The meat processing and canning facility is now the base of Brinkman's business, according to Brinkman, but the greenhouse and retail market are not too far behind. Over the past decade, many of the long, narrow turkey coops have been converted to greenhouses and something can be found growing in them at least 10 months a year. The seven rural greenhouses supply the Findlay one with its greenery, Brinkman says. Brinkman's employs a total of 80 people, including the 18 who work at the cannery. Seasonal workers are hired in the spring and fall to help with planting and harvests.
Family remains a big part of the operation, too.
Besides greenhouse manager, Linda, Brinkman's sons Larry and Joe Ray still farm grain on about 1,100 acres, and a grandson, Gene Brinkman, often helps engineer the ideas that grandpa comes up with. William K. Back has been named vice president of development at Blanchard Valley Health Association Foundation, a subsidiary of Blanchard Valley Health Association. Back is the former director of Gift and Estate Planning at Ohio Northern University, where he redefined the role of the traditional Planned Giving Department. While there, he implemented new approaches to traditional planned giving activities, such as conducting seminars to educate professionals in using appropriate planned-giving vehicles including wills, trusts and other estate planning arrangements. At the Blanchard Valley Foundation, Back plans to conduct the same type of seminars and work in conjunction with local estate-planning professionals.