Arvid Virgil Monson

Arvid was raised in Yakima and, as a young boy, he was always an entrepreneur. Some of his earliest business ventures were when he sold ice-cream on Fruit Row and had a newspaper route in Yakima. He went to Castleville Grade school and graduated from Selah High School in 1959. He attended YVCC where he met his wife Suzanne Villaume-Monson. They were married on December 30, 1961 in Yakima. This year they would have celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary.

His cattle feeding career started in 1947 with his father, Van, in Selah, Washington. In 1975, Arvid decided to feed cattle on his own and purchased a 25,000 head feedyard in Sunnyside WA, formerly known as the Bar “S” Feedlot. This became a family operation with his wife Suzanne and children. In 1979 he planted a Red Delicious orchard on the Roza in Outlook. This was the beginning of the family diversification into other areas of agriculture. Arvid and his partners purchased H&H Packing Company and Western Pack in 1977, and formed Washington Beef, which they owned and operated until 1988. In 2004, the family moved their cattle feeding operation from Sunnyside to Western Nebraska. They were partners in the Dinklage Feedyards, which operates 7 feedlots in Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming. Today, the Monson Family is still feeding cattle in the Midwest, Pacific Northwest and running grass cattle in the Western U.S.

In 1993, Arvid and his family purchased property on the Snake River and developed a high density apple orchard. In the fall of 1997 he started the development of Goose Ridge Estate Vineyards with the guidance of Dr. Walter Clore. Over the years, the family developed and planted over 2,800 acres of wine grapes, apples, and cherries.

Arvid was very active in the agricultural industry. His many organizations that he was involved in over the years were the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, serving as President of the Washington State Cattle Feeders Association, Chairman of the Washington State Beef Commission, Chairman of the U.S. Meat Export Federation, President of the Yakima County Cattlemen’s Association, Chairman of the National Livestock and Meat Board, and in 1979 and 2004 he received the Washington State “Cattle Feeder of the Year” award. He also served and was appointed to the Yakima County Planning Commission, was a member of the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers, and a member of the Sunnyside Rotary.

Those who knew Arvid knew that he was never afraid of new challenges. He was an innovator, a visionary, always looking forward, and continually striving to improve in business. His years of wisdom and knowledge helped develop a legacy. He was unafraid to try new ideas and take calculated risks. Arvid was from a generation that did business with a handshake and kept promises. He will be sorely missed by those that knew him. Arvid always felt that his greatest accomplishment was his family. His wife Suzanne, his children and grandchildren were his prized possessions.

He loved not only the time with his family, but playing golf with Suzanne and friends, traveling, hunting, fishing, boating, and the winters spent in Palm Desert. His friends and family can attest to the fact that he loved life.

Arvid leaves behind many to remember him including his wife Suzanne, his daughter Valerie, of Richland, his son Bill, and his wife Darci, grandchildren Taylor, Blake, and MaKenzie of Kennewick, his daughter Molly Stutesman, and her husband Rob, grandchildren Grant, Allison, and Luke, of Richland. Arvid is preceded in death by his parents M.L. and Juanita Monson, and brother, Bob Monson.

A celebration of Life for Arvid will be held on Wednesday, December 10th, 2014 from 11:00 – 3:00 PM at the Goose Ridge Vineyards Tasting Room in Richland. It is asked that in lieu of flowers or gifts, a donation be made to the Arvid Monson Memorial Scholarship Fund for the WSU Tri-Cities Viticulture and Enology program at the following:

WSU CAHNRS

Attn: In memory of Arvid Monson

P.O. Box 646228

Pullman, WA. 99164-6228