Missouri LICA News Volume 69, Number 1 Missouri Land Improvement Contractors Association Summer, 2010 President s Message EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Larry LaFollette Cairman Jim Bledsoe President Ozzie Wallace Vice-President Cris Brauer Secretary/Treasurer DISTRICT OFFICERS Jeff Lance District #1 President Mont Gilbert District #2 President Brent Limback District #3 President Ozzie Wallace District #4 President Ken Balkenbusc District #5 President AUXILIARY OFFICERS Mona Bledsoe President Sally Bauer Vice-President Lisa Davis Secretary/Treasurer Greetings Missouri LICA Members: Tis is my first President s Message since taking office in January. Some of you know me as I ave served as District Officer, District Board Representative, State Secretary/Treasurer, State Vice President and, now, State President. My name is Jim Bledsoe. My wife, Mona, and I ave a 160-acre farm east of Savanna, MO. I joined Missouri LICA in 1986 to gain knowledge and LICA as been a large part of my success. 2010 as been and will be a busy year for Missouri LICA. At te Winter Convention, we ad 16 Associate Members at our Exibit Hall. We want to tank all our Associate members wo sponsored meals and coffee breaks, exibited, and/or donated items to our very successful auction. A special tanks to Missouri Auto Auction for donating te services of teir auctioneer wo elped us raise over $5,100 for te Auxiliary Scolarsip and Missouri LICA Operating Funds! In February, Mona and I attended and represented Missouri LICA at te National LICA Winter Convention in Poenix, AZ. Te weater was wonderful... 90+! Mona and I participated in one of te pre-convention events and toured te Jon Deere Proving Grounds. Seminars, committee meetings, exibit all and te Awards Banquet made for a busy week. We were onored to accept te first Kemp-LICA Award presented to Missouri LICA in recognition of Missouri LICA s legislative successes. Tanks to everyone wo attended te Marc Board and Committee Meetings and to Bobcat of St. Louis-Columbia wo osted te event. I d also like to tank Jerry Biuso, National LICA CEO, for kicking off our membersip drive. It was very successful drive, gaining new contractor, associate and supporting members. Remember, if eac one can sign up Just One good member, we can double our membersip and gain more strengt and recognition as an association. I want to remind new members tat te registration for teir first Winter Convention is complimentary. And, remind tem to attend teir District meetings. You get out of an organization wat you put into it. As President, I ave and will continue to attend as many District meetings across te state as possible. As always, if you ave a suggestion for classes at te Winter Convention, please contact te Convention- Education Committee Cairman Ken Balkenbusc (573-690-1432), myself (816-324-5254), or Debbie (573-634-3001). Tanks to all te Committee members for teir time and dedication. At te Marc Board Meeting, I reported tat I would like to ave Devotions at te Winter Convention and ave received good responses from members. Contact me if you would like to elp. After a long, ard winter, I ope all are busy and enjoy a prosperous year. Work safely, Jim
Page 2 Missouri LICA News 2010 Summer Issue Congratulations! Tyler and Rebecca Bledsoe welcomed Jacob Liam Bledsoe (9lbs, 2oz), teir tird cild, and first son, to te family on Marc 4t, 2010. Grandparents, Mona and Jim Bledsoe, are still crowing! Nelson & Judy Wilson celebrated 46 years of marriage on January 25t. Nelson said, Tat s a long time to put up wit one person and I m not saying wo said tat! 2010 National LICA Raffle Winners: Congratulations to: 1st Place $5,000: Randy Liddle, IA; 2nd Place $2,500: Wayne Litwiller, IL ; 3rd Place $1,000: Ricard Agle, NY ; and 4t Place $500: Jacob Barnart, IA Membersip Contest Steve Miller, Region IV Vice President, as started a membersip contest for te Region IV LICA Capters (Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin). Here are te details: Steve will award $250 to te LICA State Capter tat gets te most NEW members by total new members and $250 for te LICA State Capter tat gets te most new members by percentage. He will use membersip counts starting January 1, 2010 and ending December 31, 2010. Te money will be awarded after all te states ave submitted teir numbers. Attention Associate Members In te next couple of weeks, we ll be sending you a proof for your complimentary listing in our 2010-2011 Membersip Directory and Buyers Guide. Please take a few moments to review te copy, make additions and get it back to us. We will also be sending you information about advertising in our newsletter and Membersip Directory and Buyer s Guide. Tis will be a great way to promote your business wile elping Missouri LICA continue our mission. August 7, 2010 MLICA Family Picnic at Jake s Columbia, MO Make your plans now to attend te 2010 Summer Picnic on August 7 at Jake Gingeric s sop in Columbia, MO! Here s wat s planned: 10:30am Committee & Membersip Meetings 2:00pm -? Barbecue & Games! Jake will be smoking pork steaks and baby back ribs! Eac member is asked to bring a side dis and/or dessert, along wit your beverage of coice. We will provide te meat, plates, silverware, cups, condiments, pork steaks, baby back ribs, and soda. For te kids (no matter wat age)... we ll ave volleyball, orsesoes and illbilly golf! So, grab te family and join us on August 7... watc your mail for details! Auxiliary Update Scolarsip We ad a great response to te LICA Ladies Auxiliary Scolarsip Program from te students at Linn State Tecnical College. Te Scolarsip Committee is in te process of reviewing te applications and will be announcing a winner soon. 2010 Summer Picnic We ll be making plans for te Ladies Program and entertainment for te 2011 Winter Convention. All ladies are invited to put in teir two cents! Wit Sympaty Our earts and prayers are wit te families and friends of tese dearly departed. Eldon Brinton, fater of Dennis Brinton, passed away April 3, 2010. Sympaties may be sent to: Te Brinton Family; c/o Brinton Construction Co., Inc.; 10275 SE 140t Road; Gower, MO 64454-8390. Gregory Gordley of Port Industries died Tursday, Nov. 12, 2009. Memorials may be made to te Alaina Gordley educational fund in care of Smit Funeral Home & Capel. Dale Cam Lance, fater of Jeff Lance and broter of Caryl Lance, passed away on February 8, 2010. Sympaties may be sent to: Te Lance Family; c/o Lance Construction; 12795 County Road 332; Savanna, MO 64485-1494. Ron Landis, a past Missouri LICA contractor member, died December 18, 2009. Memorials may be made to te American Heart and/or Diabetes Association. Daney L. Riniker, fater of National LICA President Dirk Riniker, passed away Saturday, February 20, 2010. Memorials are suggested to te Louisville Cemetery Fund or te American Heart Association.
