FEATURED shipper - Sheldon rockey

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        Sheldon Rockey who is both a grower and a shipper is featured this quarter. Sheldon was born and raised on a farm in Center Colorado where he still makes his a living and is raising his family. He is the third generation growing potatoes on the farm along with his brother Brendon . Sheldon has been selling and growing for the fresh market in San Luis Valley for ten years.
       He went to college at Colorado State University in Ft. Collins where he got his degree in Agriculture Engineering. He is 33 years old, married to Nicole Rockey, and has two little girls, Ashlyn, 5 and Ellaree, 2.
One thing that makes his facility unique compared to most in the San Luis Valley is that they strictly grow fingerling, purple majesty, and creamer (small sized) potatoes. He had never planned on growing fingerlings; until they started to grow them for an organic grower, and that’s when they decided it would be a good market to get into.
Fingerling potatoes require a lot of special equipment since everything is so much smaller and tighter, like harvesters that have to be equipped with smaller chains. They built most of the equipment that they use for their potato production. On an average they send out ½ a load of fingerlings a day, which takes about 10 employees. This is more than the typical shipping process due to the size and odd shape of the potatoes.
       The biggest change he has seen in the industry is the competitiveness of the specialty or fingerling market. His least favorite part about his job is dealing with complaints and issues. His favorite part is being able to do more than just office work. He gets to work in the warehouse as well as going out in the fields. 
        Sheldon’s favorite potato recipe is scalloped potatoes made with any variety of fingerling potatoes. When not farming Sheldon enjoys golfing and hanging out with his girls. Sheldon is active on the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee, Colorado Certified Potato Grower Association, school activities for his girls, and his church.