After more than 34 years on the job, Mike Chalupa, parts manager at Sinclair Tractor (formerly Farmers Supply) is calling it a career at the end of the month.

Chalupa started with Farmers Supply on June 5, 1985, and his final day will be Dec. 31.

Chalupa acknowledged that, these days, that kind of longevity is rare.

“My mom said ‘you’re never too old to learn’ and my dad said to always take the moral high road whatever you do,” Chalupa said. “They said if you’re satisfied with what you do, stay with it. I enjoy my work, and the Ropp brothers have treated me well over the years, so I had no reason to leave.”

The Ropp family owned Farmers Supply until earlier this year, when they sold the family business to Sinclair Tractor.

“The best part about this job is that I’m helping the world’s most productive farmers raise the most nutritious and economically priced food in the world,” Chalupa said. “We don’t realize how good we have it.”

Prior to coming to Farmers Supply, Chalupa worked for Henningan Inc., an International Harvester dealer in Washington, for 11 years.

Chalupa recalled a serendipitous encounter with Warren Ropp.

He said that Ropp brought a part to Hennigan’s to be tested.

“While we were sitting in the tractor, Warren asked me, ‘You wouldn’t be looking for a different job, would you?’” Chalupa recalled. “Bill Hennigan had told us the week before that he was closing the store, so I told (Ropp), ‘Yes, I’m in the market for a different job.’”

Chalupa started as a parts counterperson and was eventually promoted to parts manager.

He has seen many changes in the farm equipment business over the years.

“Forty-four years ago when I started in this, I never thought I’d see a tractor or a combine that that could drive itself across the field,” he said.

Over the years, Chalupa has acquired a near encyclopedic knowledge of farm equipment parts.

“About six weeks ago on a Sunday, someone broke down and needed a part,” Myron Ropp, Sinclair location manager, said. “I was here at the store. I called Mike. He rattled off six part numbers in six locations. and he didn’t have anything in front of him. He’s a steel trap of numbers.”

Ropp added that the company will miss Chalupa’s knowledge.

“Mike has been such a positive for this organization,” he said. “People come here because of Mike. The come from all over the place to buy parts here.”

In turn, Chalupa said he will miss the people the most after he retires.

“The thing I’m going to miss the most is the people – all the people I’ve worked with and all the customers I’ve waited on,” he said.

When asked how he plans to use his time in retirement, Chalupa said, “I’m an avid woodworker. I like my garden and my flower beds. I have 21 acres of land around my house that I can mow and cut, cut trees and make firewood. We have a daughter who lives in Europe, so we hope to get to visit her more often.”

Sinclair Tractor will host an open house on Dec. 19 in Chalupa’s honor. Past and present customers, friends and other well-wishers are invited to celebrate Chalupa’s retirement.