A14 www.100milefreepress.net
Wednesday, August 13, 2014 100 Mile Free Press
100 Mile Free Press Wednesday, August 13, 2014
www.100milefreepress.net
…A15
100 MILE FEED & RANCH SUPPLY LTD. CELEBRATING OUR SAT., AUG. 16
TH
YEAR IN BUSINESS 8:00AM - 5:00PM
100 Mile Feed & Ranch Supply - A family-run business for 50 years!
2014
PRIZES AND GIVEAWAYS ALL DAY! BASKETS WITH PET FOOD & SUPPLIES
STARTING TODAY WEDNESDAY: • DAILY PRZES • $2.00 OFF ALL FEED BAGS
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPLIERS:
Half a century ago, the Dobbs family opened the 100 Mile Feed & Ranch Supply including buying 4H Club beef for the family's annual needs all the way back to 1964 – in 100 Mile House. The feed, ranch and farm supply business opened its doors for the which adds up to a lot of beef. first time on Aug. 4, 1964 and has been a going concern ever since. Frank notes they also help support many, many other organizations and Frank says it is the oldest continuously owned family business in 100 Mile community events. "You can't have a business like this in a community without House. "My father [Frank Dobbs Sr.] was managing supporting a lot of things. Hardly a day goes by the previous feed store here, and it was sold out that we don't have somebody come in looking for from under him." donations and things." Back then, a group of local ranchers headed Longtime donations from the Dobbs include up by Ted Pincott Sr., asked his father to start a new regular sponsorships such as Pizza Day for Peter feed store, and they'd support him, he explains."Dad Skene Ogden Secondary School and Turkey Day for started up the feed store, and my wife and I gave the Food Bank, he adds. him some support, and here we are." "But, every business in town is the same. This is He notes that the original, small Dobbs the best community you could possibly ever live in family store was located on Highway 97. "There was because they support everybody locally. It's like one a little warehouse there; we could put in a couple great big family." truckloads of feed and he became an agent for Frank is a Mason and a Shriner, and is proud Carson Trucklines and a couple of others. He did to note the small, local chapters raised more than anything to keep going — in fact, the Free Press $26,000 for the community and the Shriner's bus at rented a small office space off of him. If people a dinner-auction this spring. "That's a lot of work for needed things, he did it." four guys and their wives!" A larger store was built at the current Many of the Dobbs' employees volunteer on their Exeter Station Road location in 1974, which today own for various worthy causes, too, he adds. houses close to 7,000 items in inventory. Services The Dobbs family and their 10 staff members will Dorothy and Frank Sr. Dobbs, 1964 have expanded to meet customers' needs and be celebrating their 50th anniversary on Saturday, expectations, such as the soils, fertilizer, tack, pet August 16 and they are looking forward to having food and other supplies, Frank says. He notes his brother, John Dobbs, did a lot of their customers and friends and neighbours drop in for the momentous occasion. "I leather work in the late 1960s and early 1970s, so offering the tack was a natural wrote a letter to [all our account customers] that's going out with the statements this progression. year, and then we'll have it on our counter, to say thanks to our fantastic customers for After moving to the new store location, Frank joined in actively running the store keeping us going the last 50 years.” in 1979. "Because, without our customers, we couldn't be here. We just try to offer a A new, 42-unit mini-storage with 30 outdoor/RV spaces followed in and around service and keep our staff paid and our bills paid." 1984, he explains. As the latest active family member, Frank and Vivian's son-in-law, Dan Kay, Frank says the new warehouse was built about 15 years back, in order to enlarge joined the operation as manager in December. the space and eliminate a growing mouse problem by tearing down the old storage Dan notes he also now operates his Danscapes Landscaping business and bay. "According to the guy running the excavator, the driveway was black with mice staff out of the 100 Mile Feed & Ranch Supply. "It's an added service ... the store now running to cross the road.... We were killing 100 mice a day, with approximately $100 offers landscaping and fencing." It is a "huge learning curve," but fun, he adds. "It's a day in lost feed." That rebuild to a tighter, concrete-steel enclosure was successful, very enjoyable to come to work, mainly because of the staff here now. Everybody and now, they see about a mouse or two a month that come in with the feed, he adds. enjoys themselves here, and I think that reflects on the customers coming in." Frank explains a full garden centre was added 10 years ago, along with an Both Dan and Frank say they get customers' compliments on their great staff addition at the rear of the store. The greenhouses filled with plants and garden supplies almost daily. was a popular addition. "It just made it more convenient for our customers. Everything Other family shareholders include Frank's sisters, Marjorie Radford and Bonnie we do is to try to keep our customers pleased, and to keep people coming in." McIntyre, brother-in-law Donald Tinker, and Frank and Vivian's daughters, Laura Kay, Frank and his brother have both been "in and out" of active involvement at the Shaunna Dobbs and Cynthia DobbsCox, he adds. family's feed and ranch store, and the experience has been "interesting." Vivian's key family contribution, on top of working in various roles, including Frank notes John remains on site at the business — currently handling the trucking/ a long career at BC Hydro, was "raising three gorgeous daughters who we are very logistics and running the warehouse — although he no longer holds any shares. proud of," Frank says, adding they now have three wonderful grandchildren, and wish The Dobbs have been strong supporters of the community over the decades, they had more.
With Special Guest MLA Donna Barnett at the Barbecue • Hot Dogs • Hamburgers • Coffee • Refreshments
On location
INTRODUCING NEW LINE OF CAT FOOD
20% OFF ANY
DOG FOOD PLUS MANY MORE IN-STORE SPECIALS
250-395-2408 1/4 mile up Exeter Rd.
“MUCH MORE THAN JUST A FEED STORE”