Bill Northey Secretary of Agriculture for the State of Iowa from 2007 to 2018 passed suddenly at the age of 64.  He was the Undersecretary for Farm Production and Conservation under USDA Secretary Dr. Sonny Perdue from 2019 to 2021. 

He was celebrated as a “tireless advocate for agriculture and a beloved leader” by the entire Agribusiness Association of Iowa staff where he served as CEO.  He characterized his tenure as Iowa Secretary of Agriculture as “a job of a lifetime, serving as an advocate for Iowa and U.S. farmers and rural America.”

Bill was born and raised in Dickinson County. He earned a Baccalaureate degree in 1981 from Iowa State University followed by a Master’s degree from Southwest Minnesota State University. He farmed in Spirit Lake and was active in agricultural associations including the Iowa Corn Growers and Farm Bureau Federation.

Condolences are extended to his Widow three children and six grandchildren.