For more than three and a half decades, Geoff Rhodes has been helping customers find their livestock and pet needs at Benson’s Feed and Tack in Carson City.
As manager, alongside owner Jim Benson, Rhodes has been an enormous part of the Benson’s team for 36 years, ringing up orders, exchanging information on animal needs and getting to know regular customers at the 2750 Highway 50 East store that specializes in livestock feed, farm supplies, animal and pet foods.
Rhodes final day at Benson’s was Friday, with an exciting retirement awaiting him and wife Kari, who is also a recent retiree from the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT.) Their plans include relocating to Loreta in Baja, Mexico where they will spend their days at the Sea of Cortez building their new home, walking the beach and fishing (of course).
A soft-spoken, humble man, Rhodes, 66, said there’s too many memorable on-the-job moments to count over the years though he recalls the Benson’s Feed and Tack 40th anniversary party, done chuckwagon style, that brought hundreds of customers to enjoy the festivities.
“This was special and really stands out,” he said.
Among some of the celebrity customers he’s helped over the years were Captain and Tennille, John Ascuaga and Lacy J. Dalton, who regularly talk to Rhodes about her love for horses.
Rhodes said what he’ll take with him in his retirement are the “great memories” and interactions with the thousands of Benson’s Feed and Tack customers and their pets.
“The day-to-day interaction with them over the years, getting to know them all and their families — I’ve watched generations of customers. I’ve waited on moms with little kids and now the little kids are grown up and are fixin’ to have children. Seeing them and telling them I’m retiring, it’s been kind of emotional,” he said.
Customers stopped by the store Friday to give thanks for his years of service and offer congratulations.
“It’s been wonderful working with Geoff. He’s very knowledgeable and has been great to deal with — and always has a smile on his face,” said customer Rex Jennings. “We’ve told a lot of jokes over the years. I’m going to miss him.”
Benson’s Feed and Tack customer Margie Quirk first met Benson and Rhodes back in the late 80s when she started a pet sitting business.
“I asked if I could put my business cards on the counter. That was the beginning of a very long working relationship that continues to this day,” said Quirk. “Geoff would always greet me with ‘Hey Margie, what can we do for you today?’ If Geoff couldn’t answer a question I had, he would say ‘let me find out and I will get back to you.’ Geoff will definitely be missed. I wish him the very best.”
Benson’s Feed and Tack began 53 years ago by Jim Benson, starting as a small feed store that turned into what it is today, one of the longest running family-owned businesses in Carson City.
“We are very thankful for Geoff’s years of service at Benson’s Feed,” said Jim Benson. “He’s been the manager for 36 years. Myself and my family will certainly miss him because he really does run the place. He’s the hardest working man I’ve ever met. He’s been very good to me and my family. We’re also very excited for him and his wife Kari to start their new adventures. They’ve definitely earned it. They did the work and certainly deserve a great retirement. We wish the very best for them.”
