Feed and tack store opens in Fern Prairie

Cowboys, cowgirls and city folks are invited to attend the grand opening of a new feed and tack store in Fern Prairie.

Bits n Spurs, located behind Fern Prairie Market, has dog, cat and bird food, puppy shampoo, sock monkey dog toys, feed oats, stall forks, stove pellets and animal bedding. There are also saddles and bridles, poultry grit, western-theme photo frames, John Deere thermometers, Ransom Ranch clothing, wormers for cats, dogs, cows and horses, and other animal health and grooming supplies.

A selection of western-inspired jewelry includes pendants, earrings, rings, bracelets and watches. There are also greeting cards, leather checkbook covers and key chains, as well as pewter horseshoe-shaped napkin rings.

The store’s inventory is expected to soon include horse blankets, ladies and men’s wallets and John Deere clothing.

Karin Emmerich, owner of Bits n Spurs, has 30 cows, five barn cats, four dogs, four chickens and two horses. Her daughter, Nancy Allen, is the store manager.

Allen has four dogs, four horses, three miniature horses and several house cats and barn cats.

Both have lived in Washougal since 1989 and know a thing or two about raising animals.

Allen was in the 4-H since the age of 8 and showed horses in the Skamania County Fair.

“She grew up with it,” Emmerich said.

Allen is a former coach of the Camas and Washougal high schools’ equestrian teams. Both women have feed and farm retail store management experience.

A grand opening celebration, set for Friday through Sunday, will include sales, prizes and samples.

Individuals can exchange an empty bag of senior horse feed for a bag of Equis feed. There is a limit of one free bag per customer.

A horse feed seminar will be held Thursday, Oct. 14, at 6 p.m., at Bits n Spurs. Emmerich and Allen will host a Halloween pet costume contest Saturday, Oct. 30, from 10 a.m. to noon. There will be goodies provided to dressed up pets, and a photographer from Click Photo, of Washougal, will be on site.

Bits n Spurs, 26717 N.E. 19th St., is open Monday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, from 11 a.m to 4 p.m.

For more information, call 833-1021 or e-mail BitsnSpurs5@aol.com.