Kirkeys rise to a family-owned and operated Groton business

By day, Shane Kirkey is employed at O’Toole’s Stone & Gravel in Moravia, while his wife, Sarah, works at Finger Lakes Dermatology, but most of the rest of their time is spent working at their family business, Kirkey’s Cutting & Game Processing.

Shane grew up on Bird Cemetery Road. He attended Groton High School but felt compelled to join the U.S. Army in 2004, right after his sophomore year.

“I served until 2012,” Shane said, “and did two tours of duty in Afghanistan — the first as a mechanic in the motor pool and the second in the 13 Bravo Infantry. I was very honored to be the Army Veteran of the Year in 2022 at the 7th Annual Ride for the Memories U.S. Army SP4 Ryan P. Jayne Memorial Bike Ride. That was a really good day.”

Sarah grew up in Dryden, where she graduated from Dryden High School in 2002 and also received her certified nurse aid (CNA) certification from TST BOCES. She danced for seven years at Dryden Dance Art Studio during her school career and worked as a medical assistant at various places after high school.

Shane and Sarah join forces

In September 2017, Shane and Sarah met on Facebook and began messaging one another. Shane was a single dad to Shane Jr. (called Michael), Emma and Abbygael, and Sarah was the single mom of Andrew, Ethan and Isabella.

Applebee’s was the venue for Shane and Sarah’s first date. They spent their second date at Iron Kettle Farm and have been inseparable since. Married in August 2018, they eventually added their twin sons to the family; Henry and Maxwell are now four years old.

“I grew up hunting with my dad and brothers,” Shane said. “We would process deer in our garage and kitchen, and each of us had a job. I learned from that through the years, so I saw it as an opportunity to start my own business — something I always wanted.”

In October 2022, the Kirkeys began by advertising on Facebook, garnering their first customer, Bill Carroll, who remains a loyal customer. By word of mouth, they had a few more customers that year.

How the business grew

When fall 2023 rolled around, Shane and Sarah put up a 10-by-20-foot tarp shed for Shane to do the game cutting in, while Sarah set up the kitchen for packaging.

“We processed 50 deer that year,” Sarah said. “We both worked full time all day and had the twins to care for, plus the household cooking and cleaning. We had a tiny camping woodstove for warmth in the windy tarp shed, a $5 vacuum sealer from a thrift store, a $40 KitchenAid #5 meat grinder and a $50 meat stuffer that we had to bolt to our kitchen table. Those were hard times.”

“In the deer processing world, 50 is nothing,” Shane explained, “but with what we had to work with, it was a lot! Every penny we made that year was saved and spent on Christmas for our kids. With nine of them, plus a grandchild, it was the first time in my life that we didn’t have to worry about that.”

After that tough year, Shane said he didn’t know if he could continue the business, but because they had a loyal customer base already, Sarah encouraged him to pursue it because she recognized the need for it.

How the business progressed from there

In 2024, the tarp shed and the equipment were upgraded to something more usable, and the advertising increased to include signs on their truck and business cards they dispersed anywhere they could.

“The freezers had died, so we added a refrigerator and a new freezer,” Sarah said. “I was very happy to separate the business from our home at that point!”

“Last year, we processed 107 deer, four bears, one 900-pound buffalo and 10 to 15 specialty orders, where hunters rough-cut their own deer but brought them to us to process and package,” Shane said. “We cut from Oct. 1 to Feb. 14 and worked until 2 a.m. many nights.”

“We work for our customers,” Sarah said. “We take pride in it. Everything is hands-on for each customer. We also make jerky and sausage and other specialties.”

This past summer, the Kirkeys purchased a brand new 14-by-14-foot shed, which is half meat cooler and half workspace — a vast improvement!

“This started out as money for Christmas, but I’m not doing this for me,” Shane said. “I’m growing this business for my sons, Michael, Henry and Max. Henry and Max are such a big part of this now. They help package, count the number of steaks for the packages and even cut scrap meat with their own little dull knives. Everything we do, they do in their own, 4-year-old way. They’re also a welcoming committee and cheerleaders for the hunters when they arrive. You could bring us the smallest deer in the world, and they will make you feel like it’s an 8-point buck!”

In addition to his pride in his “helpers,” Shane is proud to say that his business is veteran-owned and operated, that gutting services are also available at their shop at 4871 Devlen Rd. — and if you stay and learn to do it yourself while Shane teaches you, that part of the process is free!

“We’re available 24/7 for the hunters who track half the night and find their trophy at 3 a.m.,” Shane said. “I’ve been there. Give us a call at 607-227-5261 or email Skirkey26@gmail.com, and let us turn your trophy into something your family will enjoy.”

Groton on the Inside appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Submit story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com or text or call Linda at 607-227-4922. 

In brief:

Spaghetti dinner

Groton City Church, 47 Groton City Rd., will hold a spaghetti supper Saturday, Oct. 11 from 4 p.m. until gone, including spaghetti, salad, bread and butter, beverage and dessert. The church is handicapped accessible, and all are welcome. Cost is a free will offering to benefit the church fuel fund.

Chicken barbecue

Groton Assembly of God, 701 S. Main St., will hold a “catered by Hatfield’s” chicken barbecue to benefit its Men’s Ministries program beginning at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 12. Cost is $10 for a half or $12 for a meal that includes baked beans and salt potatoes.

Adult flag football

Groton Recreation’s adult pick-up flag football games happen from 9 to 10:30 a.m. weekly through Nov. 8 at Groton Memorial Park. The program is open to anyone age 15 and up. Contact recreation@grotonny.org for more information.