​Dear LIA Alumni:
 
Thank you to those who joined us this morning for the LIA Alumni LINK call. I hope you found the topics discussed to be timely and informative.
 
Here is the link to the recording:

Congratulations to Doug Robison, Class 29, who was named one of Idaho Business Reviews 2020 Excellence in Finances honorees. Doug serves as President of Idaho Northwest Farm Credit Services and has been a consistent presenter on the LIA Alumni LINK calls and has presented for a number of years at LIA sessions related to Global Financial Outlook.
 
Leah Clark, Class 26, also a retiree from the ISDA has recently accepted a position as Event Coordinator for Huston Vineyards.
 
Congratulations to Cori Wittman Stitt, Class 40, and husband, David, on the birth of their first baby Silas James Stitt, born on August 6, with the following stats: 6lbs, 4 oz and 19" in length. Knowing Cori, baby is born (2 weeks early) harvest is going on - back in the combine.
 
Congratulations to Scott Nicholson, Class 14, and his wife, Sherri, on the engagement of their son Coy to be married to Janey. No official date has been announced at this time.
 
Good reports are being heard from Dave Bearden, Class 17, on a recent kidney transplant in Spokane a little over a month ago. Dave and his wife, Pamela, have moved to Kellogg to be near a son and are in the process of building a house. Dave retired a few years ago from USDA Risk Management Agency based in Spokane.
 
Sympathy is extended to George Robinson, Class 18, in the recent passing of his mother. George has been the primary care provider for his Mother since his retirement from ISDA a few years ago.
 
Sympathy is extended to Drew Eggers, Class 12, on the recent passing of his mother. Mrs. Eggers was a longtime resident in Meridian where she and her husband operated Black Cat Farms. Drew recently retired as an active farmer and he and his wife, Debra, are awaiting the arrival of a new grandchild.
 
In the news: If you have been following Capital Press articles, you have seen a number of LIA Alumni featured:

• Jim Lowe, Class 31, and his wife, Hillary, were featured in an article about the Lowe Family Farmstead, a corn maze and pumpkin patch. The operation continues to be under expansion with new activities and attractions and is scheduled to open near Kuna on September 18, 2020. For more information, visit www.lowefamilyfarmstead.com.
• Dave Reynolds, Class 40, and the story of their family farming diversified operation, was featured as well. Their operation includes a dairy, seed marketing operation, flowers, and a farming operation raising a variety of other commodities. Dave's family is involved in the operation. The story highlighted how diversity will allow options for revenue to farm families.
• Alongside these articles was an article about the McIntyre Farms and LIA alumni Ben McIntyre, Class 29, and Dad Loren, Class 32. The operation, near Marsing, is hosting a three day Soil Health Academy on September 22-24. If you want more details on registration and the Academy schedule, you can contact Brad at 208-573-2182 or you can send him an email at farmerbrad71@gmail.com.

 
Class 41 - Full Steam Ahead
The LIA Board of Trustees has approved procedures to move forward with LIA Class 41 to start in November. Applications were due by August 1. However, with some uncertainty about how various venues would handle the operation of a class, the decision as to whether to hold the class or not was put off until the August Trustee meeting - held on August 6. At that time, the application deadline was extended until Friday, August 28 since there were several individuals who had contacted the office asking if the class would be held in the fall of 2020.