FARMINGTON — A day in the office was appealing to Michael Ringer, II, who came to work at the Franklin Journal Thursday with his mother for National Bring Your Child to Work Day.

Ringer, who is 10 and a fourth grade student at Cascade Brook School in Farmington, was really excited when Laurie Ringer suggested he spend the day with her, she said.

Laurie Ringer recently joined the newspaper to handle advertising sales from within the office. She noticed the opportunity posted in a recent company newsletter, she said.

He swapped a day of playing basketball outside or watching videos inside during his school vacation for one spent learning about newspaper advertising.

Mikey was put right to work organizing files, getting the mail and stamping outgoing mail, she said.

“I like office work,” he said. “I like writing things down, organizing papers and dressing up.”

After helping to check that advertisements were in the paper as scheduled, Ringer watched as his mother dealt with phone calls, sales and listing of ads, proof reading and faxing.

“You multi-task,” he said to her as she mentioned things he had done.

Ringer left the office for a few outside sales with Advertising Account Executive Michael Blanchet who is also Ringer’s uncle.

“Mikey has been helpful and eager to learn,” Blanchet said. “Customers liked his smile. It was contagious.”

Ringer met the owner of R.S. Osgood & Sons in East Dixfield and checked out their tractors. Then it was on to Northern Lights where he learned about the new bikes with big fat tires, Blanchet said.

He was successful in helping to sell ads, Blanchet added.

“It’s amazing and fun to be here,” Ringer said of the experience.  “How old do you have to be to work here?”

He was ready to quit school and start an office career. Blanchet advised him to continue with his schooling as most employers want to hire at least a high school and preferably a college graduate.

abryant@sunmediagroup.net