PERRYSBURG — Little did Dale Brown realize when he began as an intern in 1972 how Luckey Farmers Inc.
(LFI) would turn into more than 46 years with the agricultural company. He officially retired from the
company April 12, though he admits he will likely help out as needed from time to time.
As the Perrysburg branch manager for the last 30 years, he has kept busy, both on the job and his other
activities. Just prior to his last day, Brown said, “I’ve got a lot of work to do, just not sure what
I’m going to do on Monday.”
As he listed his activities, it didn’t sound like retirement. He will continue to maintain his role as a
Center Township trustee, a fair board member and its treasurer, and a family farmer, just to name a few.

Staying busy is nothing new to Brown. When he began as an intern at the Luckey station, he was a student
attending Owens Community College. He balanced both the career working on gas motors for 28 trailers and
later started operating a sprayer that spring.
At that time he moved to the Dunbridge branch where he would work in the morning and then go to college
at night.
Julie Myers, director of communications for Luckey Farmers, said, “Dale has been an exceptional employee.
We have always looked for his expertise in senior management.”
She added, “We have relied on his farming background to help us make the best decisions for our
customers. We will miss him around the office very much.”
His management career with LFI began when he was still an intern. The Dunbridge branch did not have a
manager in 1972, so he and another employee split the management duties at the branch. After graduating
from Owens in June of 1973, he became a full-time employee.
He later managed the Sugar Ridge Branch from 1974-1989. When LFI acquired Perrysburg Grain Supply through
a merger and Brown became its manager.
Over the years many things changed including the technology aspects which made his job a little easier.

He recalls taking stacks of invoices home at night to work on. That was a necessity as each invoice had
to be hand written.
“Computerization helped speed up the process,” he said.
One of the biggest advantages for him in retirement is being able to perform his farm operations on his
own time. “I will still farm, but now I will do it when I want to instead of being limited to weekends
and evenings.”
He added, “I’ve enjoyed the heck out of my job, but I look forward to retiring.”
One of the additional roles which will increase for him is his role as an active grandfather for his six
grandsons and one granddaughter.
“I am looking forward to the changes. I love to garden and be around my grandkids. I also will be do more
tinkering around old tractors,” he said, noting a WD Allis Chalmers which he says “needs some TLC done.”

Overall he said, “I will be getting caught up on things that I haven’t been able to get done.”
His farming operation is a joint venture with his son, Dustin. Both own their own land and they work
together on the farming.