Brian Higby - Tuesday, May 17, 2016
SUMMER IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!
It’s hard to believe but spring is winding down and blink your eyes....it will be summer! The off and on showers we have
been receiving in between some rather warm days have me confused as to what time of year it is. Anyway, some things to think about .....
It might be a good idea to tackle that fencing or repair project you have been putting off before the weather really turns hot! Next time
you come in the Feed Store driveway check out my landscaping project! Two years ago we stopped watering the front lawn so it has looked
kind of dismal. Last fall we finally poured a stamped concrete patio and now we are almost finished with the whole project! Wow, am I ready
to be done!
I think it is looking better than it has ever looked too! It has been a fun and rewarding project. Since I am not a landscaper
we have been kind of making things up as we go. Denise and I had the basic vision of what we wanted but it has changed quite a bit from
the original plan, in a good way I think. For example we would be thinking of a certain plant or bush, consult with our friends at Lemuria
Nursery out on Serpa Lane who would advise us against certain plants that won’t do well in our area. Also I don’t want any more plants
that take off and require constant pruning or they get out of control! Lemuria always guides us in making the right choices! By the time
you get this newsletter ( yes, it is a bit late! ), unless you read it on our website we will have had our first event on the patio.
Kirk Adkins will put on a Horseshoeing Clinic May 22. That is a Sunday from 3-6. We have some nice refreshments planned.....be there! Kirk
headed up the Farrier Dept. at UCD VMTH for many years. We are looking forward to his expert advice!
With the days warming up I have one more reminder. The shelf life of feed, especially feed with molasses in it is much
shorter during the warmer part of the year. If your feed is stored in cans or barrels make sure it can breathe by leaving the lid a little
loose and not allowing direct sunlight to hit it. If there is any moisture in it at all the heat causes it to sweat, and mold sets in quickly.
Be careful how much you buy so that you can use it all up in 30 days or less.
HAY SEASON
The new crop grain and grass hay is coming off. The good news for consumers is the price is going to be good. The bad
news is with all the late showery weather the hay is slightly yellowed. This is an unavoidable result of rain showers on standing hay
that is close to maturity, and it is worse if the hay is lying in the windrow. Sometimes this affects whether the animals like the
hay, other times it doesn’t. We haven’t had it long enough to get a report back. There is more hay coming off and of course we will
continue looking for the best quality we can. On Alfalfa hay we always carry enough over to avoid using first cutting. You do not want
first cut Alfalfa for horses, it is too hot (high in protein) and has the potential to contain noxious weeds. We try to not use new
hay until late 2nd/3rd cutting. The Orchard Alfalfa and Mountain Grass Hay won’t be ready for another month or so they aren’t affected
by the late showers like our local hay. Stay tuned...
FEED AND STEEL MARKETS
Other than some slight adjustments up or down, things have been very steady for several months in the grain and steel
markets. We just purchased a load of Red Brand Wire at or below last year’s pricing, and it is going out of here fast!
VICTOR
You might have noticed Victor hasn’t been around. Over a month ago he was doing a project at home and thought he bruised
or broke some ribs. It got so bad he went to the E.R. where they discovered a large infection around his ribs, full of pus. He had
at least three procedures to remove some of the pus and last I heard has drainage tubes in his rib area. He applied for disability
and will probably be off for awhile. Hope he gets better soon!
Thanks for your business!
Roland
Brian Higby - Sunday, March 06, 2016
The new sales for March and April are up! Check our the Sales page for more details. We have sales on...
-Atwood Cowboy Hats
-Dura-forks
-BBQ Pellets
-Ulcer Guard
-Horse Health Ivermectin
-Big Wheel Cart
-Max E Glo
-Livestock Show Supplies
-Dried Mealworms
-Taste of the Wild Premium Dog Food
-Stella & Chewy's Treats
-LMF Feeds
Sales are valid through April 30th, 2016 while supplies last, unless otherwise noted. We can't wait to see you!
Brian Higby - Sunday, March 06, 2016
WHERE DID THE RAIN GO?
Dixon has enjoyed a nice series of storms that have given us up to 10 inches +/- of rainfall so far this
year. I think average is around 16 inches so we sure do need more! Forecasters are saying second half of March should be wet......Let’s
hope so. Due to the drought we decided to stop watering our front lawn and to eventually replace it with a concrete patio. We took advantage
of the recent dry spell to get the patio poured and will be spending the next couple of months landscaping around it.
