LIA Briefs

Idaho was fortunate to have Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke and USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue visit our state on June 2. A Governor's Roundtable was presented to the Joint Secretaries and a number of LIA alumni were asked to speak:  Rick Naerebout, Class 23 (immigration/dairy industry); Ritchey Toevs, Class 2 (potato industry); Galen Lee, Class 10 (sugarbeet industry); Laurie Lickley, affiliate member and Trustee (cattle/beef industry); and Rick Waitley, Class 8 (invasive species/noxious weeds).
 
We are hearing good progress reports about Marc Shigeta, Class 24, who is recovering from heart surgery. Marc farms in the New Plymouth area.
 
Garrett Tschida, Class 35, returned to work the end of June after recovering from shoulder surgery. Garrett works for AgriBeef and is now located in the Boise office.
 
Northwest Farm Credit Services (NWFCS) recently was recognized with a 2017 Gallup Great Workplace Award which recognizes the organization's ability to create an engaged workplace culture that drives business outcome. Blair Wilson, Class 11, is President of Idaho NWFCS. Serving on the Board of Directors for the regional cooperative is Nathan Riggers, Class 12. Several LIA graduates have been employees or customers of Northwest Farm Credit Services.
 
Speaking of NWFCS, they recently announced scholarships for high school and college students. From Idaho, LIA affiliations include:  Gretchen Hansten, daughter of Alan Hansten, Class 36, will be attending the U of I; Jim Elkin, son of Ron Elkin, Class 14, will be attending the U of I; and Wyatt Dorsey, son of Matt Dorsey, Class 29, and Kristie Dorsey, Class 35, will be attending Eastern Oregon University. Congratulations to all!

The Oregon Ag Leadership program is off and running, and planning to hold their first session in November. If you have friends, relatives, or work associates in Oregon, please encourage them to apply for this first class. Applications and additional information are available by contacting Greg Addington, Executive Director,at (541) 892-1409. Serving on the Board of Directors for REAL Oregon are Doug Hoffman, Class 5; David Temple, Class 26; and Bill Buhrig, Class 36.

LIA alumni have been in the wedding business recently. Jeri Ahrens, Class 37, participated in the wedding of her son, Matt, whom many in Class 37 met in their Pocatello Session. Tabatha Claiborne, daughter of David Claiborne, Class 37, was also married in June; many of you met Tabatha at the Boise Session.

Thanks to alumni members who returned electronic ballots for LIA trustees. A total of 137 ballots were cast. Congratulations to new trustees who began their term of service on July 1:  Linda Rider, Class 22; Ron Jones, Class 2; Neil Durrant, Class 34; Kyle Wangemann, Class 36; and Mark Pratt, Class 11.

Thanks to a great team that pulled off a very successful LIA Golf Scramble on Monday, July 10, at Blue Lakes Country Club in Twin Falls. A total of 28 teams participated. Edie Nunes, Class 32, was the committee chairman and was assisted by RoLynne Hendricks, Class 33, and Blake Matthews, Class 36. A more complete list of the sponsors and other information about the Scramble will be included in the LIA newsletter being sent out this week.

Washington, D.C., Experience is coming September 24-29 - our first fall trip! Cost is $1,000, plus your plane ticket to and from D.C. We are receiving applications now. Please contact Rick Waitley for an application or if you have questions.

R E M I N D E R S
 
2017-2018 LIA Directory  
Have you reviewed your Directory information? If not, please do so today! Go to the LIA website and follow instructions. The password is lia1718.
 

LIA Class 38  
Applications for LIA Class 38 are due by August 1. The dates and locations of the four sessions are as follows:
Nov. 6-9:               (Monday evening - 2:00 PM Thursday) Moscow
Dec. 4-7:               (Monday evening - 2:00 PM Thursday) Pocatello
Jan. 2-5:                (Tuesday evening - 2:00 PM Friday) Twin Falls
Feb. 19-23:            (Monday evening - 2:00 PM Friday) Boise
                               LIA Gala Dinner Buffet and Auction, Boise 
An LIA application is available online at www.leadershipidahoag.com or you may call our office to have one mailed.  Tuition for LIA Class 38 is $2,400.  Scholarship funds are available, so don't let the cost be a deterrent to potential applicants!