LIA Briefs

Congratulations to Russ Zenner, Class 3, and his wife Cathy, for the recent recognition honoring the pair of Genesee farmers at the National Lentil Festival. Russ has held several leadership positions in the industry. Russ and Cathy have been married for 60 years. Russ is credited for starting the Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Association and served as the charter president of the organization.
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Caldwell Night Rodeo just completed their 101st year of operation. Serving as Associate Directors for the Rodeo are Travis Jones, Class 28; Michael Stowell, Class 20, and Sid Freeman, Class 19. Kendra Dustin, Class 32 also serves as the Capital Campaign Manager.

Sympathy is extended to Oscar Evans, Affiliate Member and a graduate of the Louisiana Leadership program, on the recent passing of his Father. Oscar's father John is credited for building one of the first mechanical sugarcane planters in the mid 1980’s. 

Congratulations to Blake Matthews, Class 36, who was recently elected for another term on the board of directors for the Southern Idaho Potato Cooperative (SIPCO). Patxi Larrocea-Phillips, Class 41, serves as Executive Director/Negotiator for the organization. SIPCO is a bargaining cooperative that negotiates potato contracts for Idaho Farmers who are raising potatoes for the processing industry. 

If you have received in your mailbox a recent Idaho Power newsletter Connections you may have found Dennis Merrick, Class 39, on the front page. Idaho Power has a program of donating used vehicles to communities where they have customers to serve in medical and law enforcement agencies. Dennis serves as an LIA Trustee.

Sympathy is extended to Lisa Shively, Class 15, and Kim Korn, Class 14, on the recent passing of their Father. Their father was 90 years old. Both Lisa and Kim live in eastern Idaho and are involved in agriculture endeavors with their husbands in farming, custom work, and a dairy.

Congratulations to Paul Semons, Class 45, who was married to Lauren on August 30 in La Venta, CA. Paul is employed at Simplot in Boise. The couple had five days of wedding festivities that were marked as “spectacular.” 


We have received word that Steve Brown, Class 25, has placed his name in the running for Mayor of Pocatello. Steve has recently returned to Eastern Idaho from Alaska where he served as an SBA district director. Steve, when he went through LIA, was on staff with Senator Larry Craig. 

If you meet or know of someone that is a graduate of another leadership program in another state, please pass their names and contact information along to the LIA office in Meridian. The states with leadership programs have a reciprocal agreement between states. Several LIA graduates are now affiliated with leadership programs where they live and work. It is a way to stay connected to like minded individuals and share in the events and activities in that state. 
Thanks to everyone who helped recruit applicants for Class 46. The selection committee met on September 3 and selected the 30 individuals. Watch for an official announcement about the new class in the near future.

LIA hosted eight Congressional Aides in Idaho on August 26-28 in the Treasure Valley. The event was coordinated by three LIA trustees, Dennis Merrick, Class 39, Neil Durrant, Class 34, and Ryan Winterswyk, Class 44. Thanks to the presenters who helped to showcase the importance of Idaho Agriculture.


Visits on the tour included:

• Lucky Peak Tree Nursery
• Lucky Peak Reservoir – thanks to Drew Eggers, Class who shared water knowledge
• National Interagency Fire Center
• Boise River Lamb
• BBQ at Lorell, Class 22, and spouse Janet Skogsberg's beautiful yard in the evening
• Insight into ISDA - Laura Johnson, Class 11
• Wilder Water Project and sediment ponds
• Wilder Cattle Feeders
• Valley Wide Cooperative – Board Chairman Adam Clark, Class 38
• Young producer panel: Siska Reece, Class 38, Chelicy Wanders, Class 40, Gabe Flick, Class 41, and Patrick Williamson, applicant for Class 46
• Beranna Dairy – Rick Naerebout, Class 23, joining tour to talk about dairy industry
• Rasgorshek Farms – Leland Tiegs, Class 4 joining owner Paul Ragorshek
• McIntyre Farms - Brad, Class 29, and dad Loren, Class 32, hosting
• Marsing Agriculture Labor Facility

Thanks to all presenters who joined LIA in making this a wonderful trip for the Congressional Aides. This is the 6th class of Congressional Aides that LIA has sponsored since the Foundation assumed leadership for the program.


 A special thanks to those who helped to make the Fact Finding Tour possible:

• AgWest Farm Credit
• Amalgamated Sugar Company
• CoBank
• Drew Eggers
• Food Producers of Idaho
• Idaho Alfalfa/Clover Seed Commission
• Idaho Assn. of Soil Conservation Districts
• Idaho Cattle Assn.
• Idaho Dairymen’s Assn.
• Idaho Farm Bureau Federation
• Idaho Grain Producers Assn.
• Idaho Hay & Forage Assn.
• Idaho Hop Growers Assn
• Idaho Noxious Weed Control Assn.
• Idaho Oilseed Commission
• Idaho Onion Growers Assn.
• Idaho Potato Commission
• Idaho Water Users Assn.
• ID-OR Fruit & Vegetable Assn.
• Nezperce Prairie Grass Growers Assn.
• NW Agricultural Cooperative Council
• Oscar Evans
• Snake River Sugarbeet Growers Assn.
• Southern Idaho Potato Cooperative, Inc.
• Twin Falls County Farm Bureau
• Valley Wide Cooperative

Remember: Alumni dues for 2025-2026 were due after July 1. You may  pay online here . We look forward to your continued support of the Foundation as either an annual or lifetime member.

We are in the final proof of the 2025-2026 LIA directory. If you have any last minute changes please get them ASAP to Rhonda in the office – [email protected].