Congratulations to Richard Durrant, Class 9, elected as Vice President of the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation at their State Convention in CDA this past week. Richard will provide leadership in his new role to the state's largest farm organization with over 80,000 members. Richard will serve with a number of LIA alumni who are members of the IFBF State Board of Directors: Tom Mosman, Class 9; Galen Lee, Class 10; Matt Dorsey, Class 29; and Rick Pearson, Class 21.
 
Congratulations to Joel Wasem, Class 38, and his wife, Jordan, on the birth of a son, Jason Joel, born on December 2. Jason entered the world weighing 7 lbs. and 14 ounces and was 21" long. Jason joins an older sister and brother. Joel is employed at CHS Primeland in Grangeville.
 
Class 40 also celebrated a new addition to their class family; Madelyn Jana Ashcraft was born on Monday, December 9, to Jared Ashcraft and his wife, Amanda. Madelyn weighed in at 8 lbs. 6 ounces and was 20" long. She joins two older brothers and one older sister. Jared works for Idaho Ag Credit in Rexburg as a loan officer.
 
Sympathy is extended to Katie Dennis, Class 40, who lost her mother to cancer on Thursday before the start of the Moscow Session. Katie is employed with USDA NRCS in Gooding.
 
We recently learned that Steve Fullmer, Class 11, passed away in October. Our sympathy is extended to his wife, Diane, and extended family members. Steve had been employed with USDA FSA in Blackfoot.
 
Governor Brad Little recently appointed a Shared Stewardship Advisory Committee. Serving as a member of that committee is Dustin Miller, Class 28, who is the State Director of the Idaho Department of Lands.
 
On November 24, Ben Schumacher, Class 39, became engaged to Tia Brady. Ben works for Seeds Inc. on the Camas Prairie.
 
Sympathy is extended to Andrea Thompson, Class 40, on the sudden passing of her father on December 9. Andrea is employed at the Idaho State Department of Agriculture as a Field Services Program Specialist based in Boise.
 
Idaho Ag in the Classroom (AITC) recognized three individuals with the Advocate of Idaho Agriculture Award. Candi Fitch, Class 28, Benjamin Kelly, Class 29, and Nic Gibson, Class 37. Each was selected for a different role that they have played in supporting the AITC program. The presentation of the awards took place at the 2019 Annual Meeting of the organization.
 
Elected to the Board of Directors for Idaho Ag in the Classroom were the following: Stephanie Duckett, Class 40; Matt Gellings, Class 19; and Ann Jacops, Class 31. Stephanie and Matt are both involved in production agriculture. Ann works in the same office as Candi Fitch and represents a number of commodity organizations.
 
The Christmas Holiday Season is the ideal time to promote the sale of tickets for the Grand Prize for the LIA Auction. Tickets are available online at www.leadershipidahoag.org/auction. During the Pocatello Session, members of Class 40 were given ten tickets each to sell.
 
Thanks to Travis Lammers, Class 34, who stepped in to help with the Pocatello Session of LIA in the absence of Co-chairman Kyle Wangemann. Travis served as a co-chairman for Class 39 and was familiar with the routine.
 
We appreciate the LIA Alumni who served as speech coaches during the Pocatello Session: Mark Pratt, Class 11, was the coordinator for the coaches and those serving included: Wendy Pratt, Class 35; Logan Schmidt, Class 37; Janice Stimpson, Class 17; Derek Reed, Class 31; and Kyle Wangemann, Class 36. Teaching the public speaking portion of the program was Lisa Shively, Class 15. The afternoon centered around small group work on public speaking and that evening, six speakers were selected to present to the class. Those selected to speak included: Cori Wittman Stitt, Lapwai; Dave Reynolds, Kuna; Cindy Vaughn, Sandpoint; Bo Isham, Wilder; Joe Moore, Nampa; and Devin Fielding, Shelley. 

Congratulations to Clark Tacke, Class 37, and his wife, Sara, on the birth of their son Carsten Earl on November 15. Clark farms in the Cottonwood area and left home at 1:15 am for a fast trip to Lewiston hospital where Carsten was born at 2:32 am. Clark says, "He came in a hurry! And probably was just anxious to meet his brothers Corbyn, Cael, and Cieran" - whom Clark refers to as the "boy tribe of Tackes."
 
Congratulations to Brenna Christison, Class 37, who became engaged in early November to Greg Smith. Brenna continues her employment with the Idaho Wine Commission.
 
Congratulations to Dave Duvall, Class 35, and his wife, Rachelle, on the birth of Ariel Nadine on November 2 at 9 lbs. 4 oz. Dave works as Assistant Water Superintendent for Nampa & Meridian Irrigation District.
 
Maggie Malson, Class 39, was elected to serve on the Idaho Cattle Association Board of Directors as the Idaho Cattlewoman Representative. The two-year term began in November 2019 at ICA's Annual Convention and Trade Show. Maggie is an agricultural communications professional sharing the story of farmers and ranchers through writing, photography, and social media. She also works alongside her husband, Josh, raising purebred cattle at Malson Angus & Herefords outside of Parma. 
 
