LIA Briefs

Congratulations to Steve Brown, Class 25, and his wife, Julia, whose son, Joshua, graduated from Colony High School in Palmer, Alaska where Steve works for the US Small Business Administration. 

Congratulations to Dave Wenk, Class 40, who recently became a Grandpa for the second time on the birth of a grandson, Jesse Ray Feusier, born 5-11-2021. The proud parents are Rachel and Paul Feusier. Rachel is Dave’s daughter. Jesse has an older brother, Riley, who is 4. Dave said he is jealous because Jesse has a lot more hair than he does. Dave serves as the Boundary County Weed Superintendent. 

The LIA Governance Committee have identified two candidates for the two open positions on the LIA Board of Trustees: Treg Owings, Class 35, and Will Ricks, Class 27. Treg lives in Lewiston and works for USDA NRCS and Will lives in Monteview and is engaged in production agriculture. A formal ballot will be emailed to all current LIA Alumni Members (annual and Lifetime). More details about each of the candidates will be provided with the ballot.

​The 2021 LIA Congressional Fact Finding Tour is a GO for August 9-13 to be held in the Magic Valley. The tour was scheduled for the summer of 2020 but was cancelled due to COVID. LIA is inviting a total of 15 Congressional Staff to visit Idaho and learn about Idaho agriculture. Leading the planning committee is Brad Griff, Class 36, as Chairman. Regional Coordinator for the tour is Malia Miller, Class 36. Members of the committee who are planning the tour and details related to the tour are: Dan Davidson, Class 38; Jace Johnson, Class 40; Mike Mathews, Class 16; Blake Matthews, Class 36; Rick Naerebout, Class 23; Dan Pinther, Class 30; Brent Renke, Class 40; Heather Tiel-Nelson, Class 24 and Nic Wittman, Class 39. The committee is lucky to have several former and present Congressional Staff members that understand the dynamics of the tour. LIA alumni in the Magic Valley should watch for details which will include a number of opportunities for you to interact with the guests.

Andrea Thompson, Class 40, has recently been named the new Section Manager for Field Services at the Idaho State Department of Agriculture. Andrea has broad experience in her current role as an Ag Program Specialist for Field Services in the Boise office, as well as experience in the Seed Lab, College of Western Idaho, and the US Bureau of Land Management. We are excited to see her apply her skills in managing multiple seasonal activities and implementing a broad range of statutes and rules across nearly all of the program areas within the Division.  

Nate Riggers, Class 12, was recently elected chairman of the Northwest Farm Credit Board of Directors. Nate is the manager and partner of Rigger Clearwater Farms J.V., a dryland wheat, barley, canola, and grass seed farm. Riggers’ term on the board expires in 2024. Nate is the second LIA Alumnus to be elected to lead the lending institutions board of directors. Drew Eggers, Class 12, had served in this capacity for a few terms.

Welcome back to Idaho! Kirk Sehlmeyer, Class 37, who recently departed his employment in WA with USDA-NRCS. He opened a forestry consulting business, Osprey Resource Management. Kirk is now living in Sandpoint, Idaho.

MAGIC VALLEY REGIONAL EVENT – June 10
There will be a regional event the night before the LIA Golf Scramble at Mt. View Barn, off Highway 93 north of Twin Falls. It is located at 300 S 392 E., Jerome. We hope alumni, families and friends will plan to join us at 6:30 PM. Additional details about the Magic Valley Fact Finding Tour will be shared at that time. Cost for the evening is: Adults - $20 per person, $30 per couple, and $6 per child under 14. Bring your family with you! Dress is casual. Feel free to invite guests who might be interested in LIA, and please let us know that you plan to join us, RSVP to [email protected]. We need to hear from you prior to Tuesday, June 8. You can pay by cash, credit card, or check when you arrive. Note: LIA Trustees will be meeting during the day on June 10, and we hope to have several of them join us for the event. We look forward to seeing you.