Richard Merritt was raised in Williamsburg, Massachusetts. He graduated from UMASS in 1932 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Husbandry and was a member of Lambda Chi-Alpha. Later he taught at Berkshire Industrial School. He managed Pharos Farms in Simsbury, Connecticut, for many years, then in 1948 moved to Farmington where he leased "Old Farms" on Town Farm Road. He milked 50 Guernseys on a 480-acre farm, until he retired from farming in 1990. He won many awards including Premier Breeder, Premier Exhibitor, and Best in Show at The Big E. He also enjoyed judging cattle at state fairs throughout the Northeast. He was a member and past president of the Connecticut Guernsey Breeders Association, director of the American Guernsey Cattle Club, president of the Connecticut Milk Producers Association, a founding director of Agri Mark, and a director of Agway. He was also a founder and past president of the Farming Recreation Association (Winding Trails). In his later years, he was an active cattle and land broker.