You’ve probably seen the name pop up in true crime documentaries or heard it whispered in the aisles of a Wisconsin farm expo. People get curious. They start typing into search bars, wondering about the man caught in the middle of one of the most bizarre love triangles in American agricultural history. Is Bill Buss the dairy farmer still alive? The short answer is yes.
Honestly, Bill Buss has lived a life that most people only see in scripted dramas. While the internet remains obsessed with the tragic events of 1989, the man himself has spent the last several decades doing exactly what he always intended to do: farming. He isn't a ghost, and he isn't hiding. He’s a working dairyman in Marathon County who has stayed remarkably quiet while the rest of the world remains fascinated by his past.
Who is Bill Buss and why do people keep asking?
To understand why people are still searching for his status in 2026, you have to go back to the "Dairy Princess" murder. It sounds like a bad movie title, but for the folks in Eland, Wisconsin, it was a brutal reality. Bill Buss was a young, hardworking farmer who found himself at the center of a fatal obsession.
In the late 80s, Bill was dating a woman named Lisa Cihaski. They were engaged to be married. At the same time, Lori Esker—a former Marathon County Dairy Princess—was reportedly unable to let go of her previous relationship with Bill. The tension culminated in a horrific act on September 20, 1989, when Esker strangled Cihaski in a hotel parking lot.
It was a "small-town tragedy" that went national. It’s the kind of story that sticks to a person. Even though Bill was the victim of circumstance and loss, his name became synonymous with the case.
The current life of Bill Buss in Marathon County
Bill didn't pack up and leave. He didn't change his name.
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Basically, he did the most "Wisconsin" thing possible: he went back to the barn. Today, Bill Buss is still active in the agricultural community. If you look at local records or farm bureau updates from recent years, his name still appears. He’s been involved with the Marathon County Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committee, even being elected to represent his local administrative area as recently as the early 2020s.
That’s a big deal in the farming world.
Being on an FSA committee means you’re a leader. You’re helping other farmers navigate USDA programs, disaster relief, and conservation efforts. It shows a man who is deeply integrated into his community, far beyond the headlines of a thirty-five-year-old court case.
What the Buss Dairy Farm looks like today
The farm itself is a legitimate powerhouse. Located near Eland, the Buss Dairy Farm isn't just a couple of cows in a field. Here are some quick facts about the operation:
- Sustainability focus: They’ve received rebates for energy conservation, specifically for installing high-efficiency lighting and plate coolers that help chill milk faster while using less electricity.
- Scale: The operation has managed hundreds of milking cows and heifers across more than 1,500 acres.
- Legacy: The farm dates back to the late 1880s when Bill's grandfather arrived from Germany.
Bill has spent his life preserving that 130-plus-year legacy. When you realize the sheer amount of physical and mental labor required to keep a dairy farm running for over a century, the sensationalism of the "Dairy Princess" story starts to feel pretty thin by comparison.
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Addressing the rumors and the "Still Alive" searches
Why is there a surge in people asking if bill buss dairy farmer still alive?
Part of it is the "Netflix effect." Every few years, a new podcast or streaming series discovers the Lori Esker case. Lori was released from prison in 2019 after serving nearly thirty years. When a perpetrator is released, the public naturally looks for the other people involved.
People expect a tragic figure to be "gone" or "broken."
But Bill Buss is a reminder that life goes on. He remarried, raised a family, and continued the grueling work of a dairy producer. He survived a trauma that would have leveled most people and chose to build something productive instead of becoming a professional victim or a media personality.
What most people get wrong about the situation
Kinda weirdly, the internet likes to paint Bill as a character in a story rather than a human being.
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When you read old trial transcripts or Newsweek articles from 1990, the focus is all on the "jilted Dairy Princess." Bill is often treated like a prop in the narrative. But if you talk to people in the central Wisconsin farming circuit, they don't talk about the 1989 murder. They talk about milk prices, the cost of diesel, and how the Buss family has managed to keep a multi-generational farm afloat when so many others have gone under.
The reality is that dairy farming is a high-stress, low-margin business. To stay in it for forty years after a public tragedy requires a level of grit that’s hard to quantify.
How to find credible updates on Bill Buss
If you’re looking for info, stay away from the "celebrity status" websites. They’re usually wrong or just scraping old data. If you want to see what Bill is up to, look at:
- USDA Farm Service Agency records: These show his public service to the farming community.
- Wisconsin Agricultural Extension bulletins: He is often cited in discussions regarding milk quality and farm conservation.
- Local Marathon County news: Search for the "Buss Dairy Farm" rather than "Bill Buss." You’ll find a record of a business that is thriving and modernizing.
The takeaway for those following the story
Bill Buss is very much alive, and by all accounts, he’s doing well. He’s a testament to the idea that your worst day doesn't have to define your entire life.
If you’re a true crime fan, respect the fact that this is a real person’s life. He isn't a character in a book. He’s a guy who gets up at 4:00 AM to milk cows and contributes to the food supply of the United States.
Actionable Insights for Readers:
- Support Local Dairy: If you're in Wisconsin, look for products sourced from Marathon County cooperatives. The Buss family contributes to this local economy.
- Separate Fact from Fiction: When watching true crime, remember that the "updates" on victims and witnesses are often outdated. Check local agricultural registries for the most accurate information on farmers.
- Respect Privacy: While Bill is a public figure in the agricultural sense, he has never sought the limelight regarding the 1989 case. Focus on his contributions to farming rather than the tragedy of his youth.
Bill Buss has spent over thirty years proving that he is more than just a name in a headline. He is a steward of the land, a community leader, and a survivor. The farm is still there, the cows are still being milked, and Bill is still at the helm.