The end of an era at Farmers Lumber

As reliable as the bells that toll throughout the day in Fontanelle has been Jim Dickerson’s commitment to the customers of Farmers Lumber in Fontanelle for the past nearly 61 years.

Dickerson decided that last week was going to be his last at the lumber yard, and a reception of a size fitting for length his career ended up being was held Friday, Jan. 5, complete with refreshments and many well wishes.

Dickerson was offered congratulations from staff, the Farmers Lumber board and customers during the reception. He received a commemorative watch from the board for his service to the company.

Beginning as general manager of the business in 2004, Dickerson did many things at Farmers Lumber leading up to that time.

Dickerson, 80, started at the lumber yard April 1, 1963.

“It’s a good feeling to retire after that many years,” Dickerson said. “It’s been a long time. I’ve seen a lot of things come and a lot of things go. I think it will just be good to get away.”

Farmers Lumber was the first job Dickerson had out of high school, and the nearly lifelong Fontanelle resident said he has been fortunate it has stuck for so long.

He was helping on Leo Jacobson’s farm at the time when Don Bradford asked him about working at the lumber yard.

“This is where it started,” Dickerson said. “It seemed to be going OK. It was close — I lived here in town, so I didn’t have to go far to work — and I liked the job.”

Throughout the years, Dickerson has filled many hats at Farmers Lumber, whether it has been a yard man, a book-keeper or assistant manager. He worked for many years under former general manager Bruce Jensen, then Randy Jameson.

On a daily basis, the general manager of the lumber yard spends time figuring portable building estimates, buying lumber and maintaining inventory.

“We sell a lot of different stuff here, so you kind of have to know something about everything,” Dickerson said. “You have to know a lot about farm things — water, fencing, plumbing, electric, and things like that. You start into it and kind of learn as you go. I’ve kind of always gotten to do what I wanted how I wanted and when I wanted.”

Because it is a farmer-owned cooperative, Farmers Lumber has a board of directors, and Dickerson praised that group, which meets regularly to handle the business of the cooperative, for their good leadership. He said he hasn’t ever had any trouble from boards through his time with Farmers Lumber. The group is currently led by President Jordan Groves, Vice President Dennis Lundy and Secretary Dave Rectenbaugh.

There have also been a bevy of longtime employees that Dickerson has enjoyed working with.

There’s one thing that has kept Dickerson going throughout the years.

“I’d like to thank everyone for supporting the lumber yard and for supporting me over the years,” he said. “It’s a farmer-owned lumber yard and it’s pretty well run by the farmers. It’s a farmer’s thing — everything’s related to farming. That’s what you’ve gotta know if you are going to run it. You have to be good with [what a farmer does].”