James G. Fernandez

I was born during the waning years of the depression, (1933), and early poverty in the family made sure that I developed a good work ethic.  I was the youngest son of Salvador Armando Fernandez and Zada Jane Padgham Fernandez.  I was very proud of my Parents, dad came here in 1915 from Spain and worked hard, learned English and became an American citizen, but he never forgot his Castilian roots.  Mom was a local gal and the two made a great pair.  I gave them a few headaches through the years. I worked delivering papers when I was 12. Summers I helped dad with the sheep, taking them across the ferry at White Bluffs then putting them on the train to Bonner, Montana.  The end of Summer the fat lambs would be shipped by train to Chicago, and the ewes would come back to Sunnyside.

I started working in Alaska during the summer, then in 1953 I was drafted into the US Army during the Korean conflict, served my two years and came home in 1955. After returning from the Army, I continued working for the San Juan Fishing Company in Alaska for 5 years in the summer as a pile driver building fish traps.  In the winter I worked for Jack Lane, lambing the sheep at the 2 Bar A Ranch North of Sunnyside.

I started driving truck in 1959 for Robinson, Herritt and then C. Leonard Cobb hauling cattle for 4 years. I was making trips with cattle to California and had to stop once because a heifer was calving.  While adjusting the load at Bakerfield, CA for this new mother, I saw a Brahman bull calf off the side of the chute.  I thought it was such a majestic animal.

In 1961 I began my career with Western Pack, driving cattle truck and then becoming their Cattle Buyer.  I was fortunate to have a Citation jet at my disposal to be flown to sales throughout the NW. Some flights got a little iffy but Butch was a great pilot.  Then Western Pack became Foxley, and Foxley became Flavorland, and Flavorland became WA Beef. I returned to Alaska (Pederson Point) for the summer in 1979, then came home and worked until 1985 with the Anderson’s on Sulphur Creek Ranch raising wheat.

While working at Western Pack I met Joedy.  We were married 43 years, raising Callie and Joe.  As a family we worked the ranch and a lot of vacations were spent looking at cattle. 

In 1981 I got my dream, I purchased a Grey Braham bull and two heifers from Texas. My wife and I showed those animals and their offspring at the Central WA State Fair for 3 years.  They were the 1st Brahmans to be shown there, visitors thought they were goats.

 In 1985 I decided to Ranch on my own while working a few days a week at the Toppenish Sales Yard (what a great bunch of co-workers). In 1991 I returned to Cattle Buying for WA Beef and continued until 2006 when I retired from AgriBeef at the age of 72.  Those years between 1991 and 2006, were challenging, and a lot of driving was required throughout Canada and the NW, but also some of my greatest memories.  I met great cattlemen/ranchers/feedlot managers and went to some awesome ranches and feedlots and made many lasting friendships.  I so enjoyed the weeks I spent in Alberta and BC, at Feedlot Alley in southern Alberta where most of the cattle were purchased.  I purchased thousands of cattle from the Van Raay Family at Picture Butte.  I met so many great friendly people through the years. I achieved my dream of buying 10,000 cattle in one day, while at the Western Video sale in Nevada.

Dad always enjoyed visiting the people he had met throughout the years and having a drink with friends.  No matter where we went, Dad could tell you who had ran cattle on that property and how many head they would process a day.  Some of Callie’s fondest memories were when Dad would say, hit them one more time at the auction, and we’d end up the winning bid.  We usually came home with more cattle or horses than mom had planned on.  Dad always had an eye for cattle and could pick those that would grade.

Some of the road trips Dad would take Callie and Joe on had us questioning if he really remembered where these ranches or restaurants were.  But we always ended up where he planned, it was just the scenic route.

Dad enjoyed supporting the 4-H and FFA youth trying to get them the best floor prices for their steers.  He wanted to buy Cassie’s first lamb and almost missed his chance because he got busy visiting with friends.  He was so proud that she decided to show one of his F1’s (Braford) heifers this year.

Dad could be found on the ranch, taking care of what his parents started, and he wanted to pass on to his grandkids Cassie & Colton.   You could find him in his Suzuki or side by side all around the ranch.  Even though he had started turning some of the work over to Callie & Joe, he was still the boss and wouldn’t miss an opportunity to tell us what to do or how to do it. He loved taking his grandkids for rides in the side by side and letting Colton ride in the tractor to feed.  We are pretty sure he only bought the sheep wagon so they could play in it at his house.  Cassie and Colton looked forward to Papa getting them off the bus because he always had Oreo’s and Hershey Bars ready for them when they got to his house.

He enjoyed dropping by and getting Dan to help with whatever projects he had, then come lunch time he’d say let’s go to town and get something to eat.

He was proud of Marc and how he advanced in his career at Genie, so much so, Dad was willing to get on a plane when Marc moved to Colorado.  He looked forward to the weekend trips they would take to go visit friends and finding someplace to eat.   Dad knew all the best food places and bakeries across the West and Canada. 

Jim is proceeded in death by his parents Salvador Armando Fernandez and Zada Jane Padgham Fernandez, sister Carmen, and wife Joedy.  He is survived by his son Marc Fernandez, daughter Callie (Dan) Sims, granddaughter Cassie Sims and grandson Colton Sims, son Joe Fernandez and daughters from a previous marriage, grandkids and sister Dolores Roberts.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the Yakima Valley Fair and Rodeo for the Jim Fernandez Memorial to support the 4-H and FFA beef exhibitors.  Donations may be sent to Yakima Valley Fair & Rodeo, P.O. Box 27, Grandview, WA 98930.  A celebration of life will be held Saturday, June 28th, at 3 p.m. at Jim’s ranch. Those wishing to sign James’ online memorial book may do so at www.funeralhomesmith.com Smith Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.

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