FAIRHOPE—After planting their seed in Fairhope 37 years ago, Linda and Cecil Christenberry have sprouted a new adventure called retirement.

After living across the state, the Christenberrys knew Fairhope was where they wanted to spend the rest of their lives.

"We wanted to stay here for many reasons," Cecil said. "Mainly, we wanted to raise our girls in Fairhope."

Christenberry, who has a degree in Agricultural Science with a major in Animal Dairy Science from Auburn and a love for giving back to the community, dreamed of starting a business. This long-time goal would become a reality after the couple prayed and decided to take a leap of faith.

"I went to meet a man named Mr. Cane," Christenberry said. "He was loving and had a big heart. We shook hands and we sat down, and he said, 'Mr. Christenberry, can you sketch out what you're envisioning for a store?'"

After using a number two pencil to sketch out his dream onto a notepad, Mr. Cane informed Christenberry that he would purchase an area of land located on Greeno Road and begin building the architecture that Christenberry drew.

This dream come true would be called "Old Tyme Feed and Garden Supply."

"It just fell into place and looking back at what happened, it is just a miracle," he said. "It is just amazing how God worked things out."

Christenberry recalled a time he felt discouraged two years after opening Old Tyme Feed and Garden Supply.

"It was the last Monday of February, there's this old fellow, beautiful guy around town and I called him a friend," he said. "I told him I need a board of men who will come and pray. We said we would do it on Monday mornings at six o'clock and that was 35 years ago."

This prayer group is now a tradition. Every Monday at 6 a.m., before the store opens, a group of men will pray for the store, the customers and the employees.

"Iron sharpens iron," he said. "Even after we retired, we have continued that."

Although the couple are enjoying retirement, the two said they miss seeing familiar faces in the store.

"There are customers that are friends after many years," Linda said. "I still go in a couple of days a week for a few hours, and I get to see the people that I worked with and see customers."

The couple added that there are things they have not been able to do in many years, such as travel, but since retiring, they are looking forward to new adventures.

To keep Old Tyme Feed family oriented, Christenberry passed on the business to someone who is like a son to him.

When Old Tyme Feed first opened, Christenberry knew he needed to hire someone to help around the store.

"It was Steve Comstock and I who were working, we were working from the very beginning," he said. "Steven and I knew we needed some held and he (Comstock) said, 'What about that kid that comes in here and smiles all the time?' We finally identified that it was Chris Haney."

Haney would work for Old Tyme Feed from the age of 15 until 21. After years of working away from this family business, Haney would find his way back to where his heart was; at Old Tyme Feed.

"I spent a lot of time there," Haney said. "Eight years ago, when I came back, he (Christenberry) was talking about a partnership and next thing I know, he said, 'I'm just going to sell it to you.'"

Haney added that this business is something he cherishes and hopes to grow in the future.

"I am grateful that Cecil and Linda gave my wife and I the opportunity," he said. "I am honored that they think we can keep it running."