Longtime feed store clerk leaves indelible mark

Christine Cole has a hard time believing that it's been 15 years since she first took the job at Sisters Feed & Supply.

Last week, however, Cole said goodbye to her fellow employees as she moves on to a new chapter in her life.

"I have had access to so much knowledge working at the feed store and have learned a lot," said Cole. "I have had a special bond with the customers; I enjoyed making suggestions that could help."

She calls herself the "Jack of all trades" when it comes to advice about pets in the community. Cole could help you with anything from how to hatch your own chicks to what would be the best nutritional food for your breed of dog. She has an uncanny knack for knowing how to advise the customers about their animals.

"She's such an incredible resource of information," said Mary Rynerson of Sisters. "She will be missed."

Christine Cole was just 21 when she took the retail job at Sisters Feed & Supply. She had just moved here from Southern California. Her educational background and knowledge base regarding animals was already in place, as she had worked at Pet Metro in California, where they had clinics and seminars on pet care and nutrition. She also did pet-sitting on the side. She has become an integral part of a Sisters community that is exceptionally ardent in its love of its pets.

"She knows the answer to everyone's questions about their pets," said Gayla Nelson of Sisters. "She has been the heart of the store."

But, as in all communities, a slow economy can cause tough times.

"We are in need of cutting back to control our costs," explained Fred McCaulou, proprietor of Sisters Feed & Supply.

When Cole is not working at the feed store, she is hard at work at her Silk n'Feathers animal farm taking care of her many species, from heritage chickens to Netherland dwarf rabbits.

For further information, you can get in touch with Cole through her email, [email protected]