It is really nice to move forward with the project and get rid of the ugly mess we had in our yard! We did
this of course to save precious water, but a fringe benefit is we plan to use it for future feed store events! Stay tuned.......
WE HAVE PLANNED OUR FIRST EVENT FOR 2016!
Mark your calendars if you like the sound of this one. May 22 we are planning to have Kirk Adkins (former
UCD Farrier and Instructor of Equine Science) put on a horse-shoeing clinic. This event will consist of a lecture, demonstration, and question
and answer session. Kirk lectures all over the world on this subject, so we feel privileged to have him do one here. Kirk is a Certified
Journeyman Horse-shoer and owner of Equithotics, Inc. (a manufacturer of horse-shoer and farrier equipment). More to come on this one!
ALL MARKETS ARE CURRENTLY STABLE
Should I say it? I am hesitant because the last few times I put it in the newsletter things started changing
even before we went to print! Almost all markets that affect the feed business are relatively stable at this time. We receive monthly price
updates for feed and are seeing little to no change. Our hay supply is excellent, and pricing is stable as well. Fencing, gates, and wire
pricing are seeing little to no change.
SHOW ANIMAL REMINDERS
I try to put this important reminder in the newsletter every year at this time. If your family has horses
and the children have animals for the fair, be very careful not to allow the horses to get into the show animal feeds. Most of the
show feeds contain medication that may actually be toxic to a horse! Also there are strict laws now about not feeding mammalian protein
to ruminants. That means keep the dog, cat, and hog feeds away from the lambs, beef, and goats. These are important reminders because
we all know occasionally an animal gets out of its pen and into the feed supply! Please be careful.
ANOTHER FUN TIDBIT ABOUT SCOTT
Next time you see Scott have some fun with this one: When he was in college all his classmates longed
for Mom’s home baked muffins. Being the enterprising guy Scott is, he learned how to make the best muffins in the world and provided
these to his classmates...for a price! He charged $ for them! The way I found out was during one of our Safety Meetings. Scott made
his famous muffins and brought them for the guys to enjoy during the Safety Meeting, (by the way, no charge). He then told the story!
Thanks for your business!
Roland
Brian Higby - Saturday, January 09, 2016
31 YEARS IN BUSINESS..... IN JUST A FEW MONTHS 32 YEARS!
In the past couple newsletters I have enjoyed sharing tidbits of information about our business, going all the way back
to the beginning in 1984. This time I thought it would be fun to talk about Scott and his history with us.
In 1993 we were looking for a delivery person and put a help wanted notice up at UCD. Scott was a student there and put
in an application. I remember a very persistent young man who contacted me several times asking if we were ready to hire him. Actually,
I was kind of impressed by his tenacity while thinking to myself, “this kid is really pestering me!”
Scott’s side of that part of our story is even more humorous. He tells me that he just couldn’t understand why anyone would
not hire him. After all, he’d been hired on the spot for all his previous jobs! In his words, “I was so naïve I thought it would be that
way no matter where I applied for work!” The story wouldn’t be any fun if we didn’t hire him... right?
Scott worked here until early 1997 when he accepted a position with a local hay press (we have four in our local area.
A hay press company takes a regular hay bale, double compresses it, then loads the bales on ocean containers for overseas shipment). What
kind of an employee was Scott at that time? He was one of, if not the hardest working individual we had ever hired. He took care of our
equipment and kept it all in good repair, and just flat worked hard!
I remember one occasion when we were doing a delivery together. I was on top of a stack and he was feeding bales of hay
up to me on a hay elevator. Back at that time there weren’t many people that could out-work me on a stack of hay. That day it was hot!
I remember we were nearly finished and I wanted very badly to take a break for water and to rest a bit. But stubborn me... I would always
wait for the other guy to cry “U N C L E!” then we would stop! Well, Scott didn’t say a word! I was getting all cotton mouthed (when your
mouth dries so bad you can’t swallow) but I stuck it out until we finished, whew!
I didn’t tell Scott he’d gotten the best of me until many years later. When I finally admitted it to him, he
told me of another occasion when he had wanted to rest but I was the one who didn’t quit! Are we alike or what???? Now, when
Scott occasionally goes out on a delivery, he still refuses to let the other guy know he is getting tired...he waits for them
to ask to take a break!
Anyway, we stayed in touch after he left in 1997 and would have dinner together occasionally. One time, we
discussed Scott possibly coming back to work for Higby’s. He revealed that working here had been one of his most enjoyable
experiences. He told me he would consider coming back if he could one day become an owner of the company. In kind of a handshake
deal we moved forward with it and he returned to work here in 2002 and lo and behold in 2011 Scott and I entered into a contract
for him to initially purchase part of the company with the goal of having full ownership by October 2021!
