Page 4 - Gamma Tauk - Fall 2014

PARkeR (Continued from Page 1) Having grown up in agriculture, it was a return time it takes to put the product on to my roots and we at last settled in for our the table. life’s work. In the next 40 years we would grow from a small operation to a multi-state What do you enjoy most vegetable growing and shipping operation. about your work with Effective Starting with those Gamma Tau days, both Ministries? the technical skills and multi-tasking skills We have some missionaries we that I learned contributed to the success of support and visit. In particular Parker Farms. The farming operation is in the we spend some time in Niger, process of being put into the hands of the next Africa with a group called generation. Their levels of expertise will take Linkniger. I have not met Rod and his wife Beth. them far beyond what I could have imagined. a more dedicated group of bright, educated men and women. A group like farming, was a genetic trait, I guess. My Why did the operation turn that could have succeeded dad had been a pilot in WWII and, like father to vegetables only? spectacularly in the medical like son, I kept the habit. I still own a couple Becoming a vegetable farmer or business world, yet chose of small planes today and consistently fy was a new direction for us. to give their executive and 200-300 hours per year both for business and We had always been tobacco professional talents to bring pleasure. I even put on a few aerobatic shows producers, but with a slow the Gospel of Jesus Christ to from time to time. trend away from “politically this poor sub Saharan country. How do you stay in touch with your brothers incorrect” and “unhealthy” These kind of people stir me today? tobacco, some change seemed up! our family has always We just hosted a reunion with ten alumni inevitable. It only made sense had an active church life - my to us that producing a product wife Beth enjoys contributing brothers and their wives at the Inn. I also go people need everyday would musically. Some of my to Atlanta a few times a year and visit the guys. Beth and I dated the last two years at Tech, so be a better choice. We started classmates may remember her most of my old friends are hers as well. That out with strawberries and a piano skills from our fraternity wide variety of veggies but days. I’ve been teaching makes our get-togethers with my Gamma Tau over the years the mix has Sunday School among other brothers very comfortable. We try to stay in touch and see them fairly often. As we start to been narrowed down to three things for 40 years and we still retire, I believe visiting with them will become or four crops – sweet corn, host weekly Bible studies. broccoli, summer squash, and Photo of Rod throwing the javelin even easier. The enjoyment of fraternity life cucumbers. for Tech in 1966. Outside of work and starts when you fnd a home away from home. We came to Tech about 18 years old and volunteering, what do you What you think about the do for fun? Gamma Tau gave us the opportunity and time whole “farm to table” dining movement? outside of work my time is spent doing to get focused and refne our thinking. We were A lot has changed in the vegetable marketing projects! A few years ago we purchased a bed a group of like minded men who had confdence industry. Cooling and trucking systems continue and breakfast with a full restaurant - The Inn in each other and grew up together. It was fun to improve and all kinds of new packaging is at Montross in Virginia. We’ve been gratifed while we did it and even more enjoyable to being developed – all aiming at a higher quality with that success. even though my Navy fying look back with the clarity and hindsight and product. The “farm to table” trend also aims to days ended, my fying days did not. Flying, to see how important those years were to the improve the quality and freshness by reducing the formation of who we became. SAVe THe dATe for our Annual Pig Dinner Date: Saturday evening - April 18, 2015 w Place: Chapter House (Landon-Nelson Hall) Alumni communication services provided by Te Laurus Group | www.thelaurusgroup.net | 770-903-3987 | @thelaurusgroup