In Defense of Nature

 CONDON’S CORNER 

The Farm Choice Country Store: A Harrisonburg Delight!

©Marlene A. Condon 2025 All Rights Reserved

[Published July 17, 2025, by The Daily Progress, the daily newspaper of Charlottesville, Virginia, The News Virginian, the daily newspaper of Waynesboro, Virginia, and The Daily News-Record, the daily newspaper of Harrisonburg, Virginia.]

Providing squirrels with their own feeder of peanuts in the shell keeps them busy and satisfied so they don’t bother your feeders for the birds (Photo courtesy of Phillip Liskey)

The Farm Choice Country Store on South High Street in Harrisonburg not only can supply you with whatever you need to take proper care of the critters you love, but the owner can provide you with the information you need to keep them—and you—happy!

The Farm Choice Country Store: A Harrisonburg Delight!

Wow! Whether you have farm animals, pets, exotic animals (think llamas and alpacas), or you just want to feed our local wildlife, you’ll find a trip to the Farm Choice Country Store well worthwhile. Located on South High Street in Harrisonburg, it’s a clean and neatly kept supply store for both people and the animals they want to keep healthy.

 

For someone such as I who enjoys feeding and watching wildlife, the number of products available as you walk inside is astonishing. You have your choice of an incredible number of feeders of all types and a large variety of seeds to choose from. From 25-pound bags of peanuts in the shell for Gray Squirrels to a variety mix of seeds for birds (think sunflower, safflower, millet, milo, niger, and more, all packaged together), as well as nectar mixes and feeders for hummingbirds, you may well have a difficult time limiting yourself to only one or even a few selections.

 

But this store isn’t only for the birds and squirrels. Cruise around the different departments and you’ll be amazed to find everything you need to feed well pet rabbits and domesticated birds, cats, dogs, horses and other farm animals, as well as llamas and alpacas! This store is truly inclusive.

 

Are you a beginner and need assistance? The owner, Phillip Liskey, is delighted to help you find just what you need. He’s as much “into” helping to make animals “happy” as anyone I’ve ever met, and thus is the perfect person to give you advice and solid information so you can do the same.

 

I spent a good 45 minutes speaking with him and I was impressed by the number of folks during that time who stopped to ask him questions about feeding wildlife. He always knew right where the item they were looking for was located and was always happy to bring it out to their vehicle for them if it was a heavy item they needed help with. You couldn’t possibly spend time in a more friendly place!

 

I was surprised by how small the store is yet so well stocked. It’s absolutely loaded with inventory. Every kind of item you could possibly need to take good care of the critters you care about is there.

 

And the cleanliness is wonderful. I’ve been to farm stores in other locations and I can tell you for a fact that they were far from the immaculate place this store is. Spilled seed attracts rats and mice, rodents that exist specifically to “clean up” the environment. But people prefer not to see these critters inside or around buildings.

 

Mind you, I have nothing against rats or mice, having had both as pets when I was young and knowing they are vital for keeping our world running properly. And my guess is if you had a pet rodent, Phillip would know of just the right food to give it for a well-balanced diet. After all, he has had much experience with providing for animals of many kinds.  

 

As for the source of Phillip Liskey’s extensive knowledge of these critters, he told me that he worked for the local cooperative right out of high school, where he learned about nutrition and agronomy (the study of soil management and crop production). He also attended Blue Ridge Community College in Weyers Cave, Virginia (in Augusta County) where he studied Ag Business.

 

Phillip then spent 11 years managing three stores (1976 to 1987) and eventually did the purchasing and promotion for all of their agricultural divisions.

 

In 1987, he started Farm Choice, focusing at first upon dairy and beef nutrition. But now, in 2025, you can visit his store to find products for just about any kind of animal you might want to keep you company on your own property.

 

Phillip and his wife rented three locations for their store and eventually began manufacturing their own brand of food for the critters people love. The couple then bought land and built their current store on South High Street in 2005. Phillip has spent 49 years helping folks to take good care of their animal companions of choice.

 

Enjoy a scenic drive to visit the Farm Choice Country Store in Harrisonburg. I can guarantee you’ll love it as much as I do. And if you have time to sightsee, there is plenty to do on the western side of the Blue Ridge Mountains, including checking out wonderful places to eat!  

 

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