DES MOINES, Iowa -- Former Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey has died.
Current Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig making the announcement Monday.
"Bill was a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a farmer. He loved Iowa and he loved Iowa agriculture. His curiosity, care for others, and love of learning made him a leader that everyone could admire. Bill brought a farmer’s work ethic to every aspect of his life, and he was tireless in promoting our state, its people and our agriculture," Naig said in a statement from his office.
Northey served as Iowa's Agriculture Secretary from 2007 to 2018, and as a US Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation from 2018 to 2021.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds is ordering flags outside state buildings to fly at half-staff until sunset on the day of Northey’s funeral
Northey was 64.