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“IN MEMORY OF GRANT BUNTROCK” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Senate section on pages S2161 on March 12, 2001.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
IN MEMORY OF GRANT BUNTROCK
Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the achievements of a true friend of American agriculture, Grant B. Buntrock, a native of my home State of South Dakota. Grant died at his home on Friday, March 9, 2001.
Grant made his mark on American agriculture all throughout his 38 years of service. He was honored to be selected by President Clinton as the administrator of the Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, ASCS. Through reorganization, he later became the first administrator of the Farm Service Agency, where he served until his retirement in 1997.
His training to be the agency's administrator came through his many ASCS positions. From 1977 through 1980, he served as Assistant Deputy Administrator, State and County Operations, DASCO. In 1981, he became the director of the Cotton, Grain and Rice Price Support Division, where he administered all support programs. His other assignments included Director, Price Support and Loan Division and DASCO staff assistant, as well as assignments to the Programs Operations Division and the Bin Storage Division.
But perhaps the most important position of all was his tenure as a program specialist in the Brown County ASCS office and his position as county office manager in the Day County ASCS office. He was on the front line, dealing directly with South Dakota's farmers and ranchers. His friends are confident that is what guided him in making his daily decisions on how our farm programs should function. While working day-
to-day in the Department of Agriculture, he never forgot for whom he worked. The American farmer.
In the spring of 1995, Secretary Glickman came to South Dakota to see first hand the devastation our State experienced with severe flooding, the likes of which our State has never seen. The Secretary gave Grant the marching orders and he fulfilled those orders. Streamline disaster assistance, and get the help to those in need. Again, the American farmer.
He is going back to his roots, in Columbia, South Dakota. He was born and raised on a wheat and cattle farm in Columbia, where he graduated from high school and later attended South Dakota State University in Brookings. He served his country in the U.S. Navy from 1955 to 1957.
I offer my condolences to his wife, Donna, his mother, Marietta, and his children, LeAnn, Janelle, Gregory, his stepsons, Stephen, and Gregory, and his seven grandchildren. They truly can be proud of Grant's service to his country.
South Dakota and the Nation has lost a true friend of agriculture. But a friend of agriculture who has left many a mark for years to come.
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