Dear Customers,

This week we are dedicating our newsletter to our grandpa, Rudy Zakrajsek. He passed away last Wednesday at the impressive age of 95. He grew up in a Slovenian neighborhood during the Great Depression, worked out west in a CCC camp, is a World War II veteran and became a self- made man through his excavation company. His hard work, perseverance and courage are values that he instilled in our family. Grandpa also placed a very high value on time with family and friends. He had a great influence on our business, providing the many apples from his orchard and taught us how to split and stack firewood from his 150 acres in Warren, Ohio. He was our biggest fan at the Geauga County Fair and always came with his brother, Uncle Joe, to watch us show sheep and to bid on the chickens.

Attached are the family memories of our grandpa and an old picture of us with him at his barn.

Thanks,

Harry and Lauren Hawkes