Fred Busch has had more than forty-five years experience in agricultural lending and farm real estate sales. He was born in Fresno and grew up on a farm on the west side of Fresno County near the town of Mendota. He received his undergraduate degree in business from CSU Fresno and is a graduate of the Pacific Coast Banking School at the University of Washington. After serving with the U. S. Army in Korea, he farmed in Madera County before joining Crocker Bank where he formed and managed the Agricultural Banking Department. Under his leadership, Crocker Bank became the second largest agricultural bank in the United States. Fred then formed California Valley Bank, an agriculturally oriented independent bank headquartered in Fresno. As president and C.E.O., Fred established additional branch offices in Visalia, Firebaugh, Sacramento, and Woodland. Fred has conducted lending seminars on agricultural lending for bankers in foreign countries, including the Central Bank and Development Bank of the Philippines. Fred formed 1st Western Group in order to provide a broad range of services to the agricultural community. He has been active in many professional and civic organizations and has served on the Board of Directors for the California Cattlefeeders Association, the California Tomato Growers, the Council of California Growers, and the Fresno Art Center.