REMEMBERING
BOB SWANSON 1944 - 2024
Bob’s familiar smile.
— Ryan Hill, Agronomy Manger
We lost a Skagit County mainstay this summer.
In 2017, after the completion of the new fertilizer plant, Bob transferred back to Burlington where he spent the rest of his career. There, he enjoyed working in a larger shop, with a larger wash pad, and all the acetylene he could torch with! He did everything from small engine repairs to sandblasting our 12-ton nurse boxes and painting them to ensure they lasted for many years to come. Bob’s work ethic was one that set the tone for the SFS agronomy department. He always had a smile on his face and was ready to work. He welcomed new people coming in and helped by lending a hand, while often not realizing those people would learn from his vast knowledge of local ag and its machinery. Bob was very humble and always eager to help wherever possible. He developed several close friendships during his many years with the company. He enjoyed his early morning coffee and cigarette with Charlie Dignum, John Benston, Larry Rygg, Kevin Mendoza, Tom Roorda and more. He was the first to work in the mornings and often the last to leave.
Bob Swanson started working in agriculture at the current site of our Skagit Farmers Supply (SFS) agronomy plant on Avon Allen Road in 1974 when it was operated by Hansen &
Peterson. The business changed hands and names a few times over the years. In 2007, SFS purchased the property and business from UAP (United Agri Products). The plant’s employees, including Bob, became part of our co-op. Bob worked many positions over the years. He served as an applicator driving Loral buggies and spreading dry fertilizer throughout the Skagit Valley and San Juan Islands. He devoted his life to supporting agriculture through the valley where he grew up. He was a staple in the community among local growers and his welcoming smile was often met in return with a hearty handshake and a “How ya doin’, Bob?” He learned the ways of operating a fertilizer plant and became someone we leaned on when problems arose. Bob could listen to a leg running full of fertilizer and tell you exactly what was wrong with it and how to fix it. He had a mechanical mindset that many of us relied on to understand the complexities of the equipment we operate every day. During his days with UAP, Bob would work in the warehouse, mix fertilizers, operate heavy equipment, and much more. After SFS acquired UAP in 2007, Bob transitioned to Conway where he maintained the equipment and small engines that the co-op loaned to our customers.
Bob will be deeply missed as a co-worker and friend.
SFS hosted about 120 family and friends for a memorial service to Bob Swanson, held at our Burlington agronomy plant on Aug. 18, 2024. Many current and former employees were present.
6 | FALL 2024
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