SLO County Farm Bureau Women’s Member of the Month: Kay Nicklas

By Paso Robles Press · Sat Dec 13 2025

By San Luis Obispo County Farm Bureau Women

Kay Lund was born in 1943 at the Mallory Birthing Center on 12th Street in Paso Robles, the daughter of Irving "Swede" and Josephine Crettol Lund. Her early years unfolded against the backdrop of small-town life during World War II, with her father serving in the Army in New Caledonia. Even as a young child, Kay’s curiosity and adventurous spirit were unmistakable. She loved visiting her father’s Union Service Station in San Miguel, where he worked on the big trucks that hauled lime rock from Lime Rock Mountain in Adelaida to be shipped north by train.

When she was 3, Swede returned home, and Kay’s fascination with his work only grew. She would watch intently as he tinkered on cars, often climbing into the giant truck tires — just big enough for her to stand in — until she inevitably got caught. Always eager to learn, Kay embraced every opportunity to help and explore, her early adventures shaping the curious, spirited person she would become.

Her brother Kenny was born in 1946, and the family moved to Olive Street in Paso Robles two years later. In the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades, she played clarinet in band and became a majorette. In fifth grade, her first summer job was working at Withy’s Snack Bar at the GoCart Races. That fall, they gave her a weekday job in their bakery on 12th Street downtown that fit her school schedule. Her personality sparkled as she served the customers.

In her freshman year at Paso Robles High School, she hoped for a science class, but that didn’t work out. She met some new friends at work who went to Mission High in San Luis Obispo and enrolled there in her sophomore year. She returned to Paso Robles High as a junior and once again became a majorette. In her senior year, her favorite routine was twirling the fire batons, which was complicated and exciting. In those years, she worked as a carhop at the A&W on Spring Street.

After graduating in 1961, she married Mike Nicklas, who worked for Safeway in Paso Robles. Three sons, David, Jim, and Michael, completed their family. In 1968, Mike was sent to manage a store in Los Angeles. After two years, they came back home to raise their three boys in Paso Robles. Mike became a manager at the Spring Street Safeway and later worked at the San Ardo Oil fields. After 55 years of marriage, he passed away following a long illness. They have nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

When asked why she joined Farm Bureau Women, Nicklas replied she was impressed when her cousin, Lynne, talked about how much she enjoyed being a member, supporting agricultural students with scholarships. She feels that too many people don’t appreciate the need for farming and farmers, and loves that the bureau encourages women to be a part of farming. And all the fun to which she contributes with that same sparkle and enthusiasm.

San Luis Obispo Farm Bureau Women meet every second Monday of the month from September through June. If you’re inspired by these stories and would like to learn more about becoming involved, contact Susan Sonne at (805) 610-1375 or shortsuecakes@gmail.com

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