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Dear LIA Alumni:
Thanks to many in various LIA classes and LIA Trustees who came together and supported the Knowles Family during the recent loss of Corbin, Class 43. Several attended the viewing, and the memorial service held in Burley. A total of $2880 was provided to Corbin’s wife Charlotte to assist with expenses she incurred during the funeral and cemetery expenses. Thanks for your generosity and kindness. Carly Schoepflin, Class 34, wrote the following recently related to her new position at the U of I. “While I hope some will always remember me as ‘Carly from Ag’, I’m excited to share that after 12 incredible years in the University of Idaho College of Agricultural & Life Sciences, I’ve accepted a new role as Vice President for Constituency Experiences at the University of Idaho Foundation. I’m tremendously thankful to have spent the last decade+ working alongside an industry I’m passionate about and with colleagues and stakeholders who continue to inspire and mentor me. I’m looking forward to a new chapter of challenge and growth but most importantly, I’m looking forward to continuing that at U of I. My sincere thanks to those of you I’ve had the privilege of working with in my role in CALS and, as always…Go Vandals!!” Good reports are being received on Neil Durrant, Class 34, who recently had back surgery. Neil reported that he is now walking four miles each day and riding his bike around eight miles per day. Neil is part owner in the operation of Big D Ranches located south of Meridian. The participation for the Washington, DC Experience – May 3-9 has continued to grow and now those participating include the following: Kendra Dustin, Class 32, Development Dir. Rick Waitley, Class 8 Exec. Dir. & spouse Shawn Boyle, Class 41 & guest Gabe Flick, Class 41 & spouse Megan Snyder, Class 38 Jaimi Stokes, Class 38 Nic Gibson, Class 37 Nic Wittman, Class 39, spouse & son In addition, four alumni from REAL Oregon, as well as the state director, will be tagging along to learn how the program operates in hopes of creating a DC Experience for REAL Oregon. Congratulations to Elli Brown, Class 32, who was recently elected President of the Idaho Legislative Advisors organization. ILA represents a specific group of lobbyists who chose to pay membership dues for the opportunity to use the lobby room in the Capitol during the legislative session. Rick Waitley, Class 8, serves as the executive director for the organization. Elli is employed in the Government Affairs area of INL and serves as the INL State and Policy Outreach Lead. The LIA Governance Committee has completed their work and will be submitting to the Board of Trustees on Friday, April 25 a list of officers and trustees for election by the alumni membership for the 2025-2026 year. Be watching your inbox for information related to the elections and the date to submit your ballot for the LIA leaders. Congratulations to Mike Thornton, Class 12, who retired officially on March 31 from his position with the U of I. Mike has been actively involved in many industry committees related to potatoes and onions during his career. Most recently Mike has been a Researcher at the Parma R and E Center. Michael Colle, Class 44, U of I CALS Associate Professor in Meat Science, has announced that he will be transitioning to a new career with Hub International. Michael will be based in Connell, WA and will be the Director of Operations for North Idaho and Eastern WA. Megan, Michael’s wife, has family living near Connell, WA. Exciting opportunity for a new adventure and close to family. Looking ahead: Be sure you have circled the annual LIA Golf Tournament on your calendar for June 5 in Twin Falls. Registration is open. https://www.leadershipidahoag.org/golf
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Joe Anderson, Class 22 has recently changed occupations and started a new company, Fortify Risk Management LLC in Meridian. The company is bringing fractional risk management to the Middle Market space. Joe indicated they are working with cities and counties and several organizations helping them manage risk. Joe was formerly with The Buckner Company.