How is the partnership working out? Scott’s dedication and work ethic make him definitely the hardest working
person I know. Our arrangement is a true win/win! Our contracts were easy to draw up because we both wanted them to say the
same thing!
One thing that helps is, when it comes to business we think very much alike. Nowadays, Scott attends most of
the trade shows, but there was a time when we would trade off. One time when I was at a trade show, I met one of the managers
from another store like ours and he asked me, “where did you find Scott? He is like your clone! He thinks, buys, and conducts
business just like you do!”
This makes our arrangement a winning proposition! Higby’s plans to be here for years to come to service all of you!
Thanks for being our loyal customer!!!!!!
Roland... and by extension...Scott
Brian Higby - Saturday, January 09, 2016
The new sales for January and February are up! Check our the Sales page for more details. We have sales on...
-Miller Muck Bucket Carts
-CLC Rain Gear
-Merck Safe-Guard Equine Wormer
-All Galvanized Troughs
-German Horse Muffins
-Minty Muffins
-Winter Dog Coats
-Seasonal Riding Apparel
-Dog Beds and Crate Pads
-Select Weaver and Horsewear Products
-California Natural Dog Food
-Equine Senior
Sales are valid through February 29th, 2016 while supplies last, unless otherwise noted. We can't wait to see you!
Brian Higby - Thursday, November 05, 2015
Our sales are ready! Look at the Sales page to see what's discounted. We have sales on........
-Miller P8 Buckets
-Forco
-Horse Shoes
-Gallagher S20 Solar Fence Energizer
-Muck Boots
-Rubbermaid Stock Tank Floats
-Old Mother Hubbard Bulk Dog Biscuits
-Dirty Dog Doormats
-Pure Vita Duck and Green Lentils, and
Venison and Red Lentils Entree Pet Food
-Pet Mate Dog Houses
-Speedi-Beet : Beet Pulp Flakes
-Purina Equine Senior
Sales are valid through December 31st 2015 while supplies last, unless otherwise noted. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Brian Higby - Thursday, November 05, 2015
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31 YEARS IN BUSINESS!
April of 1984 Denise and I had this brainstorm to start a Feed Store on our property. We got all the necessary permits and we were off to the races!
In this month’s newsletter we promised to continue where we left off last time so here are some more fun facts about our business:
Denise actually drove a flatbed truck up to Mallard Creek Shavings in Rocklin, picked up 120 bales of shavings each time and learned how to tie
the loads herself. One time a gentleman offered to help her tie down. She told him the only time she ever lost anything off the load was when
she didn’t tie it herself and explained to him her husband (me) told her to make sure there was a rope across each bale on the outside edge
of the stack! Today we get at least 1100 bales a week in. When we have a wet winter we often times get over 3000 bales a week in to keep up
with sales!
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In the early days I held down a full time job while Denise ran the store. I would run deliveries after hours that many times took until 8 or
9 in the evening. For larger deliveries my brother would go with me and we were given the “Midnight Hay Haulers” nickname! My brother was very
generous in allowing me to use his truck as well as mine for doing deliveries. In those days our truck was an older vintage that would break
down on occasion and his truck was invaluable to us in helping keep up. It was not unusual for us to work into the evening then pull the truck
into the shop and change the clutch or perform some other repair!
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When we started we didn’t even have a forklift! Everything was loaded and unloaded by hand.....whew! Back in the early days 100 lb sacks were
not uncommon. I had one customer that would order 4 tons of 100 lb bags and we packed them all into his barn by hand!
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We used to buy feed from a feed mill in Lincoln, Lincoln Feeds. They are long since gone but at the time they made a quality
product at a fair price! Elk Grove Milling was one of our earliest mills we bought from and we continue to buy from them today!
When we first opened our driveway didn’t have a gate. One evening about 10pm a woman drove in and turned around on our lawn.
I went out to see what was going on?? She asked “are you open?”
We fondly remember some of our first customers. One told us something we always applied in our business, “don’t ever expand until
you are bursting at the seams!” If he were still alive he would be pleased that we always followed his counsel!
Our first vet supplies order was less than 300 dollars. The sales person patiently worked with us to give us the best mix of
inventory we could get for that dollar amount. Even back then he had difficulty holding the order down to 300!
