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Jim Farley, owner of Farley Farm Supply
and recent Helena Chemical Company employee, released a statement this
week, clarifying events surrounding the current restructuring
involving both local businesses.
“For the past six-and-a-half years, I
have worked for someone else,” Farley said. “Three-and-a half-years
for U.A.P. and three for Helena Chemical. So Farley Farm Supply has
not been able to sell fertilizer and chemicals -- it was considered a
conflict of interest. My sales position with Helena was eliminated on
January 3.”
In a classic example of turning stumbling
blocks into stepping stones, Farley decided his termination was really
an opportunity.
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FARLEY
FARM SUPPLY EXPANSION. Farley Farm Supply employees Jeannie
Keith, Roy Foster, Matt Sparger, Bill Boswell, Keith McIlvain and
Jim Farley. Not pictured is Gerald Locke. |
“Since I’m not actually employed Helena
now, it’s created an opportunity for me to resume fertilizer and
chemical sales. This is the expansion of Farley Farm Supply,” Farley
said. “This gives me the opportunity to do what I’ve done for the past
30 years -- sell seed, feed, fertilizer and chemicals. That includes
custom application of dry and liquid fertilizer, or pull spreader
where customers can put out their own fertilizer.”
Farley emphasizes that Helena Chemical
will play an important part in his opportunity.
“Since Farley Farm Supply didn’t own any
application equipment or spreaders, I have leased what Helena had,
including the use of the facilities,” Farley said. “I will be officing
there.”
Regardless of recent rumors, Helena
Chemical will remain open, Farley said.
“Helena Chemical is not closed,” Farley
said. “Rhonda Auvenshine still works for Helena and she’s in the
office there.”
In a letter he released this week to
customers, Farley discussed several other Helena employees and their
future plans. “Jeannie Keith will be in the office,” he wrote, “and
Matt Sparger will continue to do custom application. Roy Foster will
handle truck driving duties.
Keith McIlvain has agreed to return and
assist me with the management duties. These folks will remain at the
Helena facility. The difference is that customers can order feed,
seed, fertilizer’s and chemicals at either the old Helena location or
at the Farley Farm Supply feed store. Bill Boswell and Gerald Locke
will remain at that store.”
When Jim Farley said he’s been doing the
same thing for 30 years, he’s not exaggerating.
“My parents, Lawrence and Bernice Farley,
purchased the feed store from Boss Johnson in January of 1977,” he
said, “and I went to work there in March.” His brother Danny also
worked there, making it a true family business.
The Farley family has deep roots in the
community. “Both my parents were born here,” Farley said. “My family
has been here at least 100 years.”
Jim Farley served for three years as a
member of the DISD Board of Trustees, is a past president of the
Chamber of Commerce, and has served on the Peach and Melon Festival
committee. He has also been a member of the Texas Peanut Producers
Board for the past 12 years. His commitment to the DeLeon area is
clear.
“My hope is, that customers will have the
same, if not better, service than they’ve had before,” Farley said. |
