Tim Farmer is known around Concord as the long-time owner of South Main Street’s S&W Sports. He began working at the sports equipment store when he was just 13 years old, propelled by his love of riding and building bicycles.
What many residents may not know is his somewhat unusual birthday. Farmer is a New Year’s baby — the first child born in Concord Hospital in 1966. Even though he was due to be born on Dec. 27, he wasn’t ready to come out. He will turn 60 years old on Friday, Jan. 2.
“It was always great to have your birthday right after Christmas, because whatever you didn’t get for Christmas, you could ask for for your birthday,” Farmer said.
Some of Farmer’s first birthday gifts were ones he never had to ask for. Several businesses around town gave gifts to the family, including a silver cup with Farmer’s name engraved from Speer’s Fine Jewelry, $100 worth of milk from HP Hood and a savings account opened in Farmer’s name at Concord Savings Bank, his mother Barbara said.
The Concord Monitor ran a photo of her and little Timothy in 1966 alongside the last child born in 1965 at Concord Hospital.
Barbara, who still lives in Weare, said she did not expect all the buzz around the birth of Farmer.
“I was not aware that anything exciting was happening other than having my first child,” she said.
Some of Farmer’s birthday presents were a tricycle at 2 years old from his grandfather, and his first bicycle at 7 years old, said Barbara. Those gifts were the driving force behind his time as a BMX bike racer and his 47-year career at S&W.
Between ages 11 and 15, Farmer traveled across New Hampshire for BMX competitions on the weekends alongside his younger brother Tom.
“He and I were kind of the local fast guys at the Weare track,” Farmer said.
Farmer became the owner of S&W in 1998, which will be celebrating its 50th year in business in June. Since the time he owned it, he said the business has gone through “constant change.” It started out selling kerosine heaters, coal by the ton and mopeds, which eventually led to selling bicyclyes and cross country skis. Over the years, it offered snowboards, skateboards and, most recently, e-bikes.
“We’re the only locally-owned shop in the area,” Farmer said, pointing out corporate stores like Dick’s Sporting Goods and Sierra Trading Post that it competes with. “But there’s a difference between going to a big corporate business and a local business, and that’s what I think keeps us strong.”
As an owner, Farmer made it a mission to “get more people on bikes.” S&W works with children to teach them how to ride, provides bikes for women transitioning out of prison and hosts the Central New Hampshire Bicycling Coalition to hold an annual bike swap that allows those who can’t afford a bike to get one.
“He’s always been interested in helping other people and being there for support,” Barbara said. “I think that’s what makes him a good businessman.”
For his 60th birthday, Farmer said he is leaving early Friday morning with his wife for a three-day trip to Florida that she planned as a surprise.
“It’s been a great ski year for S&W Sports, and mainly because it’s been so cold that the snow hasn’t disappeared,” he said. “So getting away and going someplace warm will be nice.”