Menu
Fire at Vernon County Meats brings an end to chapter in Smiths' life
By Ben Holman
Nevada Daily Mail
The flames are out, and all that is left is a warped and twisted metal shell that has been blackened by smoke. The pile of deformed metal that sits between a small cinder block building and a small corral is all that is left of Vernon County Meats.
As Wilbur Smith, owner of the business, sits at his dining room table, going over paperwork with an insurance adjuster, the phone rings. It's another individual who had relied on Vernon County Meats to supply them with one of their needs asking the question that Wilbur has been hearing often since a fire destroyed his business last Tuesday -- "What are we going to do now?"
"You don't realize how many people depend on you until you're not there for them any more," said Wilbur.
Immediately following the fire, Wilbur had said that he didn't really want to answer any questions about the incident and didn't believe that it would have the impact that it has had on the community. Later, he contacted the Daily Mail to try and quell some of the curiosity about the future of the business and his family.
"We're not going to open back up," said Wilbur, "I've been at it for 33 years and I'm too old to start a business again."
He made the statement with an air of finality about him -- he said it was a decision that he and his wife, Sharon, had considered very carefully.
He said that the impact will be doubly felt because there are so many other businesses that depended on him, "Cubbages used us for their meat, and several of the grocery stores carried our jerky."
The phone has been ringing constantly with people asking what is going to happen now.
"We were a federally inspected facility, I've been telling everyone to go to Golden City, because that's the closest federally inspected facility," he added.
Wilbur said that a federally inspected facility has the opportunity to export products and sell meat across state lines, whereas a state inspected facility can only sell within the state.
"That's part of the reason we were able to have such a wide variety of products," said Wilbur.
"We deeply appreciate the support of the community through the years, they've helped us raise our family," he said. He said that, in his life, he had lived many places, but none felt quite as much like home as Nevada, "It's the best place I've ever lived."
He recalled the day, 33 years ago, when he first opened his doors. "I was new in town and didn't know anybody, and the Maxwells (who owned a competing business) were some of my first friends."
Smith choked back tears as he recalled the most friendly gesture ever offered him.
"On my first day open, he (Leon Maxwell) came in here and said, 'now there's going to be something you need that you don't have. When you find out what it is, give me a call.'"
Sure enough, Wilbur found out later that day that he needed some acid to clean meat hooks, and Maxwell -- his competition -- provided him what he needed.
The Smith household was full of laughter and tears as the family reminisced about years spent dedicated to the business. They recalled all the kids who had spent their formative years helping out at the business and learning valuable lessons.
"Just one week before the fire, the FFA kids (from Nevada High School) were down here learning about beef judging," said Shelly Smith.
Wilbur has done much to support the youth of Vernon County over the years.
"He wouldn't tell you this himself, because he thinks it's bragging, but he's really helped a lot of young people over the years," said Sharon.
Wilbur is a strong supporter of the Vernon County Youth Fair, FFA and many other worthy organizations.
The Smiths said that they are going to miss their customers, who they say have all come to be regarded as extended family members.
"The people I'm most concerned about are our employees," said Sharon. "I called the state unemployment office to make sure they were going to be able to get their checks and the lady who answered the phone said she was touched that I called."
She went on to say that the lady told her that it was very unusual for a business owner to call for something like that but Sharon said that their employees are part of their family and wanted to be sure that they'd be all right.
"I really just wanted to let people know that we appreciate their concern and tell them that we're not going to re-open," said Wilbur.
There has been some interest in the other location that the Smiths own that has been closed for several years, but no serious offers yet.
"If someone wants to open up there, it's for sale," he said. He said that while there are refrigeration units in at the location, all the other equipment would still have to be purchased.
Wilbur said that he didn't have any plans for what he and Sharon would do with their time now, but Sharon said that she was working on a big "Honey-do," list for him.
Wilbur said that it was an end of an era and that he was a bit sad to see it all end, "What I'm going to miss most is the people."