[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 32 (Monday, March 12, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S2161]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      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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