LIA Briefs

Congratulations to Nicholas, Class 42, and wife Katie on the birth of baby #3 – Dalton Wade Purdy, on September 6, 2025 weighing in at 6 lbs. and 5 oz. and 19 ½” long. Family is doing well and enjoying having a little one in the house again.

Congratulations to Michael Siegersma, Class 44, and wife Joceyln who created and launched a new agritourism event in the Treasure Valley – Ten Mile Farms. The attraction will be open until Halloween. To learn more, visit their website at www.tenmilefarms.com.

Recently, Senator Jim Risch, senior member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, announced the selection of McIntrye Farms in Caldwell as the Idaho Small Business of the Month for September 2025. McIntyre Farms will be recognized for its contribution to Idaho in the Congressional Record of the US Senate. McIntrye Farms is a family operation that has three LIA Alumni engaged in day-to-day activities. Loren McIntrye, Class 32, and brothers Ben and Brad were both members of Class 29. Everyone’s spouses and families are also engaged at McIntyre Farms. They now have an onsite farm store that is worth your drive to Marsing to visit.

Speaking of Loren and his wife Kathy, they are headed to Tokyo Japan to serve a Sr. Mission for their church. They depart at the end of October. Japan is where Loren had served his mission as a young man. He is anxious to share the experience with Kathy.

Catching up with alumnus Rhett Spear, Class 37, this is what we learned: “When Jace Johnson, Class 40, from Mart Produce, accepted an agronomist position in Michigan and his position opened up, I made the decision to leave the U of I CALS and started working at the Mart Group mid-July as the business analyst.” Nate McBride, Class 42, is Rhett’s direct supervisor and has requested that Rhett continue to be involved in industry research by sitting on the NW Potato Research Consortium and be involved in the potato meetings in ID and WA, along with the Potato Association of America.

Rick Pearson, Class 21, was seriously injured in a farming accident on his motorcycle while servicing a pivot. The result was that Rick broke several ribs and his back. Rick was transported to Idaho Falls where he had surgery last week and a synthetic vertebra inserted. He is home recovering at this time and expects a 4-6 week recovery time. Rick and his wife Susan own and operate a family farm near Hagerman. While Rick is recovering his daughter and other family members have stepped forward to continue with harvest and fall planting. Rick is a member of the board of directors for the Idaho Farm Bureau and Idaho Hay and Forage Association.
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Siska Reece, Class 38, will be leaving for China where she will be one of the speakers at the International Dairy Conference. Siska will be sharing about being a dairyman in the Western United States. Her son, Logan, a Senior will be accompanying her on the trip. Siska and her husband Justin own and operate Moo Riah Dairy and Copper Cow Creamery near Melba.