Community roots deep for Jacklins
When Glenn Jacklin retires at the end of January, it will be the end of an era — one that began in 1936 during the Great Depression when his grandfather, Arden, founded Jacklin Seed Company. For the first time in 83 years there won’t be a Jacklin working in the family business.
Glenn, 55, jokes that he began working at Jacklin at conception, but he actually started working in the fields for the company in his early teens.
“In the late ’70s my sisters (Kim, Dana, Gayle and Laurice) and I started off changing pipe in the grass fields in Otis Orchards area during our spring and summer breaks from junior high and on into high school; then to picking rock, swathing, combining, processing seed, etc. in my college years,” Glenn recalled. During winter breaks from college he worked in the shop or the office at Jacklin Seed’s main office.
Glenn began working full-time in May 1986 after graduating from Washington State University, starting off in the field department as a production representative, working with farmers on agronomy and growing the crop in the Columbia Basin. He moved up to the company’s main office in Post Falls, working under his father, Don in the production department as operations manager.
When his father and uncles, Doyle and Duane, sold the business to the J. R. Simplot Company in 1997, Glenn stayed on and was promoted to his father’s position as Production Manager, which is the role from which he’s now retiring.
He appreciates the 33 years, especially working in production that allowed him to be out with farmers in the field and not bound to the office. He also has praise for the last 22 years with the Simplots.
Like most people I know, Glenn isn’t walking off into the sunset of retirement. He will join his wife, Kristina, in her business, Moose Mountain LLC., a Rathdrum grass seed and fertilizer distribution business.
Thanks to a company and family whose roots run deep in our community we’ll continue to benefit from the Jacklins’ legacy and generosity.
My personal favorite piece of Jacklin Seed Company trivia: The company produces and sells the most Kentucky Blue Grass seed in the world!
•••
For the past few years the Instant Pot pressure cooker has reached culinary cult status. I’m not among the owners group, yet, for the kitchen appliance that makes home-cooked meals convenient and varied. So many people received them for Christmas that the folks at Gizmo-CDA are hosting a free class on Wednesday, Jan. 30 with shared recipes and tips for using the cooker. Insta-Pot-Luck, is from 6-8 p.m. at 283 Hubbard St. Info: 208-651-6200.
•••
This week’s highlights:
Post Falls Chamber Recognition Gala, Red Lion Templin’s Resort, Thursday, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m..
Also on Thursday a new Inland Northwest Milestones series begins with a look back at Coeur d’Alene in the 1930s. Robert Singletary, Museum of North Idaho, is presenting. Open to the public, 7 p.m in the Coeur d’Alene library community room.
On Saturday a town hall meeting with Kootenai County’s legislators from 10 a.m. to noon, Coeur d’Alene Shrine Club Event Center, Lancaster Avenue, Hayden.
•••
Happy birthday today to Chelsea Dickinson, Sadie Lynn Fisher, Daryl Gankema, Joy Lynch, Paul Lash and Jamie Crawford. Tomorrow Sue Myers, Marion Richardson, Tina Nowoj, Kylie Frank, Josh Adams, Cindy Shepperd, May Lynn Hammon, Ed Santos, Danelle Reagan, Jillian-Kate Scott and Acaja-Lyn Scott celebrate tomorrow. Taking another trip around the sun on Friday are Rod Heitstuman, Shauna Moore, Jonathan Madrid, Marlene Waddell, Lizzie Nowoj, Jadrian Hammon, Pearl Robertson, Jerrilou Shofner, Athena Kinsry, Michaelle Sande, Mike Erin, Sherry Farmer and Rick Demmig. Saturday will be a good day for birthday celebrants Christa Hazel, Rosemary Goodlander, Kali Snider, Jeff Hall, Linda Hall, Austin Chadderdon, Nicholle Sheppard, David Townsend, Julie Kirking, Russell Larson and Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Jeff and Candace Smith have no excuse for missing each other’s birthday, since they share the date. Mike Hendricks, Alex Jimenez, and Khloe Peacock will feel fabulous on Sunday. Jenni Grimmett, Valerie Wilcox, Hope Newman, Lauren Adair, John Andres and Chad Oakland will celebrate on Monday. On Jan. 29 Rachel Riggs, Cindy Peugh, Allen Hildebrant, Don Waddell and David Gerzina Sr. will blow out the candles.
•••
Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email mainstreet@cdapress.com. Follow her on Twitter @kerrithoreson.