Insight Weekly – Kim Wybenga – Farm Supply Company
HISTORICALLY CO- OPERATIVE!
Since the beginning of time men and women have been surrounded by an atmosphere of agriculture and livestock. With that said, there has also been a continual need to care for the land and animals that we are responsible for and are blessed to coexist with. Fortunately for us, the Farm Supply Company planted their roots in the Central Coast in 1950 as an agricultural supply cooperative to serve their members. That’s right, this homegrown company’s roots run as deep as a Ficus fig tree. With 74 years of commercial success, come rain or shine, the Farm Supply Company has grown internally and externally season after season, despite the ups and downs of the economy. What’s in their soil that keeps them flourishing and evolving into the company they are today? It’s one simple and yet significant core value that cannot be overlooked……a HEART of servitude.
No successful Co-Op starts on its own, nor does it sustain itself without exceptional leadership. With 53 years of service to the Farm Supply Company, Jim Brabeck, the board of directors, and staff changed the landscape of the agricultural retail world leading this unique farmer-owned cooperative, rightfully named ‘The Farm Supply Company’. In 1950, the Board of Directors of the San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau came together with the same innovative vision and started the farm co-op with one mission in mind: support the farmers and ranchers on the Central Coast. The co-op concept would give the farmers the ability to purchase quality goods and services, at a price they could afford. As we all know, great leaders aren’t born; they are cultivated. Thank you, Jim Brabeck, for being an inspirational leader for others who could follow with confidence!
Little did I know that I was about to meet one of those strong leaders who gleaned from Jim’s commitment to the company. From the moment I entered the Farm Supply Company store, located at 1079 El Camino Real in Arroyo Grande, I could see that this location was guided and directed by someone conscientious and considerate of their patron’s retail needs. As my eyes were gazing at the variety of stock on the shelves, in walked a woman who greeted me with a welcoming smile and an engaging take-charge spirit. Her name is Cara Crye Wright. She is the CEO, and I could see that she was perfect for her role. Cara was down to earth and very approachable. Without hesitation she introduced me to her staff, who not only extended a friendly demeanor, but made me feel as though I had stepped back in time, a time when customer service was paramount and essential for success!
I looked in awe as Store Manager Chris was busy dusting the shelves as though he was caring for his own home. The whole scene was truly inviting and refreshing. Equally impressive was the quality and quantity of their product line, which was thoughtfully displayed with the customer’s preferences in mind. It was evident to me that Cara’s 28-year career path with The Farm Supply Company had been extremely fruitful and her impact as an inspirational leader was evident. As our interview progressed, she expressed her passion for the company as a whole and her desire to stay relevant in an ever-changing retail culture was infectious. Cara instinctively knows that the key to her achieving those goals is to continue to plant new seeds daily, seeds of a solid work ethic laced with compassion and understanding for the staff and their customers. A big component to that is to model for her staff how to effectively meet the retail needs of the customers by building long-lasting relationships along the way. This essential ingredient is why families across our coastline have made The Farm Supply Company a familiar stop in their week. 😊
As the old saying goes …we reap what we sow, and the FARM SUPPLY COMPANY continues to grow by sowing good seeds of hard work and integrity, which in turn benefits our families on the Central Coast and beyond. What began in an 18 x20 ft. room with only $400 worth of product turned into a HISTORICALLY CO-OPERATIVE way of serving our community. This isn’t just your average farm supply store. Not by a long shot! It has become a beloved staple for our families throughout Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Arroyo Grande, Santa Maria and Buellton. As CEO Cara Crye Wright stated, “We live and work here too, we are your neighbors, our kids may go to the same school or play on the same sports team.“😊
To put into words how much we appreciate the ways in which the Farm Supply Company has contributed to the wellbeing of our community would be nearly impossible to quantify. Keeping farm and ranch supplies affordable and accessible has made our agricultural community feel extremely valued and cared for. So, what can you expect to find when you visit one of their five locations? Everything from irrigation products, equine and livestock necessities, feed and hay, premium pet food and pet care necessities, name brand ranch wear, beautiful home décor, fencing essentials, lawn and garden items and much more! There’s only one way to describe the scope of products and services that this HISTORICALLY CO-OPERATIVE company has to offer: If it grows, eats, needs to be cared for, protected or is ranch related, the Farm Supply Company is your “one stop shop to cover the ground you walk on or help you care for the animals you are tending to!”
For more information and hours of operation please visit: www.farmsupplycompany.com.