Congratulations to Alan Martinson, Class 27 who was elected as a Fire Commissioner on November 7 for Whitman County Fire District 12. WCFD 12 is the rural fire department for Pullman Washington. Alan lives in rural Pullman and has been a firefighter for Fire District 12 for 38 years. Alan was also a Co-Chair for Class 28 and served 2 terms on the Board of Trustees. He also serves as the Latah County Noxious Weed Superintendent.
Congratulations to Drew Eggers, Class 12 who was re-elected a Meridian Cemetery District Commissioner. Drew is retired from active farming and has been serving as Chairman of the board for the Cemetery District. Congratulations to Jared Giles, Class 44 who was re-elected as a Fire Commissioner for the Rock Creek Fire District. Jared farms in the Hansen area. Tobin Dixon, Class 39 has recently announced that he has accepted a new position as Deputy District Director for US Small Business Administration in the Boise District Office. Tobin has previously worked for USDA Rural Development. Belated congratulations to Brenna Smith Christiansen, Class 37 and her husband Greg on the birth of a daughter Landry Ash on October 3. Landry weighed 6# 9oz and will now join older brother Gentry. Interestingly enough, Brenna’s sister had a baby the following day. Grandparents are twice blessed. Brenna is employed at the Idaho Wine Commission in Boise. Congratulations to Hillary Lowe, wife of Jim Lowe, Class 31 who was successfully elected as a Kuna School Board Trustee on November 7. Jim and Hillary own and operate Lowe Family Farmstead near Kuna. Congratulations to Justin Place, Class 37 who was recently elected president of the Idaho Grain Producers Association. Joining Justin the board is a new board member Larry Hollifield, Class 41. Justin farms in the Hamer area and Larry in Hansen. Sympathy is extended to Eric Odberg, Class 11 in the passing of his mother on November 6. Eric farms in the Genesee area. Sympathy to Scott Nicholson, Class 14 in the recent passing of his mother Diana Nicholson. Scott and his family are involved in the family business with his parents Nicholson Land and Livestock. Recently, Idaho Business Review released a list of Idaho Industry’s Influencers. Among those listed and profiled were Wayne Hammon, Class 14 who serves as CEO of Idaho Associated General Contractors, a position he has held for the past 11 years. Also named was Moya Dolsby, Class 30 Executive Director of the Idaho Grape Growers and Wine Producers Commission a position Moya has held for the past 15 years. Recent announcements of running for the Idaho Legislature in 2024 include Robert Blair, Class 26, owner of AIGEN Solutions and also a farmer, will be running for a Senate seat in District 6. Laurie Lickley, LIA Affiliate Member will be running for a Senate seat in District 26. Several LIA alumni joined Governor Brad Little on his most recent Trade Mission to Mexico. Those attending included, Laura Johnson, Class 11; Jarom Jemmett, Class 39; Richard Durrant, Class 9; and Candi Fitch, Class 28. The group was there for the purpose of advancing the trade of Idaho products with Mexico. We have several members of Class 44 that are tied to alumni of LIA. Curt Jones, is the son of Ron Jones, Class 2; Bri Eggers is the daughter of Drew Eggers, Class 12; Christina Machado is the wife of Mike Machado, Class 40; Derek Wanders is the husband of Chelicy Wanders, Class 40 and Mandie Seward is the granddaughter of Larry Simineo, Class 1. Nathan Riggers, Class 12 was the speaker at the North Idaho Regional Event. Nathan was serving as Chairman of the Board for Northwest Farm Credit Services at the time of the merger with AgWest Farm Credit California and then was elected chairman of the newly merged Board of Directors. Nathan farms with his son in the Nez Perce, Idaho area. The theme of his presentation was “My Leadership Journey.” At the North Idaho Regional Event we enjoyed reconnecting with some early graduates in the LIA program: David Galantuomini, Class 1, Russ Zenner, Class 3 and Doug Scoville, Class 6. We appreciate the faithful participation of these alumni members. Twenty-nine individuals attended the second State Exchange to Louisiana November 12-17. The group had the opportunity to visit several farming operations raising sugarcane, rice, crawfish, and World Headquarters for Tabasco. They also visited production plants for sugarcane processing, Community Coffee, and rice processing. Most of the speakers on the tour were graduates of the Louisiana Ag Leadership program. The Louisiana program is structured differently than the Idaho program and it was interesting to learn from their alumni about their personal experiences. Serving as co-chairman for LIA Class 44 are Shawn Boyle, Class 41 who serves as President and General Counsel for Idaho Growers Shippers Association and Joel Packham, Class 9 who recently retired in June from U of I CALS Extension system after serving in Caribou and Cassia Counties as an Extension Educator. Correction from the last LIA Brief: Ashlee Struble, Class 43 was listed twice for the same position involved with Riverglen Jr. High PAWS group. However, one of the listings should have been her recent election to the Visit Garden City Board. Remember to pay your 2023-2024 dues. They can be paid online at www.leadershipidahoag.org or you can call the office and speak directly with Patty at 208-888-0988. The new 2023-2024 directories have arrived, and we are anxious to get one to you for your use. All dues paying members (Lifetime and Annual) receive a complimentary directory.
