What's New
It’s A Boy!
Benjamin Martin Mata
Tino Mata, our truck driver, and his wife Ofelia, welcomed their fifth grandson on October 14, 2008. Benjamin Martin Mata is the fourth son for Danny and Andrea Mata. He weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces, and was 20 ½ inches long. Little Benjamin joins big brothers Danny, 2, Nicolas, 4, and Cristian, 6.
Tino has been with Colusa Tractor since 2000, and has been taking care of our customers in the field and in the shop, as well as on the road with our lowbed service. Congratulations to the growing Mata family!
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It’s A Girl!
Natalie Rhyan Contreras was born on June 22, 2008 to Robert and Niki Contreras. Robert is one of our Service Technicians, and has been with Colusa Tractor since 2005. Little Natalie joins big brothers Cameron, 8, and Joseph, 2. Congratulations to the entire Contreras family!
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It’s A Boy!
Diane and LeRoy Shuman are proud to announce the arrival of their first grandchild. Jacob Paul D'Arcy was born April 2, 2008 to Stephanie and Tony D'Arcy. Little Jake weighed 6 pounds, 4 ounces and was 20 1/2 inches long. Jake joins big brother Dylan, 10. Diane is our Controller and has been with Colusa Tractor since 1999.
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Ken Lee Retires After 21 Years
Ken Lee is congratulated on his retirement by Dave Zwald, Parts Manager
After 21 years with Colusa Tractor Company, Ken Lee retired in December 31, 2007. Ken started his career with Colusa Tractor in July of 1986 in the parts department, where he continued to serve Colusa Tractor's customers until his retirement. Ken and his wife Wanda can be found many days now on the golf course. Congratulations Ken!
Rich Bottini, General Manager, joins Ken Lee in the celebration
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Twins!
Congratulations to Harold and Debbie Honeycutt on their 15th and 16th grandchildren! Twin daughters Gabriella Hope, 4 pounds, 14 ounces, and Vanessa Joy, 6 pounds, 2 ounces, were born to John and Denise Zemko on December 18, 2007.
Gabriella and Vanessa join big sisters Cassie, 11, Julianna, 3, and Isabella, 2.
Now Open: Small Engines Showroom!
Our new small engines showroom is now open! Stop by and see our new offerings, including accessories like helmets, goggles, and cold gear for snowmobiles. Or dress up your ATV with a winch, sun top, or chrome wheels! We have many models and colors of ATVs, snowmobiles, and Rhinos in stock.
We also carry a full line of ECHO lawn and garden equipment, including chain saws, trimmers, edgers, power pruners, power blowers, and Mantis tillers. And don't forget the John Deere Gator utility vehicles, which come in 2WD or 4WD, gas or diesel, with features like power bed lifts, winches, carts, toolboxes, hitches, and more. Stop by and talk to Ron to see what's new!
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Welcome Little Mollie!
Bob and Alicia Byers are proud first time grandparents of a beautiful baby girl! Mollie Mae Byers was born September 27, 2007, weighing 7 pounds, 11 ounces. She is the first child of Travis and Andrena Byers. Bob is our Shop Foreman and has been with Colusa Tractor Company since May of 2007.
Daddy Travis, Grandpa Bob with Baby Mollie and Mommy Andrena
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Welcome Abigail Rose Salado
John and Anita Stuck are proud to announce the arrival of their second grandchild, Abigail Rose Salado. Abi, the daughter of Ryan and Kimberly Salado was born Saturday, March 31, 2007, and weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces. She joins big brother Austin, 1. Proud Grandpa John is a Service Technician for Colusa Tractor, and has been with us for 14 years.
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Ride for the Troops |
Harold Honeycutt, Small Engine Technician, and his wife Debbie, participated in a motorcycle ride for the troops on Saturday, March 24, 2007. This is the second year the Merced Chapter of the Star Touring & Riding Association has collected items to send our troops. Last year, armed with a list of about 100 suggested items, including personal items, food, magazines, etc. they had about 40 bikes, $300 and boxes of items. This year there were about 120 bikes carrying about 175 people, several pick ups and $1300, plus a truck load of items to send.
Harold and Debbie met the Chapter 395 President in Oroville and loaded the MC trailer with Chapter 395 contributions, brought it home and added their own contributions, plus some items donated by a few of the employees at Colusa Tractor. They left their home at about about 6:00 a.m. Saturday morning and traveled to Merced Power Sports in Merced to meet the rest of the group.
The Merced Police Dept had volunteered to escort the group through town, stopping traffic at the intersections so they could get through as a group. There were not only Star Touring Chapters represented, but also Honda Gold Wing Groups and a couple of riders from the Christian MC Association. These are family MC groups with no drinking or drugs allowed. From Merced, the group traveled to the San Joaquin National Cemetery to pay their respects, then on to Santa Nella and Castle AFB, where the boxes were unloaded to be shipped to the troops.
