Happy Trails Calvin

Calvin will be ending his career at Pinicon next month after 23 years. He will be the first person to reach retirement age while employed at our company. This speaks to the relative youth of Pinicon as an organization but more importantly to Calvin's enduring fitness.  

Calvin, my first cousin, had a journeyman's resume when he started in 2000. He brought experience in farming, factory work, tiling, building construction, heavy equipment operation, grain trading and bookkeeping. 

If he'd grown up in a different time and place he could have easily gotten an advanced degree in a number of professions. Lucky for Mark and I that was not meant to be. 

Calvin was our first reputation hire. He worked at Peavey Grain at the time and was known for his astute grain market insights. Persuading cautious Calvin to leave the satisfaction and familiarity of a job he enjoyed took several years on my part. 

When I made the decision to recruit Calvin, it was with the belief that his presence would add credibility to our fledgling company. Calvin's value resulted not only from his ability to tackle any project with competence, but also the message it sent that he was willing to join our Team. 

His first areas of responsibility at Pinicon included receptionist, bookkeeper, grain merchandiser, backhoe operator, facility construction, truck driver, grain dryer operation, grain inventory oversight, farm program compliance and vehicle repairs. Calvin and I grew up at a time when farmers mostly worked alone. It was a necessity for the sole owner/operator to have a broad range of skills. Calvin was not only a quick study but also extremely critical of his work. He applied his exceedingly high standards to every task.

As Pinicon grew Calvin's role became more focused. He currently oversees purchasing, inventory management, shop procedure compliance, manure management plans and grain dryer supervision. We joke that there are no less than four people today who share what was once entirely Calvins duties, partly due to the trend towards specialization but equally indicative of Calvin's work ethic.  

Despite his many talents, Calvin is best known for his humility and cooperative nature. Being the father of five daughters may have something to do with that however there is also a genetic correlation. Calvin's dad, mom's brother Gus, was smart, thoughtful, considerate and generous. I see those traits in all his nine kids of which Calvin is number two. 

There is a saying that anyone can be replaced. I disagree. We will find a way to get the work done and we will continue to improve. Still, it will take several people and years of coaching to replicate Calvin's contribution. 

Thanks Calvin for the example you set and putting up with me at my worst. Hoping you continue to experience the good health and happiness you deserve. 

Jim

Jim & Calvin - Golf Outing in Riceville 2009