Rick Friend:  

I began my career in commercial horticulture after graduating from Fresno State in 1971 with a wholesale nursery in Visalia, CA. In the summer of 1973 I became what was known as a Jesus Freak. In 1974 I decided to put my career on hold and moved to Montana for some adventure. I lived in the Bitterroot Valley where spent time working thinning trees in the forest, punched cattle, milked cows, did volunteer work for a Christian retreat (where I met my future wife) and eventually worked as a research assistant at the local Ag reseasrch center. I really loved my life in Montana, I took on the appearance of a mountain man having long hair and a heavy beard. I married my wife Linda in Texas in December 1975 and moved back to Montana. In getting married I also said goodbye to my mountain man appearance too. In 1977 we decide to see the south. I took a position as a nursery manager at a wholesale nursery in McMinnville, TN. It took awhile getting used to the different culture of the south but we enjoyed our life there seeing most of the states in the region. Our son Matthew came along in 1984. He was and continues to be a joy and blessing to us. In 1985 the company fell on hard times so I left Tennessee and moved to Colorado. In Colorado I was a grower for a wholesale greenhouse. Colorado is my favorite place to live. I seem to have a body that likes snow and cold. I did a lot of hunting and fishing thoug I didn't always get the big one, I did love the great outdoors! It was in Colorado where I returned ...Expand for more