Fuel trucks, financials, and 50-year legacies
Co-op employees celebrate half a decade of service
Soon after high school, Jeff Lightfoot and Andoria Holland each found a home in the Co-op system that would last more than half a half a century. Knowledgeable, hardworking, and reliable are a few words that describe both Jeff, a customer service employee at Franklin Farmers Cooperative, and Andoria, secretary at Carroll Farmers Cooperative. These two 50-year employees serve as key contributors to their Co-ops and play an important role in not only their stores, but their communities as well. Jeff Lightfoot Beginning a career at Co-op came natural for Jeff. Every Friday, when he was 19, Jeff says he rode along with his brother-in-law, Ronnie Swan, making Co-op deliveries to Sewanee. Co-op personnel noticed him tagging along each Friday and knew he’d make a great addition to the team.
“On February 15, 1975, they had a board meeting and hired me. I had long hair at the time, and they said the only thing they would ask me to do is get a haircut,” Jeff says with a laugh. “I got my hair cut, and I’ve been here ever since.”
Jeff’s first role at the Co-op was delivering gasoline and diesel to farms and local mom-and-pop grocery stores. He served as a driver — visiting farms for 13 years — and still calls it his favorite job.
“I enjoyed getting out and seeing our farmers in the field,” he says.
However, Franklin Farmers Cooperative needed a new warehouse manager and saw Jeff as the perfect fit. He served in that role for nine years and then moved to the customer service counter. In addition to these roles, he has served as safety director for nearly 19 years.
“When I turned 64 in 2020, I said, ‘I’m going to go out February 15 — the same date I came in,’” Jeff says. “That’s the day I signed up to retire. I didn’t know the world was going to retire, too. That was when COVID-19 hit. I went home, and after two weeks of staying at home every day, I told myself, ‘I can’t do this. I’ve been around people my whole life.’”
Soon after, Co-op management asked Jeff to come back to work at the store on Tuesdays and Fridays. Now, customers often plan their weekly trips to the store to see their longtime friend behind the counter.
“There are customers I have worked with since I was 20-something-years-old who come to see me,” Jeff says. “I guess you could say that something I look forward to at work now is for my ‘faves’ to come in and visit.”
During his time at Co-op, Jeff has worked under seven managers and continues to be a steady presence at Franklin Farmers Co-op. He says customers not only ask him about recommendations for their farms and homes but also enjoy sharing news about their families and friends.
Earl Miller, who oversees agronomy at Franklin Farmers Co-op, has worked with Jeff for 31 years.
“I don’t think you can find a better guy to work with,” Earl says. “Jeff brings fun into the Co-op and always has a smile on his face for everyone around him.”
When Jeff is not at work, he enjoys working in his yard, tinkering with his truck, or playing his guitar. Jeff’s former band, The Atomic Plowboys, was featured in the Tennessee Cooperator in April 1996.
Jeff has worked at the customer service counter since 1997 where he assists customers with purchases, helps with challenges, and creates lasting relationships. After 28 years of serving in this role, the outgoing, cordial employee has become a trusted name to the many customers he has assisted over five decades.
Jeff Lightfoot is all smiles as he works with customers like Cody Smith, left, a frequent customer at Franklin Farmers Co-op and owner of Smith Earthwerx. Cody often purchases straw bales and erosion mats for his excavation company.
Jeff has been a familiar, friendly face at Franklin Farmers Co-op for decades. He retired in 2020 and now works at the store two days a week.
Andoria Holland Like Jeff, Andoria Holland is a highly regarded employee at Carroll Farmers Cooperative in Huntingdon.
Although Andoria’s initial plan was to work at Jackson General Hospital after finishing vocational school, she has now been taking care of business for the past 50 years as the secretary at the Co-op. Andoria started working at the Co-op when she was only 18 years old and says the job in the office has changed considerably since she began her Co-op career.
“When I started here, we did everything by hand,” Andoria explains. “I was one of six ladies in the office, and we did all the financial statements, billing, and documenting manually. Now, it’s only me in the office with a computer, and I have the help of Co-op Financial Solutions at Tennessee Farmers Cooperative in La Vergne.”
Andoria has worked with four different managers at Carroll Farmers Cooperative since 1975. David Drewry, the Co-op's current manager, has served in the position since 2007.
“When I was first named manager, Andoria had already been here for a long time,” says David. “Naturally, I leaned on her a lot to help me when I started and that has continued to this day.”
Her coworkers say Andoria brings a calm and collected influence to the workplace.
“I don’t know how many people can say this about their coworkers, but I’ve never seen her lose her temper, even though there’s been plenty of opportunity,” David says, then jokingly adds, “I hope she gives me some warning when she decides to retire — I might have to take early retirement.”
While working at the Co-op, Andoria says her favorite part has been working with the people. Between the farmers who come into the store and the employees who have become like family, she says the people that make up Co-op have been a large part of why she has stayed in the system for 50 years.
“Farmers and their families are just good people to work with,” says Andoria, who’s a self-proclaimed go-getter. “I have enjoyed working with my coworkers here as we try our best to serve them and help them get the supplies they need to grow their livestock and row-crops.”
Andoria knows all about hard work, her daughter Amanda Holland says. Her work ethic comes from growing up on Renfroe Farms, a third-generation family farm started by Andoria’s parents, Garvin and Virginia Renfroe, in 1953. The farm is mostly made up of row- crops and has grown to nearly 6,000 acres. The farm is now managed by Andoria’s brothers Don and David Renfroe, and by David’s children Kevin Renfroe and Kim Renfroe Johnson.
“We’re so proud of her,” Amanda says. “She’s supported the farmers and community for 50 years now. She gives her best and takes care of everybody. She is constantly on the go and working to get things accomplished.”
Co-ops across the state continue to be staffed by some of the best employees in the business. The dedication and longevity of employees like Jeff and Andoria are hallmarks of the Co-op brand and the illustration of what it means to be “Driven to Serve.”
Andoria Holland has served Co-op customers and supported the staff since 1975.
Andoria's family and friends recently gathered to celebrate her impressive milestone. In her honor, the group had a surprise barbecue lunch with all the fixings and she was presented with a Carroll Farmers Co-op cake, bouquets of flowers, and several gifts.
General Manager David Drewry, left, and Store Manager Matthew Tillman, are both thankful for Andoria and her dedication to the Co-op and presented her with an engraved knife from Carroll Farmers Cooperative.
By Page Haynes,
Contact phaynes@ourcoop.com