In Remembrance: Jennie Henry, 1960-2019
A new chapter of Growers Mineral Solutions was opened on November 29, 2019 with the passing of our President, Jennie Henry.
Jennie began her career at Growers while in high school by working on the family farm where she focused her attention and energies on livestock operations, specifically the raising, training, and showing of Arabian horses. She attended the College of Wooster, the University of New Mexico, and The Ohio State University where she obtained a degree in agronomy.
Jennie joined the staff in the offices at Growers Mineral Solutions where she focused her attention on administrative and sales issues. In addition to helping set up and implement many of the important policies and procedures that are still in place today, she was responsible for the creation of our primary sales and promotional tool, The Growers Solution. Her vision and foresight in the creation of that publication have been a vital part of our company's ability to promote our unique approach to helping farmers.
Jennie was also responsible for the Growers website which allowed the company to help refine its unique approach, history, operations, and personal success stories.
Jennie was married in 1986, and welcomed the arrival of her first son, Russell, in 1991. She focused her energies on her family but remained involved in the business as much as young children will allow you to be. When Russell entered school, Jennie was able to devote more time and attention to Growers. Jennie became a vital part of the Growers organization and worked closely with her father Joe Henry to help develop policies that would help the company not only grow and prosper, but build on the strong ethical foundations on which the company was built.
With the passing of her father in October of 2012, Jennie assumed the responsibility for the overall operation of Growers Mineral Solutions, Homestead Farms, and other family business interests. During her time as President, Jennie was instrumental in helping grow the company while ensuring that the core values that built the company were left in place.
Jennie began assembling a core group of highly motivated individuals to help build the company and move it into the next generation. Her planning and implementation of long term development began to build the company where energized individuals could feel they were an important part of the company's growth.
Personally, in July of 2016, Jennie welcomed Asa to the family as her new daughter-in-law. In January of 2017, Asa and Jennie's son Russell joined Growers as members of its Board of Directors. In May of 2017, Jennie was delighted to welcome Freja as her first granddaughter. In January of 2019, Elika joined the family as the 2nd granddaughter.
In July of 2019, Jennie underwent surgery and began treatment to deal with the effects of uterine cancer. Fortunately, the efforts that she had been making to work on company development issues gave employees at Growers the opportunity to step in and assume Jennie's work responsibilities while allowing Jennie to focus her energies on healing and family. Jennie passed away peacefully on November 29th after creating the framework that allowed the company to move forward and continue the legacy that had been put in place by her father.
The next generation of Growers management is in place as Jennie's son, Russell, has assumed responsibility as Vice President of Operations for Growers, alongside Rick Bobel stepping in as President of Growers.
This is an excerpt from the Winter Growers Solution (2020) written by Growers Staff.
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