Wade Moser, the longest-serving executive vice president in the North Dakota Stockmen's Association's history, will retire this year.

The position only has been open twice in the last 50 years.

"I think it's an indication of how good the organization is," said Moser, 53.

He announced his plans to retire Dec. 31 at the NDSA board of directors meeting Wednesday. He officially became the association's longest-serving executive vice president in 2007, starting his 26th year of service.

"While we are disappointed to see Wade go, we're happy that he'll soon have more time for other things he enjoys," NDSA President Mark Huseth said.

Moser said Thursday that after 26 years with the association, he felt it was time.

Moser was born and raised on a small grains and livestock farm between Elgin and Morristown, S.D.

"My address was Morristown, S.D., which is right on the border, but we actually lived in Grant County," Moser said.

Growing up on the farm was what gave Moser his interest in the cattle business.

"My dad bought some heifers and let me pick my first heifer out when I was 9 years old, and I've never really been out of the business since, I suppose," Moser said.

After high school, he went into the Army during the last years of the Vietnam War. He says the two years he spent in the Army gave him a chance to "leave home and grow up a little bit more."

Upon his return home, he went to school at North Dakota State University, where he received a degree in animal science.

"I was active on campus, and really had a good time and a good education there," Moser said.

It was while at NDSU that Moser met his wife, Lynn. The two have been together 28 years.

After college, Moser accepted a position as an agriculture loan officer in Bismarck.

"At the time, it was called First Bank. It's called US Bank now," Moser said.

He applied for the position of NDSA vice president in 1982, when Clair Michels retired, and has been there since.

"I really looked up to Clair," Moser said.

For Moser, his greatest accomplishment with the NDSA has been helping people to solve problems with day-to-day situations.

"I don't know if it's a big accomplishment in those terms, but there's always a lot of gratification when somebody calls you up or approaches you on a day-to-day situation and you're able to solve it," Moser said.

When it comes to his retirement, he's looking forward to being able to spend more time with his wife and two daughters, as well as devoting more time to helping out around the heifer development program that he owns with his brother, Perry Moser.

(James Ziegler is a student at Bismarck State College.)