The late Bill Northey, former Iowa secretary of agriculture and USDA undersecretary for farm production and conservation, recently was honored as the 2024 recipient of the Ambassador’s Circle Award by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA). The announcement was made at the 2024 NASDA annual meeting.

NASDA’s board of directors also announced the award will be renamed the Bill Northey Legacy Award, recognizing those who advance the organization’s work in the U.S. and beyond. Bill’s wife, Cindy, accepted the award on his behalf. He served as Iowa secretary of ag from 2007 to 2018 and worked at the USDA until 2021.

Bill unexpectedly passed away Feb. 5. He had an immense depth of knowledge and experience in agriculture, and worked tirelessly to ensure farmers were kept at the center of state and national policy concerns. He built relationships across sectors, ensuring all sides were heard and supported through difficult issues.

Current Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig was elected NASDA secretary-treasurer during the 2024 annual meeting.

“Bill was always learning, and sharing what he learned,” Naig says. “He wanted to know the issues, meet people and learn about new topics and concerns. He did a good job explaining information. He took what he learned, put it into action and explained to others what it meant.”

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Bill had a huge impact on not only Iowa agriculture, but also U.S. agriculture in his role at the USDA, Naig says.

“What more positive thing can you say about someone when they worked as hard as they could, using all their skills, knowledge and experience to help improve the lives of others?” Naig says. “That’s certainly the Bill Northey I knew and worked with. Bill always said he had the greatest job as Iowa secretary of agriculture. When he went on to serve our country at USDA, and even in his final role as CEO of the Agribusiness Association of Iowa, we viewed his commitment as being the capstone of his life.”

NASDA CEO Ted McKinney adds: “Bill was a sympathetic listener. When you can listen to people who might be your critics and still find a way to rally people for a common cause — that’s what I witnessed in Bill.”

Bill served as NASDA president in 2011 and 2012. “With Bill’s passing, we lost one of our titans of the ag community locally, domestically and as a NASDA family member,” McKinney says. “Our board of directors renamed the award in recognition of Bill’s many years of good work [and] decades of contribution. We changed the name of the Ambassador’s Circle Award to the Bill Northey Legacy Award.”

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Trusted, respected leader

McKinney and Blayne Arthur, immediate past president of NASDA, reflected on the personal impact Bill had in their lives and for agriculture.

“Bill Northey was my good friend, as he was to many others,” McKinney says. “We lost a titan of U.S. agriculture. All of NASDA expresses sorrow, and our love and support go out to his wife Cindy and his family. As a lifelong leader in the industry, Bill had an immense depth of knowledge and experience that he shared to benefit all of agriculture.”

Arthur added: “Bill was well known for his care for others, love of learning and deep appreciation for those who work to feed the world. His heart and experience as a fourth-generation farmer made him a one-of-a-kind leader for ag.”

“Bill had a tremendously positive impact on our state and the Iowa Department of Ag and Land Stewardship, but his influence went well beyond our borders,” Naig says. “Whether it was on issues like soil conservation, water quality, renewable energy, foreign animal disease preparedness or trade, Bill was respected nationally and internationally. People looked toward his leadership on every issue he focused on.”

“Serving our country as USDA undersecretary for farm production and conservation from 2018 to 2021, Bill worked to improve food security around the globe,” McKinney says. “Bill was a cherished husband, father, grandfather, friend, mentor and farmer. NASDA sends our deepest condolences to all those who knew Bill or were impacted by his good work.”

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Lifetime of service

Greg Ibach is a Sumner, Neb., farmer who served as Nebraska director of agriculture and was a USDA undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs from 2017-2021. This time coincided with when Bill was also a USDA undersecretary.

“When I think of Bill Northey, two words come to mind: Humble and kind. He was also determined and dedicated to his passions every day,” Ibach says.

He says Bill had two passions in life: his wife/family and agriculture.

“Bill served both unselfishly with all his heart,” Ibach says. “Renaming the Ambassador’s Award for Bill is a way we can show how much we appreciate all Bill has done for agriculture today, tomorrow and well into the future.”

Northey was CEO of the Agribusiness Association of Iowa at the time of his death. He received the Iowa Master Farmer Award from Wallaces Farmer in 2016, the fourth generation of his family to receive the honor.

Note: NASDA is a nonpartisan nonprofit association that represents the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries and directors of the departments of agriculture in all 50 states and four U.S. territories. NASDA enhances American food and ag communities through policy, partnerships and public engagement. To learn more, visit www.nasda.org.