LIA Briefs

Congratulations to Josh Tewalt, Class 22, who was named by Governor-Elect Brad Little to serve as director of the Idaho Department of Correction. Josh had served as deputy director a few years ago and will now be returning to the department as director.
 
Congratulations to the following alumni elected in November as county commissioners: Viki Purdy, Class 16 - Adams County; Roger Clark, Class 13 - Jefferson County; Elt Hasbrouck, Class 17 - Valley County. In addition, Leslie Van Beek, the wife of Dale Van Beek, Class 10, was elected commissioner in Canyon County.
 
Congratulations to Matt Mosman, Class 34, who recently was elected as president of the Idaho Grain Growers Association. Matt farms in the Nezperce area.
 
Alex Reed, Class 35, recently was elected president of the Twin Falls County Farm Bureau.
 
Avery Robertson, Class 39, recently was promoted to loan officer at the Blackfoot office of Idaho AgCredit.
 
At the Idaho Ag in the Classroom Annual Meeting in late November, several LIA alumni were honored. Matt Dorsey, Class 29, and Kristie Dorsey, Class 35, were presented with AITC Ag Advocate Awards along with Linda Rider, Class 22, andRick Phillips, Class 1. Elected to serve on the Ag in the Classroom Association Board of Directors were Brad Griff, Class 36, Heidi Martin, Class 28, and Leah Clark, Class 26. Retiring from the board of directors after serving for many years were Darrell Bolz, Class 7, and Kristie Dorsey, Class 35.
 
Megan Paez, Class 35, and her husband, Ivan, welcomed a new son, Noah, into their home on November 19, 2018, who arrived a few weeks early in order to enjoy the holidays. Noah will be looked after by his big sister, Ava, who is ecstatic about having a baby brother.
 
Northwest Farm Credit Services honored the forty years of leadership provided by Idaho President Blair Wilson, Class 11, with a special open house and banquet on the evening of November 29. Blair will continue under contract with NWFCS to handle some responsibilities in Idaho related to specific projects.
 
Northwest Farm Credit Services featured a recent article in Yields magazine about veterans who are returning to a farming career. The selected farmer in Idaho wasGreg Branson, Class 23, who farms on the Camas Prairie. Greg served in the U.S. Army where he was a heavy-vehicle mechanic in a Patriot missile unit and did one tour to the Middle East. When Greg returned to Idaho, he secured an agri-business degree from the University of Idaho and has been running the family farm with his wife, Jen, for the past ten years. Congratulations Greg, and thanks for your service to our country and to Idaho agriculture.
 
The Idaho Cooperative Council recently merged with the councils in Oregon and Washington, and a new board of directors was elected. Jim McCall, Class 24, was elected as one of the three representatives from Idaho. Jim serves on the board for Valley Wide Cooperative and farms in the Rupert area with his son. Rick Waitley, Class 8, has served as the executive director of the organization for 39 years.
 
Congratulations to Candi Fitch, Class 28, who is celebrating 25 years of service to the Idaho-Oregon Fruit and Vegetable Association and the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Committee on Thursday, December 6. A special open house is being held to honor the occasion.
 
If you would like to be added to the LIA Auction Committee and have not been a member in the past, please send your name to Rick Waitley (rick@amgidaho.com). The next meeting of the committee is scheduled for Monday, December 17, at 2:30 PM at the AMG office in Meridian or you can call in if we know in advance that you want to serve on the committee.
 
If you shop on Amazon, please consider using the Amazon Smile program. Go to smile.amazon.com and search Leadership Idaho Agriculture to do your holiday shopping this year!