[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17832]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE OF MARVIN MEYERS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 17, 2010

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today before my esteemed colleagues 
to recognize and honor the distinguished service of an exceptional man. 
The contributions of this man to the California agriculture industry 
and our water resources epitomize the spirit of industriousness and 
persistence found in the agricultural communities across our country. I 
would like to recognize Mr. Marvin A. Meyers on being named the 
recipient of the ``2010 Agriculturist of the Year'' award by the 
Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce.
  A leader in the development of private water banking, Meyers, 
himself, farms on the Westside of Fresno County in Mendota. Meyers, who 
cares for 3,500 acres of almonds in the Firebaugh area, admits his 
impatience over finding a solution to water shortages drove him to 
begin developing a water bank. After years of preliminary work, 
including pilot projects and working with the U.S. Bureau of 
Reclamation and other agencies, Meyers received federal approval in 
2002 to begin operating the bank. Meyers pumps water into the 
underground bank during wet years and pumps water out during dry years 
to help make water available when farmers need it most. The bank became 
invaluable last year after three consecutive dry years and regulatory 
decisions limited the availability of federal water to our Valley. 
Meyers' hard work and innovation has translated into the success of his 
operation and the continuation of a family farm. The Agriculturist of 
the Year award is given each year to an individual who exemplifies 
leadership and integrity and whose achievements have significantly 
affected the community. The Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce has 
made a wise choice in their selection of Meyers.
  Meyers' actions demonstrate his dedication to his community. He is a 
visionary, a person who epitomizes altruism and believes in giving back 
to his community. Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting with Marvin 
and touring his water bank and wildlife project near the outskirts of 
Mendota, California. The impressive project included five different 
holding pools all conveyed via gravity and an installation of solar 
panels that was being erected as we toured that day. Through his water 
bank and wildlife refuge projects, Meyers educates groups of local 
students from kindergarten to high school on the importance of water 
education and wildlife restoration. Going beyond the call, Meyers 
offers assistance in transportation costs for school buses to travel to 
and from his site, allowing many school districts and students affected 
by the recession the opportunity to learn outside the classroom about 
issues affecting our Valley.
  Marvin Meyers is truly a remarkable man--always persistent, always 
engaged. Marvin is the kind of advocate that the agriculture industry 
needs on its side. I have come to know this man well since my days in 
the California State Legislature, and know firsthand that this award, 
though meritorious, is only a small part of the recognition Marvin 
deserves for his many accomplishments. I offer my congratulations to 
Marvin Meyers today on receiving this distinguished honor and commend 
him before my colleagues for his contributions to the agriculture 
industry of California and to our Nation.

                          ____________________