Still Nailing It

TWO OF THE MOST POPULAR GUYS IN THE FENCING INDUSTRY ARE MAKING A COMEBACK. “MANY OF OUR SUBSCRIBERS WERE READERS OF WORLD FENCE NEWS AND REMEMBER THE CARTOONS FEATURING PETE AND JAKE,” EXPLAINS MARY HUMMON, GENERAL MANAGER OF FENCE NEWS USA. “WE’RE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT FENCE NEWS USA NOW OWNS THE RIGHTS TO PETE AND JAKE. THEIR LEGACY – SUCH AS IT IS – LIVES ON!”

WE CAUGHT UP WITH PETE AND JAKE TO SEE WHAT’S BEEN GOING ON, WHAT THEY’VE BUILT LATELY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR DOG, LUCKY.

WHERE HAVE THE TWO OF YOU BEEN?

Pete: Well, you know, there was a pandemic. And there was all dat free money and free programs you could apply for, so we decided to go on vacation.

Jake: Yeah, we deserved a vacation. All Boss Man wanted us to do was work for our money.

WHY ARE Y’ALL WORKING WITH FENCE NEWS USA?

Pete: We ran outta money.

Jake: We didn’t have much jingle in our jeans, ya know? The free money ran out and really messed up our vacation.

WHERE ARE YOU TWO FROM?

Pete: All kinds of places. My parents used to move a lot when I was a kid, but it was a good thing I was always able to find them. Yeah, my parents moved every time the rent came due. We’d get lots of phone calls at our house. I thought my daddy was the most popular guy in town since everyone was looking for him. Turns out, I think those guys just wanted their rent money.

HOW DID THE TWO OF YOU GET INTO THE FENCE INDUSTRY?

Pete: It was a family business. My dad and grandpa built fences. They had two companies: Built Rite and Built Wrong. Once you get that galvanize in your blood, you’re hooked, ya know?

Jake: I was just standing around one day and Boss Man came up to me and asked if I wanted a job. I told him, “I don’t know. Doin’ what?” He said, “Digging holes.” I figured I’m real good at that; I dig them all the time but somehow I’m always able to get out of them. Boss Man said he’d get me a PHD. Turns out, instead of a diploma, he handed me a post hole digger.

WHAT HAVE YOU BUILT LATELY?

Pete: Mostly a pile of IOUs.

Jake: Yeah, people won’t leave us alone, sayin’ we need to pay back, something about a promissory note. I’m sorry they promised, too, but that’s nothin’ I’m gonna worry ‘bout.

Pete: Maybe they’re sorry about their prom. Who knows. They just need to quit callin’ us.

WHAT HAPPENED TO LUCKY?

Pete: His luck ran out.

Jake: Yeah, he finally had an unlucky day. Pete says that Lucky is busy digging holes in the great beyond, but I saw him and I think he is dead.

DO YOU HAVE A NEW DOG?

Pete: Yeah, his name is Picket.

Jake: We don’t know if he’s a huntin’ dog or a watch dog. He hunts something to eat, then watches it run away again. Not very useful, that Picket. He needs to be more like Pete and me, hard workin’ up to about 10 a.m. every day.

WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU AFTER 10 A.M.?

Pete: Well, we’re tired after working all morning. We need a nap and some relaxation time, ya know?

Jake: Yeah, we can’t seem to make Boss Man understand we need to take it easy. A little work, and a lotta play. That’s what keeps us so good lookin’.

HOW IS YOUR BOSS DOING?

Pete: Turns out, Boss Man moved from Texas to Louisiana, chasing hurricane work. Those people get hurricanes like some people get sunshine, ya know?

Jake: Boss Man told me he was never leaving Louisiana. He loves that Cajun food. You won’t believe what they eat down there. If it moves, they eat it. Turtle sauce piquante, crawfish etouffee, shrimp creole, shrimp and crab gumbo. Man, those people even eat alligator. All that seasoning and flavor in everything, he’s got it good now.

IS HE A GOOD BOSS?

Pete: Pretty good. He thinks we need to work all day, though. Can you believe? Me and Jake ain’t never worked a full day, ever. Guess that may be why we keep gettin’ run off of jobs.

Jake: One time, Boss Man told us to get to work or we’d be working on the pearly gates sooner than we expected. So, we decided we’d just keep working for him ‘cause we ain’t ready for the pearly gates just yet.

The Pete and Jake cartoon was originally established in1983 by World Fence News. The owners, Rodger and Barbara Duke, say that Pete and Jake appeared in every monthly issue, 443 issues, and has given many in the fence industry years of laughs. Rodger started with IFIA (now AFA) and saw the need for a quality fence trade publication, thus World Fence News.

Fence News USA commits to continuing World Fence News’ hard work, professionalism, and many more Pete and Jake cartoons. Thanks to Rodger and Barbara Duke for allowing Pete and Jake to continue their career in the fence industry.

By acquiring the rights to Pete and Jake, they cannot be reproduced or used without permission of Fence News USA.