Harold and Debbie were very moved by the experience, and recommend next year's trip to everyone. Thanks to Harold and Debbie, and the many people like them, our troops can experience a little bit of home away from home, and know that we continue to support them.
Papa Tino welcomes another Grandson!
Tino Mata, our truck driver, and his wife Ofelia, welcomed their fourth grandson on January 29, 2007. Julian Alfredo Mendiola, is the first child for Tino and Ofelia's daughter Cristina, and her husband Alfredo. He weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces and was 21" long.
Little Freddy joins his cousins Cristian, 4, Nicolas, 2 and little Danny, 3 months, all sons of Danny and Andrea Mata.
Tino has been with Colusa Tractor since 2000, and has been taking care of our customers in the field and in the shop, as well as on the road with our lowbed service. Congratulations to the growing Mata family!
Welcome, boys, to the Colusa Tractor Family!
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Just a note: that's 8 new little boys for the Colusa Tractor Family in the last few years...be on the lookout for a Colusa Tractor football team!
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Welcome Baby Ethan
Eric and Ashley Rasmussen recently welcomed the arrival of their first born, Ethan Lewis Rasmussen. Little Ethan was born October 28, 2006 and weighted 6 pounds, 10 ounces. Eric joined Colusa Tractor Company in September of 2006 as a Service Technician. Please join us in welcoming the newest member of the Colusa Tractor family!
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Welcome Baby Austin
John and Anita Stuck are proud to announce the arrival of their first grandchild, Austin Anaya Salado. Austin, the son of Ryan and Kimberly Salado was born March 20, 2006, and weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces. Proud Grandpa John is a Service Technician for Colusa Tractor, and has been with us for 13 years.
Please join us in welcoming this beautiful little Super Boy!
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We're growing!
The walls are up, the doors are on, and the we're getting ready to move in! We'll soon be finished and stretching out into our new shop addition. Colusa Tractor Company's remodel will increase our shop space to double its current size. Our expanded facility will be fully capable of handling the new, larger equipment in today's industry. Stop by and take a look!
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In Memoriam
Alan Scott Nannen
March 14, 1956 - April 25, 2006
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our friend and fellow employee, Alan Nannen. Alan lost his battle with cancer on Tuesday evening, April 25, 2006.
Alan began his career with Colusa Tractor Company as an ROP student while attending Colusa High in 1973. After graduation in 1974, he was hired on full time, and has been with us ever since. Over the years, Alan touched many lives, and was an integral part of our success. He will be greatly missed.
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It's a boy! 
Mike and Judy Murphy welcomed their 4th grandchild, Thomas Michael Sayles on November 9, 2005. Little Thomas weighed 10 pounds, 2 ounces and was 21 1/2" long. Thomas is the first child for Mike and Judy's daughter Elizabeth, and her husband Scott Sayles. We're proud to have Mike as a Service Technician specializing in stripper header repairs. He's been with Colusa Tractor since 1992.
Please join us in welcoming their new bundle of joy!
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Welcome Baby Joseph!
Congratulations go out to Robert and Niki Contreras on the birth of their son Joseph David. Baby Joseph was born on September 7, 2005 and weighed 8 pounds, 7 ounces. He joins big brother Cameron, 5.
Robert joined Colusa Tractor in May of 2005 as a Service Technician upon his discharge from the U.S.Air Force. He served at Beale AFB in Space Operations, Missile Warning.
Join us in congratulations to the Contreras family!
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It's a girl!
Join us in welcoming Harold and Debbie Honeycutt's 14th Grandchild! Baby Isabella Grace Zemko, daughter of John and Denise Zemko, arrived September 20, 2005 at 11:40 a.m. She weighed 8 pounds, 1 ounce, and was 20 1/4 inches long. Harold is our small engines technician and has been with Colusa Tractor for 13 years.
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Lots of local talent!
Gene McKasson, Service Writer for Colusa Tractor Company for the last 8 years spends his off-time playing with the Highway 20 Band, a new high-energy country rock band who have recently come together to the delight of local audiences.
Gene McKasson with son Adam
Gene plays guitar, and chimes in on vocals. Rounding out the group are Colusan Chuck Comfort on drums and vocals, DJ Mathis from Maxwell on lead guitar and vocals, Mark Pacheco of Corning on the Bass guitar and vocals, and Kellie (Lorenzini) Stroud on vocals. You may remember Kellie as a former Miss Colusa County, who wowed the crowd with her singing talent! The Highway 20 Band's repertoire consists of mostly top 40 country, classic country, some rock, and their own original songs. Give a listen if you get a chance...you'll love them!
