Meet Your Merchant: Feed store in business nearly 40 years

Jim Benson went to Don Petro in 1973 looking for a job in his feed store. And he got one.

"Don was wanting to sell," Benson recalled. "He was a cowboy and a really good friend of mine, so he just got me started."

Three years after graduating from high school, Benson took over the store, now known as Benson's Feed and Tack.

"You're 20 years old," he said. "All I knew is I wanted a chance to give it my best. That's what I did."

Almost four decades later, Benson, 59, is still glad that he did.

"It's been good," he said. "We have a really good clientele."

Benson grew up in Carson City. His grandfather and uncle were in the livestock business, and Benson's family always owned horses.

He was an avid team roper, giving up the sport just three years ago.

His average customer, he said, is a lot like himself.

"You don't have to live on a ranch to own horses and pets," he said. "Our business is one person who may own a dog or a cat, a bird feeder and maybe a horse. We deal with one family at a time. We love it."

Although Carson City's demographics have shifted into a more urban culture over the past four decades, Benson said, it has not hurt business.

"As Carson City has grown - and Gardnerville and Washoe Valley - it just means more people coming in," he said. "The freeway has helped. It's a quick trip into Highway 50 if you're coming from Washoe Valley or north Carson."

Benson credits his employees for their dedication.

Store manager Geoff Rhodes has been with the store 21 years and oversees fellow employees Tyler and Tim Jost and Jocob Patterson.

"They're just great," Benson said.

The true credit for his success, however, goes to the people who come into the store every day.

"People who raise animals are just really good-hearted people," he said. "They're really good to deal with. That's why we keep at it.

"I have customers that still come in that I had 38 years ago. We thank the good Lord above for every person who was or ever will be a customer."