LIA Briefs

​Congratulations to Bob Blakeslee, Class 14, who retired this summer from his career with NWFC in Burley.
 
Our sympathy is extended to Samantha Ramsay, Class 35, in the passing of her husband, Rob. Samantha lives in Moscow with her two young sons and is employed by the University of Idaho.
 
Sympathy is also extended to Glen Edwards, Class 28, in the recent passing of his father.
 
Congratulations to Jonathan Pettit, Class 29, and his wife, Kimberly, on the birth of their first child, Jonathan “Jack” Stephen, on June 19, 2016.  Jack weighed in at 6 lbs., 15 oz. The Pettits reside in Virginia and Jonathan works in Washington, D.C., for EPA.
 
Kim O’Neill, Class 27, and LIA Trustee Chairman Jim Miller, Class 29, are serving on a committee with the Moscow Chamber of Commerce to restart a leadership program for the organization.
 
Gene Herbel, Class 13, recently returned to Idaho from California where he spent the past 12 years involved in farming 1200 acres of almonds as well as running a trucking business. He is now working at Pacific Press Publishing in Nampa as lead machine technician.
 
Also changing jobs was Britt Beene, Class 36, who joined the team of Crop Vitality as a crop specialist for the Pacific Northwest Region. Britt spent 12 years with Helena Chemical Company in various agronomy and managerial roles.
 
Leah Clark, Class 26, was recently elected co-chairman of Idaho’s Larry Branen Ag Summit. Leah is also a member of the LIA Board of Trustees and serves on the LIA Advisory Committee. Leah leads the Idaho Preferred Program for the state of Idaho.
 
Congratulations to the Featured Farm Families selected at the Twin Falls County Fair. David Patrick, Class 29, and his wife, Joyia, received the honor along with Ron and Janie Griff, parents of Brad Griff, Class 36. Brad’s brother, Lance, and his wife, Chrissy, were also named one of the Featured Farm Families. Posters depicting each family were displayed in the Ag Pavilion.
 
And speaking of the Ag Pavilion. . . thanks to the many LIA alumni who volunteered to work in the Ag Pavilion at the Western Idaho Fair and the Twin Falls County Fair, including those who showed up for setup, take down and loading days. We could not have done it without your help and assistance. You were true advocates for Ag and helped many visitors learn more about agriculture. The Pavilion is co-chaired by two LIA graduates – Mark Duffin, Class 22, and Candi Fitch, Class 28.
 
The Larry Branen Ag Summit has selected the Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Agriculture. Sid Cellan, Class 32, was selected as the recipient of the Environmental Stewardship Award; Art McIntosh, Class 31, and Doug McIntosh, Class 19, were selected as the recipients for the Marketing Innovation Award and Doug Gross, husband of Mary Hasenoehrl, Class 17, was selected as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. Awards will be presented during the annual Ag Summit to be held in February.