From left: Mark Pacheco, Kellie Stroud, Chuck Comfort, Gene McKasson, and DJ Mathis
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Arne Schuster Retires After 24 Years 
After 24 years with Colusa Tractor Company, Arne Schuster retired in May of 2005. Arne started his career with Colusa Tractor in May of 1975 in the Parts Department. In 1983, due to a downturn in the farming economy, Arne left the company to pursue other ventures. He was rehired in April of 1989 as a Sales Representative and served our customers well in that capacity until his retirement. Arne and his wife Cindy are building their retirement home in Oregon.
They'll be missed!
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Employees in Action 
Martin Ramirez, Service Technician, recently returned from fighting fires in Southern California. Martin was part of a firefighting contingency from Colusa County that recently joined in the battle against the wildfires that burned 800,000 acres and caused 22 deaths. A strike team of five engines, four from Colusa County, traveled to Southern California. Local fire departments sent one engine from the City of Colusa, one from the City of Williams, and one engine from the Sacramento River Fire District. An engine from the Office of Emergency Services 220 out of the Sacramento River Fire District teamed up with another strike team. These four engines joined up with engines from Sutter and Pleasant Grove to work alongside more than 13,000 other firefighters to battle the deadliest outbreak of fires in California in more than a decade.
Martin's team was assigned to a number of different areas in the fire region, checking homes and neighborhoods for hot spots. Their first assignment was in Moorpark, where they protected homes and buildings. On their second day, the team worked to protect the Ronald W. Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley and to mop up in fire damaged areas. Next they traveled up into the hills of Santa Clarita. In the Oat Mountain area, at an elevation of more than 3,700 feet, the team set backfires to create fire breaks around communication towers. After another day of battling fires, the team headed down the hills back to the fire camp when cooling sea breezes began moving in. Although the moist breezes aided in battling the fires, they also created a dense fog, which hampered the crew's travel along the narrow, mountain roads. Firefighters were forced to walk ahead of the engines along the edge of the canyon roads, carrying flashlights to lead the way. Martin's team later moved to work on the old fire in the San Bernardino area. While working in the "Rim of the World" highway area, firefighters were met with assistance from Mother Nature in the form of rains and snows.
Working 12 hour shifts, firefighters would return to the camps for a well deserved rest and reassignment. Portable kitchens, showers, and laundry services were coordinated by CDF in the fire camps the teams called home. Sleeping arrangements were very basic, usually on the ground near the truck. When the camp was very close to an active burn area, firefighters were required to sleep inside the truck for safety.
During Martin's tour, Governor-Elect Arnold Schwarzenegger visited the camps several times, surveying the fire-ravaged areas, and commending the teams for their efforts.
Martin has been a volunteer firefighter since 1989. In addition to answering the call locally with the Sacramento River Fire District, his services have been enlisted a number of times over the years to assist in protecting lives and property across the state. We at Colusa Tractor Company are very proud to have him in our midst, and we would like to thank him for his selfless dedication to others.
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Congratulations go out to Marty Xepoleas, Service Technician, and Sherry Lohman on the birth of their daughter Addison Marie on September 8, 2003. Addison weighed 8 pounds, 3.5 ounces, and was 20 inches long. She joins sisters McKayla, 5, and Isabell, 2. Welcome little Addison!
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Congratulations go out to our Small Engines Tech Harold Honeycutt and his wife Debbie on the achievements of three of their grandchildren in the 23rd U.S. Jr. Olympics Taekwondo Championship held in Orlando, Florida, in July 2003. More than 5,500 participants competed for honors.
Bryce, 14, a 1 Dan (1st degree) Black Belt took home a Silver Medal in his class. Bryce first began Taekwondo lessons at age five. He has medaled in numerous local competitions, and has achieved medals in four state competitions in both Pooms (forms) and sparring, which have qualified him for the Junior Olympics four times.
His sister McKenzie, 9, a blue belt, earned a Gold medal in her class in her 1st Junior Olympics competition. She began Taekwondo at 4-years-old and like her brother, she double qualified for this year's Junior Olympics in both Pooms and sparring .
Bryce and McKenzie's sister Diandra, 12, has also earned her 1 Dan Black Belt. Like her brother and sister, she double qualified at state meets and took home a Bronze Medal from the Junior Olympics. Diandra has been competing since she was 5 years old. This is Diandra's 4th Junior Olympics.
In between competitions, the family was able to enjoy the sites in and around Orlando . Harold and Debbie enjoyed a family vacation with Bryce, Diandra, McKenzie and their mom Lori, as well as Harold's other daughter Roberta, and her son Ryan, 12. Roberta and Ryan flew in from Kadena AFB in Okinawa, Japan, where Roberta has recently earned her Master Sergeant stripe. She has been serving in the U.S. Air Force for nearly 18 years now. Roberta's daughter Jennifer, 16, remained in Okinawa, working at a summer job in order to earn money to purchase a car.
We're all very proud of these fine young Americans, and the families who support them, and we salute their talent and dedication. Please join with us in congratulating them on their honors!