Recently the Canyon County Agri-Business Committee announced their 2019 Canyon County Farm Family of the Year. The recognition this year went to the McIntyre Family. The family's diversified operation is run by Loren McIntyre, Class 32; and sons Brad McIntyre, Class 29; and Ben McIntyre, Class 29; along with a host of grandchildren and other relatives.
 
Carly Schoepflin, Class 24, Director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives for CALS, recently gave an outstanding presentation on Crisis Communications to the 2019 Leadership Moscow cohort.  The Leadership Moscow program is facilitated through the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and is led by Kim O'Neill (Class 27), Jenny Ford (Class 39) and Jim Miller (Class 29).
 
Congratulations to Terry Jones, Class 21, who was recently appointed to the Board of Trustees for the Emmett School District. Also a shout out to Terry and his wife, Dottie, who recently made two classroom presentations on behalf of Idaho Ag in the Classroom, helping students learn about life on a dairy farm.
 
Jim Blanksma, Class 13, proudly announced the graduation of his son Matthew J. Blanksma, Class 28, who received his Juris Dr. from the University of Idaho Law School during commencement on May 11.
 
Rick Naerebout, Class 23, had some bragging to do recently when his daughter Sid broke the Twin Falls High School record by jumping one foot over the old record at a District meet. Sid did not stop there. She went on to break a new state record 38' 5.25" for a new 4A State Meet Record.
 
Our sympathy is extended to alumni who have recently suffered the losses of Grandmother's in their lives: Jeremey Varley, Class 35; and Cole Riggers, Class 39.
 
Participants in the LIA Washington D.C. Experience last week were Adam Clark, Class 38, and his wife, Kylee, and daughter; Nic Gibson, Class 37, and his wife, Kyra, and daughter; Benjamin Kelly, Class 29; Jen Root, Class 35; Jane Waldher, Class 35, and her husband, Bob, a graduate of REAL Oregon. Also on the trip were Rick Waitley, LIA Executive Director, Class 8; and his wife Dorita, Kendra Dustin, LIA Development Director, Class 32; and Patxi Larrocea- Phillips, LIA wannabe and staff member at AMG. Special thanks to CHS Foundation for financially supporting this trip and for meals provided by Northwest Farm Credit Services, Idaho Sugarbeet Growers and Farm Credit Council.
 
Congratulations to Jason Downs, Class 37, who was recently elected co-chairman of the Larry Branen Idaho Ag Summit and will chair the 2021 Summit. Jason is employed at Horizon Ag Products.
 
Amanda Crump, Class 23, just finished her PhD in Agricultural Education last year from the University of California, Davis. This resulted in a switch in employment. She is now an Assistant Professor of Teaching in International Agricultural Development at University of California, Davis.
 
Applications are being received for LIA Class 40. They can be requested from our office or are available online. Tuition for Class 40 is $2700 plus travel and lodging. The following are the dates and locations of each session:
 
Nov 4-7
(Monday evening - 2:00 PM Thursday)
Moscow (University Inn)
 
Dec 2-5
(Monday evening - 2:00 PM Thursday)
Pocatello (TBD)
 
Jan 6-9
(Monday evening - 2:00 PM Thursday)
Twin Falls (TownePlace Suites)
 
Feb 23-28
(Sunday evening - 2:00 PM Friday)
Boise (Red Lion)
 
Feb 27
Gala Dinner and Auction (Thursday)
​Boise (Boise Centre)

Congratulations to Elli Brown, Class 32 who was recently presented a 2019 Tribute to Women and Industry award by the Women's and Children's Alliance. Elli is employed with INL in the area of Government Affairs where she works in the area of State Policy and Outreach for the National Laboratory.
 
Congratulations to Art McIntosh, Class 31 who was recently appointed by Governor Little to the Idaho Travel Council representing Region 2. The appointment is for three years. Art and his brother Doug McIntosh, Class 19 operate Lindsay Creek Vineyards in the Lewiston area.
 
Congratulations to Bill Lickley, Class 25 who announced his retirement from Northwest Farm Credit Services later this spring after 28 years of service. Bill has been serving as Branch Manager in the Twin Falls NWFCS office.
 
Congratulations to Phil Kaufman, Class 36 and his wife Jeanene on the birth of a son, Matthew Joseph, on April 16. Matthew joins older brother James and will be a big help to Dad on the farm outside of Lewiston.
 
In the most recent edition of Here We Have Idaho Magazine a special article highlighted a number of wine producers in Idaho. Featured in the article was Ron Bitner, Class 3, Bitner Vineyards in Caldwell; Doug McIntosh, Class 19 and Art McIntosh, Class 31, Lindsay Creek Vineyards in Lewiston and Doug Jones, Class 15 Crossings Winery in Glenns Ferry.
 
Thanks to several LIA Alumni who stepped forth and supported judging activities at the Idaho FFA Leadership Conference in Twin Falls the first of April. LIA was also a sponsor for the Conference. At the conference six new state FFA officers were elected. The officers came to Meridian the following week for kick-off leadership training conducted by Rick Waitley, Class 8; Kyra Gibson, Class 35 and Benjamin Kelly, Class 29.
 
Easter was a special time for two LIA alumni families when Cole Lickley, son of Bill Lickley, Class 25 and Laurie Lickley, LIA Affiliate Member and Anna Pratt, daughter of Mark Pratt, Class 11 and Wendy Pratt, Class 35 announced their engagement. Anna graduates with her Masters in May and Cole will join her graduating with his BS. Cole has landed a job in the Midwest with a trading company. A fall wedding is planned for the couple. We have always said that LIA is great for networking.
 
Leadership Idaho Agriculture joined with other Ag commodity and farm organizations in the creation of an agriculture mural in the tunnel of the Idaho State Capitol. The project was coordinated through Idaho Ag in the Classroom. The tunnel is used by hundreds of state employees and visitors for travel underground in the capitol complex. A special dedication is planned for the mural during the 2020 Idaho Ag Summit.
 
Mark your calendars for June 7 for the LIA alumni and friends Golf Scramble. The Scramble starts at 9:00 with a shotgun start. Breakfast will be served prior to the start of the event and lunch will follow. This year's Golf Scramble will be held at Canyon Springs Golf Course.
 
Applications for LIA Class 40 are being received now. Applications can be found online. Applicants have the option to either submit the essay as to what they would gain by participating in LIA or they can submit a short personal video. Instructions for submitting a video is online with the application.
 
Important Upcoming Dates
 
May 12-17       Washington, D.C., Experience '19 (sign up now)
 
June 7              Annual LIA Golf Scramble - Canyon Springs Golf Course, Twin Falls
 
June 30           Final day for 2018-2019 payment of LIA annual dues
 
Aug. 1              Deadline for applications for LIA Class 40
 
Sept. 6             Selection of Class 40 participants
 
Nov. 4-7           Moscow Session
 
Dec. 2-5           Pocatello Session
 
Jan. 6-9           Twin Falls Session
 
Feb. 23-28       Boise Session
 
Feb. 27            Gala Dinner and Auction