12/19/06 Johnson leaving IGPA

Steve Johnson has been the executive director of the Idaho Grain Producers Association for the 16 years but he'll be leaving the job at the end of January to become the new director of Alumni Relations at his alma mater, the University of Idaho. JOHNSON "This organization is forward thinking and they just do a great job of thinking through the policies and deciding what they want. So it makes the job for an administrator a lot easier to accomplish and I think that the association because it's a forward thinking group is highly regarded in state and nationally within the wheat and barley grower associations." Johnson says Idaho wheat and barley growers have had some difficult years but recently they have seen prices go up for a change. JOHNSON "They're helping growers catch back up because they've been facing such high input costs over the last few years and until this year there hasn't been an increase in prices." The IGPA is seeking Johnson's replacement and applications will be accepted through January 26th. The selection committee will meet and review the applications right after that so that a new executive director can come onboard after Johnson's departure. He begins his work in Moscow on February 1st. Today's Idaho Ag News Bill Scott