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Congratulations to Adam Clark, Class 38, his wife Kylee, and their family who recently moved into a new house near Menan. Adam farms with his family and is the Chairman of the Board for Valley Wide Cooperative having served for the past ten years. Only one director, Jim McCall, Class 24, has served longer than Adam. Adam may still hold the record as the youngest serving chairman of the board for a cooperative in Idaho.
Congratulations to Nicholas Purdy, Class 42, and wife Katie on the birth of their daughter Loretta Ann, September 30. Nicholas is employed at Picabo Livestock Company. Speaking of Valley Wide Cooperative, congratulations to Courtney Beene, daughter of Britt, Class 36, and Andrea Beene who received one of the 2023 Eric Beck scholarships. The scholarship was established after the passing of Eric Beck, Class 12, who battled cancer for a number of years. A total of 15 scholarships were awarded. Ashlee Struble, Class 43 has recently been elected a board member for Riverglen Jr. High PAWS. PAWS is a support group for parents and students who attend the school. Ashlee works for the Idaho Grape Growers and Wine Commission where she serves as Industry Relations Manager. If you were at the University of Idaho Homecoming Parade, a familiar face was honored as Grand Parade Marshall, Steve Johnson, Class 2, and his wife Claudia. Steve is the former Director of Alumni for the U of I and prior to that served as Executive Director of the Idaho Grain Producers Association. Their son Brad Johnson graduated in LIA Class 43 and works for The Nature Conservancy. We recently learned of the passing of mothers of the following: Louis Zamora, Class 31, whose mother was 83 and Quintin Cammack, Class 41 whose mother was 88. Both men are employed at Twin Falls Canal Company. At a recent meeting of the LIA Board of Trustees it was determined that the Congressional Aides Tour for August 2024 will be held in the Magic Valley. Co-chairman of the committee to plan and execute the tour will be Malia Miller, Class 36, and Britt Beene, Class 36. If alumni living in the Magic Valley would like to serve on the planning committee, please contact Rick Waitley at rick@amgidaho.com. Traditionally LIA applicants for a class have completed a short essay explaining why they wanted to participate in the program. However, Class 44 applicants submitted a 3-5 minute video which allowed the selection committee to meet them in a totally different dimension. The videos and other application materials were sent to members of the selection committee in advance of the selection. Thanks to Sarah Freeman, Class 27, and Nic Gibson, Class 37, in our office who coordinated all of the necessary elements to make this happen. For several years, LIA Alumni have made a trip to our Nation’s Capitol for what is called the LIA Washington, DC Experience. The Experience was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID and has not restarted since the operations in the Capitol City has had some challenges as our federal government resets following COVID. We are sensing that things are getting back to normal. The Experience is for LIA Alumni and spouses that would like to join us. The event happens on a Sunday – Friday. Cost is $1500 per person for lodging, meals and ground transportation once you arrive in DC. Each participate must secure their own plane ticket to and from Washington, DC. We are exploring moving the tour from the month of May to June before the humidity and higher temperatures hit the DC area. In determining the future of the trip, we need to see what the interest is in taking a group in June of 2024. If you are interested, please send your name to Rick Waitley at rick@amgidaho.com. That is not a commitment that you will attend but more of an indicator that you would like more information. If you have specific questions feel free to reach out to Rick or Kendra kendra@amgidaho.com for further explanation. The 2023-2024 LIA Directory is off to the printer. We anticipate the directory back around November 1 when it will be mailed to all Lifetime and annual LIA Alumni members. If you have not paid your alumni dues, please do so ASAP to receive the new directory. Thanks everyone for your contribution of information for the directory. Development Director Kendra Dustin, Class 32, will be traveling to Virginia next week to attend the International Association of Programs for Ag Leaders (IAPAL). Part of Kendra’s responsibility in attending is preparing the way for Idaho to host the National group in October 2024. Representatives from a program similar to LIA, will be coming to Idaho for the first time. The group has only met in the west in the states of Wyoming, Washington, and California. Idaho will have the opportunity to showcase what we do best in our state – AGRICULTURE. |
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April 2024
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