Cole Oliver, Class 45 decided to leave AgAmerica and has become the General Manager of a local roofing company based in Boise called Point Roofing. He was approached by a fellow former Marine about the position and accepted it shortly after his graduation from LIA in February. Rick Phillips, Class 1 and founder of the LIA program, was recently inducted into the Eastern Idaho Agriculture Hall of Fame. Rick retired a year ago from his career with Simplot. The award is bestowed on those who have made significant contributions to agriculture in Eastern Idaho. Rick also spent some time this session as a substitute in the Idaho Legislature for Rep. Rick Cheatum who was absent for a few days. A note from a neighbor: I am an alumni of Oregon's Resource Education and Agricultural Leadership Program, similar to the LIA. I coordinate and lead domestic and international agriculture tours a few times a year and have spots available on a 10-day tour to South Africa in October. The tour is available to anyone 25 years and older who is interested in travel and learning about foreign agriculture. Farm visits and topics include Boran cattle, row crops, sheep, macadamia nuts, abalone, wine, olive oil, dairy, and a feedlot. We will also be going on three safari drives and visiting a penguin colony, along with geographic wonders like Blyde River Canyon, Table Mountain, and the Cape of Good Hope. I have included a link below to a website with more information, a full itinerary, and a sign up form. If you think this is something any of your program participants and alumni would be interested in, would you mind passing the information along to them? www.theolivebranch.net/south-africa Thank you! Jordyn Coon [email protected] May 3-9, LIA Alumni will be traveling to the Nation’s Capital for the annual Washington, DC Experience. This year, individuals from REAL Oregon will be joining us as they hope to launch a similar program in their state. Those planning to attend from Idaho include: Kendra Dustin, Development Director Rick Waitley, Executive Director Shawn Boyle, Class 41 Gabe Flick, Class 41 and spouse Megan Snyder, Class 38 Nic Gibson, Class 37 NOTE: There is room for two more LIA Alumni to join us if you are interested. Please call Kendra Dustin ASAP at 208-888-0988 if you are interested. Room reservations have to be made by April 1. Scholarship funds are available. Tragedy struck the LIA family on Sunday, March 23, when we learned the news that LIA Trustee Corbin Knowles, Class 43, had been killed in a single car rollover in Union County, OR. Corbin and his wife Charlotte had just returned from San Diego earlier in the day when Corbin left for a meeting in Oregon. Corbin worked nearly 20 years for IDWR and then formed his own water consulting business. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Charlotte and Corbin’s family. The LIA Board of Trustees met in Meridian on Friday, March 14. At that time they approved a new 5-year Strategic Plan for the Foundation. If you would like a copy of the Strategic Plan please contact the LIA Office by calling 208-888-0988 or sending an email to [email protected]. Many of you knew and corresponded with Cindy Pusey who was at AMG for 14 years. Cindy was frequently at the auction and graduation for LIA classes. After the retirement of her husband, they relocated to Ohio where they had lived for several years. Earlier this month we were notified that Cindy had discovered a large mass in her pancreas and on her liver. Following the biopsy, it was determined that both were cancerous. She has started Chemo treatments and is also part of a new research project at Cleveland Clinic. A postcard will be going in April to all potential applicants for Class 46. If you have names that you would like to receive this postcard, please email them to [email protected] and we will get them added. Tuition for Class 46 is $3300. Specific dates have not been set for every session at this time but they will continue to be in the traditional months of November – February. Josh Tewalt, Class 22, has served as Director of the Department of Corrections in Idaho since 2018. Tewalt announced his resignation earlier this month and will be forming a private consulting business. Josh is married to Chanel Tewalt, Director of ISDA. The Tewalts have a small sheep operation near Kuna. Josh was presented the Wayne Meyer Statesman Award in 2023. Ireland Here we Come: This will be the first International Trip for LIA in several years. We are excited to have the following alumni and guests joining us in October for the trip: Kendra Dustin, Class 32/ husband Glenn Abbie Quesnel, Class 38 Kenyon Miller, Class 33/wife Julie Kim Corn, Class 14 Brian Parks, Class 16/ guest Heather Barrett Lisa Shivley, Class 15 Ryan Miller, Class 33 & Malia Miller, Class 36 John Wright, Class 37 Leah Clark, Class 26/sister Valerie White Will Ricks, Class 27/wife Angie Patrick Regli, Class 44/mom Dawn Shahan Rick Phillips, Class 1/wife Kerry Glen Edwards, Class 28/daughter Brandis Goodman Britt Beene, Class 36/wife Andrea Mary Hasenoehrl, Class 17/husband Doug Gross Charlie Bryan, Class 10/wife Pam Dave Reynolds, Class 40/wife Karla/sister Wendy Rowland Rick Waitley, Class 8/wife Dorita Looking ahead: Be sure you have circled the annual LIA Golf Tournament on your calendar for June 5 in Twin Falls. Registration is open. https://www.leadershipidahoag.org/golf Leadership Idaho Agriculture will be hosting 30 guests from the Louisiana Leadership Program June 8-12. The tour will start in Boise, move to the Magic Valley and return to Boise for the second leg of the week. Several events will be held involving Idaho LIA Alumni to give you the opportunity to interact with our guests from Louisiana. Rick Waitley and Kendra Dustin will be hosting the tour. Note: For questions on any of these opportunities feel free to reach out to Kendra Dustin, Development Director for more details – [email protected]. |
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April 2025
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