William (Bill) Ferris

Graduated Victor Central 1965.

Worked at Gleason, Rochester for 6 months - Joined the Air Force, just days before getting draft papers. Spent 4yrs - TX, ND, Cape Cod, Vietnam (R and R in Australia), and back to ND. Married for 25 years - divorced in 1969 - 2 sons (Kjell and Troy) and 2 beautiful granddaughters.

Attended 2yr college in Bottineau, ND (School of Forestry) - Transferred to North Dakota State University in 1971, in May 1973 received BS in Ag Education. Taught for 3yrs in MN (Red River Valley).

Accepted a job with Cargill Inc. as the 1^st Sunflower Sales person for ND, MN, SD and MT. This position gave me experiences in traveling to Spain, France, Mexico and SC.

Started an Ag Business in 1978, in western ND. (Fertilizer & Seed Business, also Manufacture Rep for Farm Equipment in ND, MN, SD and MT). I sold Business in 1989, and took a job as a Sales manager for a Seed and Refinery Company. The Company was sold in 1990, and I accepted a job as an Adult Farm Management Coordinator for Harvey School District in ND.

In 1995 accepted a job at NDSU County Extension, working with the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, a grant position, also decided to return to school for my Master's in Ag Education from NDSU in 1998. In Sept of 1997 remarried to Karen Rostad, in Minot, ND. Karen has a daughter and son, and I was blessed with 8 more grandchildren.

After school I was offered a position with PENN State Extension as County Extension Director in 2001. I also did crop insurance work as a part time job, which gave me opportunities to travel to farms in PA and NY.

Having a back ground in crop insurance and crop adjustment, I was offered a position with the Risk Management Agency of the USDA in 2007 in Topeka, KS.

In 2014 we made plans to transfer back east to WV. My wife was offered a job in social work, and we purchased a home in WV. No transfer yet, I'm in Topeka, KS. A long commute.

This year has had many events, the hardest was my Mom's passing at 89 years in February. We have made trips back since, and have traveled to graduations etc. This is a very busy time of year for work as well. I was so looking forward to seeing everyone again!! God Bless and good health to all.