Bill Even was appointed South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture by Governor Mike Round in March, 2007.

Bill holds an Associate of Science degree in Agricultural Production from Lake Area Technical Institute in Watertown, SD; a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business with highest honors from South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD; and a Juris Doctorate with high honors from Drake University Law School in Des Moines, IA where was an Opperman Scholar and received a certificate in Food and Agricultural Law.

While in law school, Bill served as executive editor of the Drake Journal of Agricultural Law, clerked for the law firm of Hefner and Bergkamp, P.C., and interned on the U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee in Washington D.C.

Prior to being appointed Secretary of Agriculture, Mr. Even served as Deputy Secretary of Tourism and State Development and Director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development. He also served as the state's Energy Director and as Policy Advisor for the Governor's Office. Bill currently serves as Chairman of the Food & Agriculture Security Task Force for the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture.

In addition to his duties with the Department of Agriculture, Bill is a member of the South Dakota Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the American Agricultural Law Association. He served for ten years on the Board of Directors of the Humboldt Farmers Elevator COmpany and 15 years as a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician and Firefighter.

Secretary Even and his family own and operate a diversified crop and livestock operation near Humboldt, SD. The farm was homestead in 1881 by his great-grandfather. Bill and his wife, Janell, live in Pierre with their three children.