Chris, tell us what you do here for Lehman’s.
I’ve worked here almost a year. It’ll be a year at the end of June. I do a lot of different things from operational to merchandising along with working with our Mount Hope store and with Marketing.
Do you have a favorite product?
I’ve tested a few things. Butter churns and things like that. My wife and I are looking into chickens. We are able to have 5 chickens on our property in the village that we live in. But we’ve tried things like the sprout growers that Amy Murray in Housewares pushes. We also garden.
So you did that before working at Lehman’s?
Yes, but then we have added some of the products after working here. We used to have a fairly large garden in our backyard. We’ve kind of dwindled down over the years as the children have gone off to college and things. But now we use our back planting beds that are attached to our house to grow tomatoes yearly. We actually grow tons of tomatoes. My wife cans salsa every year and makes spaghetti sauce and things like that.
What advice do you have for someone who is just starting their journey to homesteading or to a simpler life?
I’d say based on my conversation with customers from those who are going all in or putting their toes in the water and just testing it, it’s just to plan what you need to get started. I’m one of those people who once I get into something new whether it’s motorcycling, bicycling, I don’t go out there and buy everything that’s relatable to it. Work with some of our employees to come up with what the key items are that you’d need to get started first and then build from that. There’s no reason to spend a lot of money on some stuff that you might need, but there are some things you will need to get started if you want to do it the right way. Our employees can help you figure out where that line is.
What would your customers or co-workers be surprised to know about you?
I’d say the motorcycling is something people are always surprised by. Just the level that it’s gotten to over the years. I’ve ridden to all the lower 48 states. I’ve got an embarrassing collection of motorcycles. Unless you are a true motorcyclist, I get a weird look when I say I have seven motorcycles.
How do you like to spend your free time?
Motorcycling and bicycling, so two wheeled for the most part. And with my family. Now that Wyatt is getting older, he’s going to be three and a half years old, he’s starting to pick up bicycling and then maybe when he’s sixteen, the motorcycling.
