With all these operations ongoing, JB’s full-time staff levels fluctuate between 80 and 85, with 25 to 30 people based in Washington and the rest in Oregon. In the ‘90s, when all the divisions were running at full capacity, and before the downturn, JB had approximately 150 employees. To remain profitable, JB closed divisions and focused on areas that were not so labor intensive. Mark says, “Most of our current team has been with us between 10 and 20 years and we are blessed to have such loyal and dedicated employees.”
Family and Faith Mark and Anne-Marie have four children: Teresa, 25; Paul, 23; Lena, 13; and David, who is 11. As with most family businesses, all four have been involved in helping in various capacities as their age and skills evolved.
Teresa preferred working outside on the farm during her high school years and now she has found her niche apart from the company, serving as a physical therapist assistant in nearby Keizer, Oregon. Anne-Marie says, “She really loves helping people, so it’s a great fit for her.”
Paul has always had a heart for the farm. Growing up, he went everywhere Mark went and has gleaned knowledge from him and from JB’s long-term family members and employees. Paul graduated from Oregon State University with a major in Ag Science and joined the company full time at the end of 2016. He deals with everyday operations of the farm, but also works closely with the finance department. Learn more about his role in the “Innovation and Generations” article, beginning on page 30.
At this point, Lena and David both opt for the combine crew over the office or blueberry fields. Tey’re both busy with school and playing basketball, too, which involves some creative scheduling for the entire family.
Faith is at the heart of this family and their business. It forms their core values and guides how they live, work and play. Mark has served as a trustee for their local Apostolic Christian Church, just a “stone’s throw from their house,” and the entire family is very involved there.
Anne-Marie says, “Mom and Dad’s faith also has been a big part of our lives and they instilled in us that to whom much is given much is required. Dad was very passionate about helping others and, in his later years, was able to spend a lot of time working toward that end. For years, they have supported (and Marie continues to support) our church world relief program called Harvest Call, as well as an organization called Shared Hope International which works to bring an end to sex trafficking.”
Anne-Marie and Mark have carried on that passion and instilled it in their children. Tey’ve continued to support Harvest Call and have taken part in its outreach activities.
TPI Turf News March/April 2018
“Mark, Teresa and Paul were blessed with the opportunity to serve on a work team to Haiti in 2015,” says Anne-Marie. “Teir primary activity that week was roofing schools and churches. Tis last September, Teresa and I were blessed to participate in a medical work team that went to Juarez, Mexico. We spent a week in different sections of the city giving health checkups and promoting the importance of eating healthy and practicing good dental hygiene.”
About 25 years ago, Paul and Marie and a small group of others worked very hard to put together a farming operation in Romania that would be owned and worked by the locals to help better themselves. Anne-Marie reports. “Due to the Romanian Government, this endeavor was not successful. Just three years ago, I learned about Lifesong for Orphans, an organization that supports orphan care initiatives, such as adoptions, and sustainable business opportunities in other countries. One of these countries is the Ukraine, where Lifesong has established a sustainable agribusiness that produces and markets strawberries and other fruit to grocery stores in the area. Tis, in turn, provides learning and growth opportunities for children from the orphanage. Tis is something that Dad would have loved to have participated in. Supporting Lifesong touches Mom’s heart and ours.”
Fun Facts Paul Jensen was very proud of his wife Marie’s pies and was always giving them away—to suppliers, legislators, even flight attendants, when he traveled. It became an inventory issue for the growing business, as Marie never knew when some of those delicious pies would just disappear.
JB Instant Lawn hosted the American Sod Producers Association (ASPA) Field Day in 1991, at the Silverton site on “Bluegrass Lane.” Also known for his culinary expertise, Paul prepared his famous barons of beef alongside Burton’s catering who prepared salmon “Indian style,” smoked on long sticks. Tose treats, combined with Marie’s excellent pies, are still fondly remembered by attendees. JB also hosted a lunch onsite and gave tours of their operations during TPI’s “Live Show & Tell” in July of 2015.
Mark and Paul both enjoy duck hunting and working on classic cars and trucks. Paul’s 1940 pickup truck has become the attention-drawing center in JB’s display at the Farwest Show in Portland, Oregon.
Te whole family enjoys camping, so at the end of summer, between the grass seed and filbert harvests, they try to get away to enjoy a little down time together.
Suz Trusty is co-editor of Turf News. All photos courtesy of JB Instant Lawn, Inc.
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