Congratulations to Richard Durrant, Class 9, who received a Distinguished Service Award from the Idaho Wheat Commission at a recent Tri-state meeting held in Spokane.
 
Congratulations to Justin Place, Class 37, who was recently elected to the Executive Board for the Idaho Grain Producers. Justin joins other LIA alumni on the board including: Vice President Lucas Spratling, Class 36; Ty Iverson, Class 24; and Past President Matt Mosman, Class 34.
 
Congratulations to Sarah Baker, Class 34, who was presented a Distinguished Service Award for Idaho by the National Association of County Agricultural Agents.
 
Rick Pearson, Class 21, farms near Buhl and was recently selected as the #1 Producer in the Nation for production of irrigated winter wheat, producing 211 bushels per acre.
 
Gretchen Hyde, Class 36, and Rochelle Oxarango, Class 12, are proud daughters of Jim Little who was recently presented a Distinguished Associate Award by the U of I College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Gretchen and husband, Bob, are also busting with pride over their son, Luke, who was named "Hometown Player of the Game" by the U of I Vandals. Luke is a graduating senior this year at the U of I.
 
Sympathy is extended to the family of Tom McCaughey, Class 11, who passed away on November 13, losing a long battle with cancer. Tom worked for Glanbia Nutritionals at the time he went through LIA.
 
Congratulations to Lori Satterwhite-Turner, Class 36, who recently applied for graduate school at the University of Idaho. Lori is currently employed by Simplot Land and Livestock.
 
Anticipate some change in the life of John Wright, Class 37, who recently sold his dairy, cows, and equipment. He is not ready to use the "R" word, so he is just relocating his priorities. John was also President of Idaho Milk Producers Association and on the board of the Idaho Milk Products Commission. He resigned from both positions after selling his operation. Thanks, John, for your leadership in Idaho's number one agriculture industry!
 
Sympathy is also extended to Frank "Flip" Phillips, Class 3, in the passing of his father, Bud Phillips, on November 2. The service was attended by many LIA Alumni. Flip's wife is Susi Larrocea, Class 4, and they are engaged in a farming and ranching operation in Star.
 
At the Regional Event in Moscow, we interviewed CEO of PNW Farmer's Cooperative Bill Newbry. Bill has been a great friend to LIA and has spoken at a number of our regional events in North Idaho since PNW has been a sponsor. Bill is retiring from the company and recently we received the job announcement. Bill asked we share the announcement below with you in hopes there might be some applicants from LIA.
 
Pacific Northwest Farmers Cooperative (PNW) 
 
PNW's current CEO is retiring after 36 years with the cooperative of which he served as CEO for 24 years. The position reports to a 9-member board of directors plus its independent non-voting advisor.
 
PNW came into existence in 2008 through a merger between Whitman County Growers, Inc. and Genesee Union Warehouse Company. Cooperative Agricultural Producers (CoAg) merged into PNW in June 2017, creating a current storage capacity of 35.5 million bushels. Members number approximately 1,600.  PNW has 45 facilities in locations covering a broad geographic area throughout Whitman and Spokane Counties in Washington State, and Latah, Benewah, and Nez Perce Counties in Idaho. PNW encompasses an extensive grower base from Montana, the Idaho Panhandle, extending to Garfield and Wallowa counties in Washington State, and river and prairie areas in Clearwater and Idaho counties in Idaho. Blessed with rich soil and rainfall conducive to exceptional dry land yields, PNW's trade territory lies in the heart of the most productive wheat, barley, pea, lentil and garbanzo area in the United States.
 
With the corporate office in Genesee, Idaho, patrons and communities are also served in Washington State by offices located in Colfax, Rosalia, Oakesdale, and Fairfield. PNW lies within 30 miles of three ports on the Columbia-Snake River system. Many of its facilities are on state all-weather highways that make year-round loading, shipping and receiving possible. Besides having five legume processing plants and four seed facilities, PNW is also served by a 110-car unit train facility at McCoy Rail Terminal, 26 car unit-train loading facility at Fallon, Washington, a 25-car unit-train loading facility at Thornton, Washington, and a barge terminal, Snake River Terminal (SRT) at Almota, Washington. PNW is also partner in two barge terminals at Lewiston, Idaho (Lewis Clark Terminal Association, or LCTA) and Central Ferry, Washington (Central Ferry Terminal Association, or CFTA). Members benefit from the convenient train and barge loading receiving stations as well as marketing opportunities because of access to different modes of transportation.
 
Candidates must demonstrate extensive knowledge of the grain industry from field to export, agronomy, grain and specialty crop varieties, quality factors, state, federal, and global regulations. Must be well grounded in grain trading and/or agricultural commodities marketing techniques and practices.
 
APPLICATIONS AND EXPRESSIONS OF  INTEREST MUST BE RECEIVED ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 20, 2020.
 
Harvey A. Meier PhD, CMC®, CEO and Board Advisor, Harvey A. Meier Co.
Mobile:  509.458.3210               E-mail:  harvey@hamcosearch.com