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Distinguished Alumni: Larry and Jennifer Farnes
By Kade Parry
“Cherish every moment, strive for your optimum performance, be kind to all, and be a friend to those in need,” is the advice Snow College alumni Larry and Jennifer Farnes give to current and future Badgers. These values played an important role in their lives, especially after each turned down opportunities at Ricks College in Idaho to come to Snow College in Ephraim, Utah.
A performer at heart, Jennifer (Jenni) Clawson Farnes was never happier than when she was on the stage. When Richard Haslam offered her a theatre scholarship in 1968, there was no question—she would attend Snow. A drama major, Jenni always kept a full schedule. She performed in multiple plays per year, did stage makeup, worked on stage design, and even had the opportunity to student-direct a play. Jenni paints a picture of her first play at Snow College when she says, “I was excited, as you might imagine. However, there was a kissing part in it. I mean, I would be kissing a guy in front of God and everybody—which included my parents!” She successfully avoided practicing that particular scene for some time, until it could no longer be avoided. Jenni continues, “’Has’ (Mr. Haslam) says that he wants us to do the kissing scene. You have to know Has. He had a wicked, wonderful sense of humor. He was enjoying my discomfiture. He had us kiss over and over and over again until I finally warmed up and learned that public kissing wasn’t so bad.”
Jenni’s involvement at Snow didn’t stop at the stage doors. She was selected as student body secretary her sophomore year, named co-ed of the month in ’71, played the role of school mascot Buster Badger her freshman year, and had the opportunity to reprise that role when the basketball team went to Hutchinson, Kansas, for the National Junior College Championship. Despite her busy schedule, Jenni was also named in “Who’s Who in American Junior Colleges,” a prestigious annual recognition that is awarded to students based on academics, service, and leadership.
One auspicious night in 1969, Jenni was at the student union building recruiting boys to support a club-sponsored dance when Larry Farnes approached the table. Larry volunteered to help recruit others on one condition: that she would dance every dance with him. That night changed their lives forever and made Larry especially grateful that he had chosen to take a chance on Snow.
When faced with the overwhelming odds of making the Snow College basketball roster as a freshman on a team with eleven returning players, enduring four hours of practice each day was grueling. Larry recalls the excruciating pain and physical ramifications of those long hours of practice, but he loved the game and learned to value the challenges that led to his individual improvement and treasured memories with his teammates.
Larry’s hard work paid off. Not only did he make the team roster, but the team qualified for the National Junior College Championship in 1970, marking only the second time in school history that the Badgers went to a national championship. In the 1970-71 season, he was named the team captain and awarded most inspirational player by his teammates. Larry shares one of the life lessons for his athletic success at Snow College, a lesson he still lives by: “It is my hope to improve at least 1% every day in some area of my life.”
Hard work wasn’t confined to the hardwood of the basketball court, however. Because of learning disabilities that Larry was unaware of at the time, academia was difficult and demanding. Larry faced a common challenge that many students still face today—self-doubt. He recalls his lack of self-confidence as a freshman, saying, “My high school counselor told me that I was not smart enough go to college, and, unfortunately, I believed him. I did not understand why reading had always been so difficult for me until I was finally diagnosed with a learning challenge at age 54.” Many students become discouraged and lack self-confidence, but Larry’s success story, extending throughout his career, should be one to inspire them to avoid doubting their own abilities, to seek the help of others when needed, and to aim for their full potential.
Jenni graduated with an Associate of Arts degree from Snow College in 1970 and immediately took a position with the FBI in Washington DC. Larry graduated from Snow College the following year. The couple were married in 1971. Fueled by what they each learned at Snow, their next stop was the University of Utah in 1971. Larry graduated from the School of Physical Therapy with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1974; he would earn his Doctor of Physical Therapy degree 41 years later from Utica College in New York.
Before long, the struggles of freshman college courses were a distant memory. With years of hard work and support from Jenni, Larry became the co-author of multiple books, a successful inventor, and the president, CEO, and founder of his own businesses—the most recent business being Farnes Institute, where he works tirelessly to help people with musculoskeletal impairment, dysfunction, and disease.
Jenni jokes that she earned her Ph.T. (Putting Hubby Through) twice, and then worked to support his private practices by cleaning offices, acting as a courier between the offices, catering the professional events, arranging flowers, making gifts, decorating offices, working the front desk, and doing all of his medical and personal transcription. She quipped, “I don’t think there’s a degree for all that!”
In addition to supporting Larry’s businesses, Jenni was very active volunteering in the PTA and her children’s classrooms. While volunteering, she noticed a lack of emergency preparedness in the schools and decided to take action. Jenni worked to implement an emergency preparedness system throughout the district and was given a Community Service Award for her efforts. Jenni also worked with FEMA, lecturing at different civic organizations, schools, and community functions and has spent countless hours serving her church community.
Larry and Jenni have six children, but sadly lost one when he was 11 years-old. A favorite saying hangs in Jenni’s studio: Patient endurance attaineth to all things. She says, “That has pretty much been how our life has gone. We patiently endure. We patiently endure a lot. We have some things, but not all the things, so we keep on patiently enduring.”
Larry and Jenni now live in Port Ludlow, Washington, where they enjoy special times with their children and grandchildren and other pursuits, continually working and always remembering fondly their days at Snow College. They encourage Badgers to “enjoy every day of your years at Snow College because they may be some the best memories of your life.”
Looking back, Larry sees the folly of doubting in himself at Snow College in 1969. Larry offers a valuable message for many college students: “If I could go back and do one thing differently, it would be to develop a deeper belief in myself and my confidence in my academic capability and capacity. Because of my learning challenges and some misguided direction, I did not realize my potential in academics while at Snow.”
Still, Larry and Jenni have seen that even life’s greatest personal and professional successes aren’t without their challenges. Larry says, “Owning my business, having a large family to provide for, and dedicating time to church service and community presented many challenges as to how to balance it all.” In much the same way as when Larry tried out for the 1969 Badger basketball team, or when Jenni stepped onto the stage, they continue to strive for optimum performance, cherish the seemingly ordinary moments, and value the importance of kindness and friendship.
