Meet the Locals: Sherye Clancy
A Steady Job Can Support an Active Lifestyle
Photos: Sherye Clancy, Erik Osberg
Jobs with good wages and benefits are what help people to pay their bills and live a healthy and fruitful life. The steady income also allows people to enjoy a busy lifestyle of traveling, sports, hobbies and other activities such as volunteering. Otter Tail Lakes Country offers a wide range of job opportunities. The most common jobs are in business administration, retail, construction, manufacturing, custodial, teaching, food, transportation, mechanics, nursing, healthcare services, farming, fishing, and forestry.
In 2016, the unemployment rate here was 3.1 percent. as opposed to 4.9 percent in the United States. Most people value great working conditions, fair wages, on-the-job training, great co-workers, and job security, but having a good job also allows more freedom to get involved with the community and to properly enjoy one’s leisure time. Our interview with Sherye Clancy is a glimpse at someone who lives a full life and enjoys juggling a steady job with multiple activities and hobbies.
What is your occupation?
Sherye: I work as a machine operator at KLN Family Brands in Perham, MN (Tuffy’s).
How long have you been there? SC: I’ve worked at KLN for 13 years.
It must be a pretty good place to work for you to have been there 13 years?
SC: I like my job most of the time. I like to stay busy. There are opportunities to try different job positions – if you want. And the benefits are great. They offer a good 401K program, profit sharing, health insurance, vacation (based on how long you have worked here) and three PTO days a year. If you don’t use these three days then you receive a paycheck for three days pay.
I wouldn’t say it’s easy work – and if you don’t have a good work ethic – it might not be the best fit.
Are you from the area?
SC: I grew up in Deer Creek, MN. Went on to school at Alexandria Vo-Tech. First major job was in Minneapolis, then worked in Wadena, Avon (by St. Cloud) and then to Perham. My sister helped me get my job at KLN.
I really enjoy living and working in Perham; all the local businesses are very friendly. It’s nice to be able to go into a store and get small town service with people who always smile when you come in.
What do you like to do with your spare time?
SC: Hobbies include bowling, ice skating, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, piano lessons, deer hunting, water sports, riding bike, roller skating. I also work part-time at the Perham Area Community Center and help elderly people with house cleaning.
I’m also into Young Living Essential Oils –keeps me healthy!
Any advice you would offer to those thinking about moving to the area or looking for work? SC: There’s lots of opportunities at KLN. What I like most is that I get to work on various lines in Section 8 – always moving – not a sit-down type of job. You can get plenty of exercise if you apply yourself. If you aren’t afraid of a little work, you can have a good career and live in a great town at the same time.
