LIA BRIEFS

Congratulations to Katie Wallace, Class 34, on her promotion to Blackfoot Branch Manager of Idaho AgCredit, effective December 1, 2014. Katie has been employed at Idaho AgCredit since 2006, most recently as an Assistant Branch Manager.

Congratulations to Ken Roberts, Class 14, who recently married Chelsea Kidney. Ken is the owner/operator of Roberts Ranch, Inc. in Donnelly and continues his service as a State Tax Commissioner.

Jeff Williams, Class 10, has announced his retirement as CEO of Glanbia Foods as of December 31, 2014. Jeff has provided some outstanding leadership to a growing company which has recently announced an $82 million expansion.

Our prayers and support are with Robert Blair, Class 26, who recently had hip surgery. Reports are that he is doing well.

Tim Corder, Class 7, has been recently named Special Assistant to the Superintendent of Public Instruction by Sherri Ybarra, the new superintendent. Tim was first elected to the Idaho Legislature in 2004 where he served as a State Senator and was Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Affairs Committee.

The LIA Fund Development Committee has had a change of leadership. Chairman Pat Purdy, Class 30, has stepped down from that position and committee member, Jim Miller, Class 29, will assume the leadership of the committee effective December 2.

The 2015 Idaho Legislature was in town last week for re-organization. Congratulations to the following LIA alumni who are in positions of leadership for the coming legislative session:
Vice Chairman, House Appropriations Committee – Marc Gibbs, Class 4
Vice Chairman, House State Affairs Committee – Gayle Batt, Class 18
Vice Chairman, Senate Commerce and Human Resources – Jim Patrick, Class 15
Vice Chairman, Senate Local Government and Taxation – Dan Johnson, Class 14

Fund Development Director Kendra Dustin, Class 32, and the new chairman of the Fund Development Committee, Jim Miller, Class 29, were in Minneapolis last week attending a reception for CHS Cooperative to express appreciation for the continued support of CHS in funding the Washington, DC Experience and also for support of candidates in the LIA program.

Lifetime Memberships have continued to flow into the LIA office in recent weeks. To learn more about Lifetime Memberships, the payment plan and how to complete that information, visit our new website at www.leadershipidahoag.org.

Leadership Idaho Agriculture is on Facebook! If you are on Facebook and have not “liked” us, please do so! This is a great way to stay informed on what is happening with LIA. Once you have “liked” us, be sure to share our page and our posts with other alumni and friends so we can continue to promote this great organization.

Be watching your mail over the next few weeks! The Grand Prize for the 2015 LIA Auction has been decided! Glanbia Foods is offering a trip for two to Ireland in September 2016. Each LIA alumni will be mailed a flier about the trip, along with 10 tickets. The Gala Dinner and Auction will be held on Thursday evening, February 19, at The Riverside Hotel. Plan now to be in Boise for this event.