nimals gotta eat. That fact of nature has kept David and Jon Underwood, the Co-Owners of Alaska Feed Co. in Fairbanks, busy during the COVID-19 pandemic—and kept the family business going since statehood. Established in 1959, the Underwoods’ father Dick took over management in 1974 and became owner in 1980. David worked at the shop more than Jon, yet by 1992 they both took over management and then bought the company from their dad.

It’s been a “good, solid occupation,” they say. Their main customers are pet owners and people keeping a little livestock, say a horse or some goats. More “backyard farmers” have sprouted during the pandemic, as the brothers have observed a trend toward gardening, raising chickens, and “homey things.”

David is the elder brother by two years, though Jon is the nominal president of the company. Jon also runs a side project, designing and building trails around the state. David’s son works there, rather than at the feed store, so the next generation of the family business might continue along that lateral (and literal) track.

Alaska Business: What do you do in your free time?
David Underwood: I do a lot of music. I lead the music at our church [Shannon Park Baptist Church]. I enjoy doing that a lot. I do like to ski.
Jon Underwood: I do a lot of reading, outdoor activity. My wife and I own a cabin in the Alaska Range. We like to go there.

AB: What’s your best attribute and worst attribute?
Jon: Do we get to cross-check each other? [he laughs]
David: How long do we have? I enjoy reading about conflict, but I usually try to avoid conflict, try to communicate, work things through. I don’t know if that’s my best attribute.
Jon: A lot of times your best attribute is also your worst. My best one is that I’m very persistent; of course, the other side of that is that some people say that I’m stubborn.
David: Me, I think I can be self-centered sometimes, especially when I’m hungry.
Jon: [laughs]

AB: Is there a skill you’re currently developing or have always wanted to learn?
Jon: [His brother says “welding,” and both laugh] I’m really trying to develop my GIS skills for trail mapping.
David: I bought a pretty high-end electric guitar about a year ago. I’ve been trying to learn lead guitar instead of playing chords all the time.

AB: What’s your greatest extravagance?
David: Hopefully this doesn’t get back to my wife, but I like to collect knives. I’ve got way too many knives. I can never use all of them, but I just for some reason have a fascination with knives.
Jon: Probably travel. We travel a lot and I’ve never regretted spending money on it.

AB: Have you ever had a supernatural experience?
Jon: I would say I have, typically related to my own Christian faith.
David: I feel God’s pleasure. I think that’s a quote from Chariots of Fire. I do feel God’s pleasure whenever I sing Christian music, and I’m privileged to do that every Sunday.