Alumni Spotlight - Bill Mai ('58)

Our Alumni spotlight this week is William Mai ‘58. Bill majored in Biological Science with a minor in History. Bill says Bethany college was a good fit since he already had friends and family attending. Although Bill was initially Pre-Med he eventually realized “I was an outdoor person and didn’t think I would enjoy an indoor environment working with people, which would be the case if I were a physician.” 

Bill’s path to his purpose led him to start farming while in college, he was active in local and synod church, was involved in local and state farm organization activity, cooperated with agricultural research / extension services, served at the state level boards and commissions, served on farm business organization boards and other activities. He credits his education at Bethany College with offering him a broad education that enabled him to do many kinds of activities.

After graduation, Bill served on the Kansas State Board of Agriculture/State Fair Board for nine years and fifteen years on the board of Farmer Direct Foods.

Bill was the president of Mai Farms located in Sharon Springs Kansas until he turned 70. He then passed the torch to his son and transitioned to the secretary/treasurer position.

“I liked to do research and I did a lot of that, doing all kinds of experiments in farming methods over the years.  I was the person who developed the dryland corn farming in northwest Kansas by experimenting with different methodologies in the 1970’s when it became evident to me that the water supply of the aquifer could not sustain long term irrigation. I cooperated with the agriculture experiment branch station in Tribune for many years.” says Bill.

In 1996 he was awarded the Bethany Alumni Award of Merit and is enjoying life with his family on his farm. “ It has been a good and happy life for our family because we like what we do and are able to participate in many activities and causes. My goal is to keep working and contributing to the good of society till at least age 100.”  says Bill