1934-1987
For six generations, the names of Marsh and Myers have been associated with the history and agricultural development of Colusa County. When the adventurous Myers family reached California by covered wagon, they did not chose to hunt for gold, but entered the livestock business and filed claim to land in the Sacramento Valley.
Floyd Myers Marsh ("Bud"), carried on these traditions until his untimely death in 1987. This livestock leader was born on a ranch between Williams and Arbuckle. He was active in FFA programs and was elected president of his high school student body. Marsh entered UC Davis with two agricultural scholarships and majored in general agriculture, graduating with a BS in 1956.
After graduation, Bud formed a ranching partnership with his grandfather, Floyd J. Myers. He expanded their operation until, at his death, the ranch consisted of 3,400 acres of irrigated and dry farming land and range pastures. He operated 150 head of Angus-crossbred cows and 1,200 white-faced range ewes. In addition he managed a wide variety of agricultural enterprise, producing registered rice seed, sugar beets, wheat, almonds, walnuts, alfalfa hay, and alfalfa seed.
He started an extensive scientific breeding and selection program to develop a high producing two-way range ewe.These were large white-faced ewes, with open faces and the long-staple wool demanded by the market, which were bred to black-faced rams to produce heavy market lambs. Over the years, Bud increased productivity by continuing to improve his range lands by developing springs, impounding water, removing brush, etc.
Bud and his father, Dr. H.R. Marsh, produced alfalfa pellets and developed a profitable export market for them. In 1972, Bud formed the Western Grain Marketing Cooperative, for which he served as a member of the Board of Directors.
Bud was a leader in Colusa County organizations, including Farm Bureau, the livestock organizations, the Historical Society, and the Board of Directors of Our Lady of Lourdes School. He served as president of the California Wool Growers Association, and later of the National Wool Growers Association. President Ford appointed Bud Marsh to the Economic Conference held at the White House. In 1977 Governor Brown appointed him to the California Board of Agriculture.