Finely Food Farm Business After Hours gathering moves indoors
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Steve Edwards
Jeff Finley, right side of photo, introduces his family during the Business After Hours hosted by Finley's Food Farm. Left to right are daughters Olivia, Elizabeth and Sadie. Lynette and Jeff bought the store about eight years ago. The event was planned for outdoors but was moved to Wallner Hall because of cold and rainy weather.
When Jeff and Lynette Finley began making plans to host the May Business After Hours event, the weather was summer-like and plans were to welcome and serve guests outdoors. By the time of the actual gathering the weather had turned, well, winter-like with a cold rain and blustery winds. Jeff said, "We had to adapt, we were able to move the Business After Hours to Wallner Hall."
As a crowd of about 60 began to gather, Jeff Finley, surrounded by his wife and daughters, welcomed guests and shared a little history of the grocery store. Jeff said his family has been connected to the store for a number of years, adding, "My mom, Sandy, has worked at the store for 17+ years." Jeff said he cleaned at the store while a student in high school. He and Lynette bought the store about eight years ago.
Jeff said there have been changes at the store, even in the few years he and Lynette have owned and operated it. "One thing for sure," Jeff explained, "is more reliance on computers. My mom tells about pricing each item with a grease pencil, that's all done with computers now." Jeff added, "We have a good crew of employees, about 12-17 at any one time, and several with a lot of years at the store. That helps maintain continuity. And, despite fluctuating population numbers and economic ups and downs in the area, sales have been fairly stable during the time we've had the store."
Lynette thanked the guests for supporting the store and her family. She said, "I'm so glad we came to Chinook. It's been a great place to raise a family." And the next generation is already working at the store in various capacities. Jeff introduced the three daughters and how they are currently fitting into the workforce at the store.
Opening remarks completed, Jeff invited guests to have something to eat. Sushi, not a common choice in many rural areas, came about from a trip the Finley's took and visited a grocery store. Jeff said, "We sampled it at the store and decided to give it a try here in Chinook. It's very popular." Other new products, he said, come from customer suggestions. Then things got quiet as guests dug in to the treats.
Business After Hours events are sponsored by the Chinook Chamber of Commerce and open to the public. The next Business After Hours program will be hosted by Sweet Medical Center on June 9th.
