FSA welcomes Bunce

In August, William “Bill” Bunce was appointed by the Biden administration to serve as the Wyoming state executive director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA). 

Background 

Originally growing up on the Hermit’s Peak Boys Ranch near Las Vegas, N.M., Bill found his way to the Cowboy State managing largescale sheep and cattle ranches and feedlot operations. He has worked in operational management with the American Quarter Horse Association, working alongside staff of the American Quarter Horse Journal and the Quarter Racing Journal.  

In addition, he has served as the vice president of the American Polled Hereford Association and the executive director of the New Mexico Livestock Board. 

Prior to his involvement with FSA, he was the director of strategic partnerships with Mercy Chefs, Inc., an international disaster response organization. With over a decade of service to international ministry and disaster relief and response, he continues to volunteer and serve as director emeritus with Mercy Chefs. 

Throughout his career, he has traveled through many parts of the U.S. to work in the ag industry, but was excited to come home to Wyoming.   

“Wyoming has been a big part of who I am and I feel very deeply about the state, lifestyle, culture and the conservative nature of the state and the agriculture industry,” says Bill. 

As a Wyomingite, Bill has served as the director of marketing for the Wyoming Department of Agriculture. He has also served as one of the foundational staff directors and as Wyoming’s director of international business and agribusiness for the Wyoming Business Council.  

He has served on the board of directors of the U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc., Wyoming Rural Development Council, University of Wyoming College of Agriculture Advisory Committee and Gov. Jim Geringer’s Sub-Cabinets on Natural Resources and Economic Development. 

“Wyoming is very fortunate to have the leadership we have across all of our state agencies, nongovernmental associations and organizations and across our industry leadership,” shares Bill. “It’s phenomenal – we should be incredibly proud of what we have and who we have.”  

“The knowledge our team has, across the board, is truly exceptional and I’m proud to come and join the team and try to help agriculture in Wyoming,” he adds. 

FSA role 

The FSA serves farmers, ranchers and agricultural partners through the delivery of effective, efficient and agricultural programs – including farm commodity and disaster programs. 

“My job is to work alongside our county offices, provide support and run interference,” says Bill. “My job is to represent the state of Wyoming in Washington, D.C., explain federal policy and provide tools to FSA staff to help them be successful.” 

“They don’t need me to know how to run our FSA programs, they need someone to be on the policy side representing Wyoming in Washington, D.C., and vice-versa, and that’s what I plan to do.” 

To start, he hopes to improve  staffing. He notes there is more work being done by less and less people. Going forward, he hopes to be a point of contact for people across the state who have intent and interest in FSA programs. 

Future goals 

FSA works to conserve natural resources and provides credit to producers unable to receive private, commercial credit, including special emphasis on beginning, underserved and women farmers and ranchers. Bill is excited to extend a helping hand to the next generation of agriculture.

“If I could pick an area I feel in my heart to improve upon, it would be the Beginning Farmer and Rancher program,” he explains. “I would love to see this program expanded in dollar limitations and number of producers in an effort to make this program more accessible.” 

The average age of farmers and ranchers in the state is 57 years old, he says. 

“We’re seeing this age increase and the continual contraction within the ag industry,” he says. “Unfortunately, 75 percent of farms and ranches in the U.S. today support the off-farm income of the family. In order to preserve food security in our country, we have to keep more producers on the ground.” 

“If we can move this needle, we are saving our country a lot of problems in the future,” he concludes. 

Bill has put together a state committee and hopes to announce selected candidates by the end of the year. 

Brittany Gunn is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.