I have always wanted to clear this one up: often times during the fair season remarks are made about how much money we make from
the kids feeding their fair animals. When you take into account that we attend four major auctions every year buying Junior
Livestock Auction animals we actually don’t make anything off the kids, in fact we probably go into the red! So why do it?
First and foremost it’s fun! Second, the meat is premium! Our business benefits too.....how? The livestock producers in our
area very much appreciate us supporting their industry and they in turn support us! Everything goes full circle! Well, didn’t
take long to fill up this page. Hope you enjoy these tidbits of information! Thanks for being our customer!
Brian Higby - Monday, August 31, 2015
31 YEARS IN BUSINESS!
April of 1984 Denise and I had this brainstorm to start a Feed Store on our property. We got all the necessary permits and we were off to the races!
In this month’s newsletter we thought it would be fun to review some fun facts about our store from back then to now.
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- Our original building was a 200 square foot tack room my Grandmother had. She called it the old wash house and had one of those wringer type
washing machines in it. My Grandfather borrowed a tow truck from Ron DuPratt Ford (he worked there 25 + years selling cars and running
a tow truck) to drag the building from their home next door to our property. We opened up with 1,800 dollars’ worth of feed, about 20 bales
of shavings and 10 bales of hay. Today we might receive as much as 30 or 40 thousand dollars of inventory in one day! When we demolished
the old store we kept pieces of wood to make shelves and we even still have the old front door! Ask me and I will show you! Back in those
days we had a service station bell so Denise knew when a customer drove in.
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- The first addition we built was a hay shed right next to the original 200 square foot building. Next, we added a storage area to the old wash
house and another hay barn. In 1990 we put up our current hay barn and a few years later the feed barn behind it. In 2008 the big change
came when we demolished the old wash house, the first storage area and the hay shed and put up our new 7,200 square foot store! Watching
the old structures come down was a bit emotional as we actually built those ourselves. It all came down in just a few hours! The new store
was a monster project!
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- Scott worked for us during his college years, then left to help manage a hay press where they compress hay bales for shipment overseas. He
returned to Higby’s in March 2002 and now is part owner. We are almost 4 years into a 10 year succession plan where he continues to purchase
shares until he owns it all. It has been a win/win for us both as we work through this arrangement. It is nice that, Nicole, Scott’s wife,
handles the accounts and has done that since May of 2006.
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In the new store we tried clothing and boots. We are closing those items out, just isn’t our niche! Interestingly, we played with the idea
of bringing horseshoes in for several years. We were afraid of the investment and not sure they would sell. Now the horseshoe section
has grown to occupy 96 linear feet of shelf space! It will soon be moved to where some of the clothing used to be! Who would have thought?????
Victor has been with us since March of 1998! Jamie has been with us since 2010!
Mari since 2011!
Dana since 2008!
Gary, Brannan, Jose, Susan, Raul, Todd, and Cody have come aboard more recently. We feel we have put together a fantastic crew! We have
Ryan starting early in September who will add depth to our fencing and cattle handling categories.
Oops! Out of room! I guess I will have to continue this in the next newsletter!
Thanks for keeping us in business all these years!!!!
Roland
Brian Higby - Monday, August 31, 2015
Our sales are ready! Look at the Sales page to see what's discounted. We have sales on........
-Horseshoer's Secret
-Laser Sheen Skin & Coat Supplement
-Fly Sheets
-Carefresh
-Python Cattle Fly Dust
-CoFlex Bandages
-Annamaet Dog Food
-Nutrisource Dog Treats
-Dried Mealworms
-Advantage II and K9 Advantix II
-Greenies Feline Dental Treats
-Seresto Fleaand Tick Collars
-Purina Equine Senior
Sales are valid through October 31st 2015 while supplies last, unless otherwise noted. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Brian Higby - Friday, July 31, 2015
Sorry for being late this round in Sales, we had a little hiccup in communication, but if you still use good old snail mail, you have likely been enjoying
our sales all last month. If not, there's still a whole month left on these deals! Look at the Sales page to
see what's discounted. We have sales on........
-SandPurge
-Endure Fly Spray
-Bigeloil Poultice
-Farnam Repel-Xpe
-Manna Pro Apple Wafers
-Greenies Dental Treats
-Nutro Max Cat
-Eukanuba
-Speedi-Beet pulp flakes
-Perfect Coat Dog Shampoo
-Purina Premium Horse and Livestock Products
Sales are valid through August 31st 2015 while supplies last, unless otherwise noted. We look forward to seeing you soon!
