CALS Recognizes Outstanding Alumni

The University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences honored a group of outstanding alumni and friends who have made notable contributions to their field on Feb. 21 at the Boise Centre during the annual CALS Alumni Awards Reception.

The Boise event celebrated the 2022 awardees for their achievements benefiting industry, CALS, U of I and their communities.

The event recognized awardees in the following categories: the Alumni Achievement Award honoring recent alumni who have made outstanding career achievements and contributions to their field, the Distinguished Alumni Award honoring alumni with a distinguished record of achievement and service to CALS, the Distinguished Associate Alumni Award honoring friends of the college (non-alumni) who have served CALS with great distinction, and the Early Career Achievement Award recognizing young and recent alumni who have made outstanding career achievements and contributions.

About the 2022 CALS Alumni and Friends Award recipients:

Alumni Achievement Award: Surine Greenway — Surine Greenway, of Caldwell, graduated from U of I in 2009 with bachelor’s degrees in family and consumer sciences and Spanish and in 2013 received a master’s in adult organizational learning and leadership from U of I. Greenway works as a UI Extension educator in family and consumer sciences, serving Owyhee County. Greenway is charged with providing multi-county technical expertise in the areas of food safety and preservation, financial management and nutrition and health. In a letter of support, Patrick Momont, UI Extension's southern district director, credited Greenway for supporting 4-H youth development programs that reach diverse and underserved clientele and for teaching numerous classes for youth and adult entrepreneurship programs in both English and Spanish.

Distinguished Alumni Award: Joey Peutz — Joey Peutz, of Payette, earned a bachelor’s degree in home economics education from CALS in 1992 and a master’s degree in family and consumer sciences from CALS in 1995. Peutz started her career as a high school family and consumer sciences teacher and currently works as a UI Extension educator serving Payette County. In 2020, Peutz received the highest national peer recognition in being selected as the Western Region and National Extension Educator of the Year for the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. Patrick Momont, UI Extension's southern district director wrote in a letter of support, “Over her career, Joey has received and managed $3.5 million in USDA nutrition funding to support Eat Smart Idaho programs and $1.2 million in external grant funding to support her technology, food safety and other nutrition and health programs.”

Distinguished Associate Alumni Award: Doug Robison — Doug Robison, of Twin Falls, is the Idaho president of Northwest Farm Credit Services. Although he did not earn his degrees at U of I, he is a member of the CALS Dean’s Advisory Committee, as well as the CALS Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology Advisory Committee. He is also a board member with Idaho Food Bank. In a letter of support for Robison’s nomination, Blair J. Wilson, retired Idaho president of Northwest Farm Credit Services, described Robison as a tireless supporter of CALS and U of I. “Doug has taken a leadership role in advocating for significant support for substantial capital investments in many of CALS’ priorities,” Wilson wrote.

Early Career Achievement Award: Frank Antonio “Patxi” Larrocea-Phillips — Frank “Patxi” Larrocea-Phillips, of Nampa, graduated from CALS in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics and received his Juris Doctor from U of I in 2018. He works as a consultant and legislative advisor for Association Management Group, through which he holds positions as executive director of Idaho Noxious Weed Control Association, executive secretary of Idaho Irrigation Equipment Association, a staff member with Southern Idaho Potato Cooperative and a government relations official for the Idaho Wool Growers Association. He’s also an attorney with Sawtooth Law Offices in Boise and maintains a small beef herd as owner of LP Associates & Agriculture, LLC. As a volunteer, he serves on the Ada County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, he’s active in Canyon County 4-H youth development, and he was a volunteer firefighter with the Moscow Fire Department from February 2014 through May 2016. In his letter of support for Larrocea-Phillips, CALS Dean Michael Parrella wrote, “As a young alum, Patxi is a proven leader who has made a big impact to improve Idaho agriculture. We are proud he is a College of Agricultural and Life Sciences alum.

The following two awardees received their awards and were recognized in fall 2022 at an event in Moscow:

International Achievement Award: Gene Allen — Gene Allen, of Saint Paul, Minnesota, graduated from CALS with a bachelor’s degree in animal husbandry in 1961, before earning a master’s degree and doctorate in meat and animal science from University of Wisconsin. He worked a long career and held several leadership positions at University of Minnesota, retiring in 2006 as associate vice president for international programs. In a letter of support for Allen, Bob Haggerty, director of CALS international agricultural programs, credited Allen with setting a standard for producing “global-ready” graduates that became a national model for integrating study or learning abroad experiences into the national curriculum. Haggerty has integrated Allen’s model into CALS undergraduate curriculum.

Distinguished Alumni Award: Jim Miller — Jim Miller, of Moscow, earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural business from CALS in 1995. He is director of business operations and co-owner of Palouse Animal Wellness and Surgery Center in Moscow. Jim is a tireless volunteer for Idaho agriculture and his local community — serving in a variety of capacities that include Latah County 4-H volunteer and project leader, serving on the board of trustees for Leadership Idaho Agriculture, and the Moscow FFA Advisory Committee Member to name a few. In a letter of support for Miller’s nomination, Rick Naerebout, CEO for Idaho Dairymen’s Association, states “Jim is an exceptional ambassador for CALS, leading with integrity, an upbeat attitude and over support for Idaho agriculture and the college.” Miller was also a founding member of Leadership Moscow.

Published in Catching Up with CALS