Congratulations to Teri Murrison, Affiliate Member, who was recently named Executive Director, Idaho Coalition of Land Trusts. ICOLT is a nonprofit dedicated to serving as the collective voice for Idaho's 18 land trusts through advocacy, collaboration, networking, and training. Teri retired earlier this summer as administrator of the Idaho Soil and Water Conservation Commission.

Recently, Governor Brad Little named Cally Grindstaff Roach, mom to Stephen Parrott, Class 39, to the State Board of Education. Cally recently retired as Vice President of Clear Springs Foods.

Congratulations to Wade and Gwenna Prescott, parents of Wyatt Prescott, Affiliate Member and in-laws of Christie Prescott, Class 33, who were named one of the six Featured Farm Families at the Twin Falls County Fair. The award is presented each year by Food Producers of Idaho and the Twin Falls County Fair Board.

Congratulations to Clinton Pline, Class 5, who married Lindee on September 11. Clinton works on the farm operated by Paul Rasgorshek in the Dry Lake area and serves as Chairman of the Nampa & Meridian Irrigation District board of directors. Clinton and Lindee have built a new home on the original Pline Farm east of Nampa. Lindee works as a social worker.

Sympathy is extended to Josh Tewalt, Class 22, on the recent passing of his dad, Dave Tewalt. Josh serves as the Director of the Idaho Department of Corrections.
 
Sympathy is extended to Rick Naerebout, Class 23, whose 96-year-old grandmother passed away in Michigan. Rick serves as the Executive Director of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association. 

September 1, LIA Trustee Ron Jones, Class 2, was named the negotiator for the Southern Idaho Potato Cooperative. Ron operates an agriculture consulting business and is engaged in a number of water and financial issues in the Magic Valley.

U of I CALS will be holding their annual CALS Alumni Award Banquet on Friday, September 24. LIA Alumni being honored are: Rick Naerebout, Class 23, with the Distinguished Alumni Award, Rich Garber, Class 2, with the Distinguished Retiree Award and Katie Mosman Wilson, Class 39, with the Early Career Achievement Award. The event will take place on campus in Moscow at the Ag Science building 11:30 – 1:00 (PDT). Tickets are $15.00/adult.

Alumni Dues for 2021-22 are due now. Dues are $50 per person. You may pay online at www.leadershipidahoag.org, send a check to the LIA office or contact Patty (208-888-0988) to pay with a credit card. Lifetime memberships are $1000. 

Please keep in your thoughts and prayers several of our LIA family and extended family members who are suffering from COVID. Almost daily, we hear more and more reports. 

​Class 42 of LIA has been selected and plans are underway for a full-year of sessions. We have not announced the class at this time, waiting for those selected to get information returned to our office. The dates for the four sessions are as follows:
 
Nov 1-4     (Monday evening – 2:00 PM Thursday)
Moscow (University Inn)
 
Dec 6-9      (Monday evening – 2:00 PM Thursday)
Idaho Falls (Holiday Inn & Suites)
 
Jan 3-7      (Monday evening – 2:00 PM Friday)
Twin Falls (TownePlace Suites)
 
Feb 20-25  (Sunday evening – 2:00 PM Friday)
Boise (Hilton Garden Inn Boise)
 
Feb 24       Gala Dinner and Auction (Thursday)
Boise (Boise Centre)

Congratulations to Dave Paul, Class 16, who became Grandpa to Ava Macleod. Ava arrived on August 7. According to Dave, “She is our precious little miracle girl.”

Congratulations to Stephen, Class 39, and Samantha Parrott on the birth of Wilson Anthony Parrott born August 12, weighing 6 lbs. and 12 ozs. This is the third child in their family. Stephen works for Fort Boise, owned and operated by Jim and Joe Farmer, Class 35.

Congratulations to Tom Salaiz, Class 14, who recently completed his goal of summiting all 9 of Idaho’s 12,000 plus peaks. Tom works for McCain Foods, Burley as an Agronomist.

Congratulations to John Bohman, Class 30, whose daughter, Halee, was named a 2021 Interscholastic Star with a special Student Recognition Scholarship Award from Troy High School. John and his wife, Alison, are Owners/Partners in Ridgeview Farms outside of Troy.

Katie Wilson, Class 39 did not return this fall as the Ag Science and Technology Instructor at Grangeville High School. Katie and her husband, Chris, are awaiting the arrival of a baby in November. 

Congratulations to Delwyne Trefz, Class 5, who was recently named the Administrator of the Idaho Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Delwyne has been with the Commission since 2009 and most recently has served as Deputy Director under Teri Murrison, LIA Affiliate Member who retired earlier this summer.  

Sympathy is extended to Rebecca Rutan, Class 33, in the recent passing of her Grandfather Gerald Weast. Rebecca works for Northwest Farm Credit Services in Nampa.

We were sad to learn that Jim Hudson, Class 34, passed away on August 26 in CDA. Jim lived on the Rathdrum Prairie. He had remained active in Idaho Water Users after serving as President of their Board. Jim recently was in Sun Valley for a water seminar. Jim frequently attended the Moscow session after graduation to meet and cheer on the new class.

Jim Miller, Class 29, and an LIA Trustee is starting a new position as the Director of Business Operations for the Palouse Animal Wellness and Surgery Center (PAWS) in Moscow. PAWS is a vet clinic owned by Jim and his wife, Kathy, who is a Veterinarian. The three doctor practice also employs 20 other staff members and is the only private clinic in the region accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association. The Millers have owned the clinic for 19 years and after all that time of it being Jim’s side hustle, he is making it his full-time hustle!

Congratulations to Brody Fitch, Class 39, who recently announced he would be accepting a new position on the faculty of ISU as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Accounting. Brody has been employed by Cooper Norman Accounting. Most of his work at ISU will be in teaching and service. Brody will be a member of the non-tenure-track faculty at the University.

​We are soliciting LIA alumni who would like to be engaged in planning and executing the 2022 LIA Gala and Auction. If you would like to join the committee, let Rick know and your name will be added. The committee will start preliminary meetings in October and then begin to meet more frequently after December 1. We are planning for an in person auction on Wednesday, February 23, 2022. 

LIA successfully held a Congressional Fact-Finding Tour for 13 Washington, DC House Staff Members – August 9-13. LIA Alumni who participated in various portions of the tour (riding the bus, meal events, and making presentations) included the following: