Patrick Frink: Husband, Father, Organic Farmer
Patrick Frink works with Frink Fertilizers in Ritzville, Washington. When he’s not working hard to develop new and innovative environmentally friendly and organic fertilization solutions, Patrick Frink enjoys spending time in his own organic garden and with his family on their Ritzville farm. Mr. Frink converted his garden over to organic in 1997, after reading numerous agricultural reports that touted the benefits of green gardening, and the dangers of traditional farming, which uses chemicals and pesticides. Over the past ten years of eating and growing organic, Mr. Frink has seen numerous benefits to his health, the health of his family, his crops and the land surrounding his massive gardens. He is now a staunch advocate for organic growing, and is always happy to share fruit, vegetables and wisdom from his garden.
Patrick Frink was born in Borger, Texas, a small town in the northernmost tip of Texas, not too far from the Oklahoma border. Growing up in Borger, Mr. Frink often helped his own father with the family garden and ranch. An agricultural hub, Borger’s soil has always been rich in nutrients, making it ideal for growing all kinds of fruits and vegetables. In addition to their prized home garden, the Frink’s owned and operated a thriving alfalfa farm and small cattle ranch. At home, the Frink’s kept many farm animals as pets, such as chickens, ducks, cows, goats, sheep, pigs and horses. Young Patrick was particularly fond of the animals, making sure each had a name and plenty to eat.
While Mr. Frink’s father worked the ranch and alfalfa crops, young Patrick attended school and helped out his father when he could. Mr. Frink’s mother, Helen, a homemaker, tragically died when young Patrick was just a baby. When in school, Mr. Frink excelled at academics, with one of his strongest subjects (and greatest joys) being chemistry and geography. Mr. Frink also enjoyed extracurricular activities, especially track and field, where he set two consecutive records for the school district as a teen. Upon high school graduation, Mr. Frink went off to college on a full scholarship, at a college a short distance away, in Amarillo, Texas. The College, Wayland Baptist University was founded in 1908, and holds a special place in Mr. Frink’s heart, because while in college he met the woman he would eventually marry, Miss Velma Grant. Mr. Frink and Velma became husband and wife (following graduation and a brief stint in Vietnam) in September of 1970.
Patrick and Velma soon added six children to their family before relocating to Ritzville, Washington in 1980. In fact, the home they purchased in Ritzville some 28 years ago is still the home they reside in today. And while the property itself has had many changes in nearly 30 years, the same can be said for the Frink family. While the halls of the Frink’s historic home no longer echo daily with the thunder of six young kids and their numerous pets, it fills the halls even louder on holidays and school vacations, when the Mr. and Mrs. Frink play host to their four sons, two daughters, four daughters in law, two sons in law, and fifteen grandchildren! The fruit and vegetable gardens the Frink’s first tilled in 1980 still remain in their original locations, though most have grown considerably. In addition, the Frinks have added two barns, a manmade pond, and about 35 pets- including three dogs, five horses, ten sheep, two goats, and an ever growing coop full of (free range!) white Cochin Bantam chickens.