LIA BRIEFS

​Congratulations to Randall Jayo, Class 35, who became a grandfather on September 5. Ryanne Lacee Lammers weighed in at 7.8 oz. and was 19.5” long. Grandpa Randall and Grandma Launa said it is a fun experience to have grandchildren, and that Ryanne will be a future LIA Advocate.
 
Several LIA Alumni were recognized at the 2015 U of I Alumni Awards Luncheon:  Robert Blair, Class 26, received an Alumni Achievement Award; Reagon Hatch, Class 14, received a Distinguished Alumni Award; and Wyatt Prescott, LIA Affiliate Member, was presented the CALS Early Career Achievement Award.
 
During Ag Days at the U of I, the Dean’s Advisory Board met and elected new officers for the coming year. LIA Executive Director Rick Waitley, Class 8, was elected chairman, and LIA Trustee Pat Purdy, Class 30, was elected vice chairman. Sara Schmidt, Class 9, and Steve Kaufman, Class 34, were named as CARET representatives on behalf of the U of I.  CARET stands for Council for Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching.
 
Potential LIA bloggers met recently to discuss the opportunity for LIA to enter this world of social media with a blog site about agricultural topics. Attending the meeting were Robin Lindquist, Class 21; Alise Ericksen, Class 34; Wendy Pratt, Class 35; Kyra Gibson, Class 35; Launa Fowler, Class 32; Kristie Dorsey, Class 35; Jane Waldher, Class 35; and Kendra Dustin, Class 32. Also joining the meeting were spouses of LIA graduates: Stephanie, wife of Adam Duckett, Class 33, and Hillary, wife of Jim Lowe, Class 31. Watch for more details as this project unfolds over the next few months.
 
Ag Days on campus in Moscow last week featured a panel discussion of “Idaho’s People and Products throughout the World.” Panelists included Laura Johnson, Class 11, ISDA Marketing Bureau Chief; Jeffrey Williams, Class 10, retired Glanbia CEO; and Ritchey Toevs, Class 2, producer and a Commissioner with the Idaho Potato Commission. Moderating the panel was Travis Jones, Class 28, State Policy Director for Congressman Mike Simpson. The panel was excellent!
 
Rick Naerebout, Class 23, will be joining the staff of Idaho Dairymen’s Association in a full-time position. Rick has been serving as Manager for Independent Milk Producers Co-op, Inc.
 
Congratulations to Kim Korn, Class 14, who has been named by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to a three-year term on the National Dairy Promotion & Research Board. Kim and her husband have a dairy operation in Terreton, ID. Kim serves on the Idaho Dairy Products Commission Board of Directors.
 
Bob Hays, Class 28, is home recovering from knee surgery on September 29. Best wishes to Bob during his recovery.
 
The roster for LIA Class 36 was recently mailed to you. However, due to changes in status in their professional lives, two members of the class will not be able to participate. Kara Smith has taken employment outside of Idaho, and Peter Torma, BLM, has been assigned to restoration of the Soda Fire, which will not allow him time for the class sessions. Candidates next in line from the original selection were Britt Beene, Helena Chemical Company, and Jeremy Falk, Professor, U of I.