: he wanted to go to Texas Tech University (TTU). While at TTU, he found a sense of belonging to the agriculture industry and to his family’s operation. As he sat in classes with likeminded individuals, he knew it was his desire to carry on the legacy his grandparents began.

“Something that is important to me and has been instilled in me is trying to help build a legacy of what my grandparents and parents started,” Kirkland said.

He returned to the feedyard in 1995 after graduating with a degree in animal science. He wanted to continue the growth of the feedyard alongside his father.

“I saw the opportunity to go back and leave Kirkland Feedyard a little bit better,” Kirkland said. “Going back to make an impact, make it a little better, a little different and have my fingerprint on the feedyard.”

FAMILY BUSINESS
Since the beginning, Kirkland Feedyard has been a family affair. Kirkland’s parents worked side by side for many years, his mom in the office and his dad managing operations.

“It was dad’s vision and passion,” Kirkland said. “But mom was right beside dad supporting him every step of the way. She has been instrumental in the day-to-day operations of the feedyard.”

Today, the tradition of family remains. When you drive through the fences of Kirkland Feedyard, you will find three generations.

From the day Kirkland returned to the feedyard, he and his dad have worked together, and his son Carson returned to the feedyard last year.

“Seeing Carson’s story play out similar to mine, going to Texas Tech and then wanting to come back and be part of the operation is special,” Kirkland said. “I think we are all drawn to be a part of something, for us it is being drawn to be part of the legacy of a family operation.”

The desire to carry on the legacy isn’t the only thing his dad has taught him over the years. His dad serves as his greatest mentor and a wealth of knowledge.

“When there are challenges within the industry whether it is legislative or regulatory, I know Dad gives me a clear, unbiased opinion,” Kirkland said. “I can sit him down and explain what is going on and say, ‘tell me how you view this.’ ”

An additional part of carrying on what his grandparents started includes making decisions with God’s guidance.

“Faith in the Lord has been a part of our family legacy as well,” Kirkland said. “We strive to keep it in the center of what we do and our thought process.”
​
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
The Kirkland Feedyard business model has always been based on taking care of customers and cattle. And while being profitable is important, it is also about making people feel like they’re part of the family.

​“We want to be a family atmosphere,” Kirkland explained. “We started out at a 1,000 head and today we are close to 30,000 head, but we continue to have the same philosophy that we did and that my dad instilled in me. We work hard, we have high expectations, we treat people the way we want to be treated and create a family atmosphere. That is still how I try to manage the feedyard today.”

That philosophy is expected to trickle down into the way feedyard employees complete their job.

“If our team has heard it once, they’ve heard it 100 times, we treat people, cattle, equipment and people’s cattle the way we want to be treated,” he said.

Their people-focused business model allows them to work with a large group to produce a product in which they believe.

“We are out here as a family, feeding our family, our community and our employees,” Kirkland said. “We are trying to produce a safe, healthy product while working with customers to accomplish that.”

At any one time, Kirkland Feedyard has about 70 different customer’s cattle on feed. With that comes opportunities to help each one meet their goals.

“In our situation where we are feeding lots of customer cattle, we are working with customers, ranchers, feeders and producers that are trying to meet a goal, too,” Kirkland explained. “At the end of the day, we are all trying to make a better and profitable product, we can’t do it just to do it, we have to be able to be profitable while doing it. So, our goal becomes multi-targeted from a standpoint of working with customers and providing them what they need. The customer’s wants, desires and needs to be sustainable and profitable carry over to us.”

Kirkland enjoys being able to pivot and try different approaches to help each of their customers successfully produce a beef product to feed consumers across the globe.

“Working with 70 different people on their goals or expectations is a challenge, but I enjoy the competition and try to be the best we can be,” he said.

PARTNERING FOR SUCCESS
“TCFA has been instrumental in Kirkland Feedyard from the mid-80s when my dad started the grow yard,” Kirkland said. “I grew up seeing him participate and work with TCFA, whether it be programs or serving on the board of directors or committees.”

After Kirkland returned to the feedyard, his dad asked him to attend TCFA committee meetings and other events with him, and in 2002 he was selected to participate in the TCFA leadership program.

“I remember my dad grabbing me as a 20-year-old, right out of college and taking me to TCFA meetings,” he said. “I still remember those meetings and the people. I’ve built relationships and friendships through the years, and it has been vital to our success.”

Since those early days, Kirkland has stayed connected to the association from serving on committees, to working groups and now as the Chairman.

Kirkland’s goal for his year as Chairman is to make a positive impact on the association and the industry by lending a hand wherever it is needed.

​“I want to have an impact, and that impact looks different for everyone, but I think we need to impact our families and communities. When it comes to our association, it is no different,” he said. “For me, it is coming alongside what TCFA is doing and helping be a voice and guide to help it continue down the road and make an impact. At the end of the day, you want to make an impact, but you want the things you touch to make an impact, too.”

During his time as a member of TCFA and as a committee and board member, Kirkland’s drive to make an impact has been and continues to be evident, TCFA President and CEO Ben Weinheimer said.

“Robby has been a dedicated and loyal member of TCFA for many years,” he said. “His desire to serve others and move the industry forward is evident in the work he does alongside his family at Kirkland Feedyard and in his willingness to participate in TCFA and other industry events.”

While Kirkland serves as the Chairman this year, his family will be with him every step of the way. His wife Amy, son Carson, two daughters, Calleigh and Cydney, along with Caleigh’s husband Cooper will travel with and support Kirkland during his year of leadership.

Traveling to events and serving the industry has been a part of the family’s fabric for many years. Today, Amy and Carson also hold leadership roles within the industry.

“It wasn’t something that was part of the plan, it was just something that evolved and happened,”
Kirkland said. “To travel with my parents and family to NCBA and TCFA events growing up and now watching Amy embrace serving and become vested in the industry is special.”

Their involvement over the years has sowed into their children the importance of staying connected.

“Carson never had a chance,” he said with a smile. “All he has known is us participating, trying to make an impact and being servants of our industry. It is really cool for him to now serve on a couple TCFA committees. It is exciting and I am proud that the legacy my grandparents began has the chance to continue.”

While carrying on the legacy of his family’s operation is important to Kirkland, the most important things to him are his faith, family and the people who surround him. And those principles will remain as he serves this year.

“I am not defined by what I do. I love what I do, I love that I am a cattle feeder, I love that I work with my family, and I love that I have this opportunity, but I cannot be defined as Robby Kirkland the feedyard manager. My faith in the Lord has to be a priority for my family,” Kirkland said.