Former North Dakota state senator Bill Bowman has been selected to receive the 2019 Agribusiness Award during NDSU's 46th annual Harvest Bowl program. The award recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves in the field of agriculture and business.
The festivities begin Friday, Nov. 8, at the Delta by Marriot hotel, formerly known as the Ramada Plaza Suites, in Fargo with a dinner and awards ceremony. On Nov. 9, honorees will attend the Harvest Bowl football game between NDSU and Western Illinois University.
Bowman grew up on a farm and ranch in Slope County northwest of Rhame, North Dakota. After high school, he started college at Dickinson State University.
Not sure of his future plans, Bowman decided to join the military. But after a farming accident claimed the life of his father, Bowman returned to DSU, where he played football and earned a degree in business in preparation for running his family's farm and ranch.
During his time as a farmer and rancher, Bowman credits the information from NDSU agricultural research and NDSU Extension as being vital to his success.
Bowman continued to farm and ranch until the late 1970s, when he moved his family into Bowman and started selling farm equipment, eventually purchasing his own implement dealership.
Bowman served in the North Dakota Senate from 1990 to 2018. During that time, he served on many committees, including the Agriculture Committee and Senate Appropriations Committee.
Bowman was instrumental in bringing key projects to fruition during his state Senate tenure, including NDSU's Agricultural Experiment Station Research Greenhouse Complex, Beef Cattle Research Complex, Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the NDSU Research Extension Centers in Minot, Hettinger, Williston, Carrington and Langdon.
In addition to Bowman being honored with the Harvest Bowl Agribusiness Award, the NDSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory will be renamed in his honor during a special ceremony Nov. 8.
Now retired, Bowman lives in Bowman and enjoys visiting the family farm his brother Dick owns and operates. He enjoys fishing and spending time with his daughters Tracy, Jolyn and Mindy and his seven grandchildren.
Outstanding agriculturists from 53 counties in North Dakota and seven counties in western Minnesota also will be honored during the Harvest Bowl program, and scholarships will be awarded to outstanding male and female NDSU student-athletes.
For information on Harvest Bowl and to register, visit the NDSU Foundation website or call the NDSU Foundation office toll-free at 800-279-8971 or locally at 701-231-6800.