Missouri LICA News 2010 Summer Issue Page 3 Attention Missouri LICA Members Detective Brett Wilson wit te Jonson County, Kansas Seriff s Department as launced an electronic neigborood watc program for agriculture and construction equipment called Teft Reports of Agriculture and Construction Equipment (T.R.A.C.E.). Wile tis program will predominantly impact contractors around te Kansas City area, all contractors are encouraged to consider participating in te program. Because te internet as no geograpical boundaries, contractors from across te state can report teft of agriculture or construction equipment. Te data collected from tese reports can assist law enforcement in defining patterns and, ultimately, assist in te equipment s recovery. If you own a piece of equipment tat as been stolen or you see a piece of equipment under suspicious circumstances, you can log-on to te T.R.A.C.E. site and report tat information. After receiving information about a stolen piece of equipment, T.R.A.C.E. will send an alert to all participants in te program, as well as to te local county s law enforcement agencies. Note: Tis program does not replace 911 calls. For details, read te letter below. Frank P. Denning Seriff David A. Burger Underseriff Telepone 913-791-5800 Fax 913-791-5806 DUTY HONOR SERVICE 125 N. Cerry Olate, Kansas 66061 www.jocoseriff.org Kevin D. Cavanaug Underseriff Te Jonson County Seriff s Office would like to invite you to participate in te Teft Reports of Agriculture and Construction Equipment (T.R.A.C.E.) Program. Te objective of tis program is to efficiently get information regarding stolen farm equipment, livestock teft, livestock recovery, construction equipment and suspicious activities distributed to citizens living or working in counties in and around te KC Metro area in Kansas and Missouri. Te objective is to quickly inform all participants of suspicious activities and crime in your neigborood, farming community and construction sites. Once an individual or business as been put on te distribution list, tey will be able to receive emails from T.R.A.C.E. Anyone can send information to trace@jocogov.org but will not receive email notifications until registered. Tis program does not take te place of 911. If tere is an emergency tat requires law enforcement response, call 911. If you ave a piece of equipment stolen or tere is a suspicious caracter in your area, call 911. Te next step will ten be to email trace@jocogov.org. Please be sure to send a detailed email describing wat was taken, including color, brand, year, identifying marks and oter descriptive information. If you are reporting a suspicious caracter, describe all individuals involved, any veicle information, direction of travel and wat te suspects were doing tat caugt your attention. If you are an agriculture producer, livestock owner, farmer s cooperative, implement dealer, construction business, insurance company or anyting close and would like to register for te program please go to www.jocoseriff.org, click on T.R.A.C.E. and register. If you ave questions, contact te Jonson County Seriff s Office Investigations Division at (913)715-5561 or email trace@jocogov.org, attention Detective Brett Wilson.
Page 4 Missouri LICA News 2010 Summer Issue 2010 MLICA & Bobcat Equipment Rodeo A Real Hit! It was te first nice day in weeks, but approximately 180 people took te time to attend te Missouri LICA & Bobcat of St. Louis-Columbia s Equipment Rodeo on Saturday, April 10! We met lots of prospective contractor members, enjoyed some great food served by te Hooters Girls, and watced some very talented operators We d like to offer a very special THANK YOU to Bobcat of St. Louis - Columbia, and all te LICA members and teir family members wo elped to make tis event suc a it! Te First Place winners were: Greg Mabrey; Rob Trenery; Alex Trenary, and Les Purcey, wo won two events. Second Place winners were: Les Pucrey, Bill Klein, wo took second in two events; Rob Trenary, and Cad Volks. Tird Place winners were: Elias Leinbac, wo took tird in two events; Leon Sirk, Neil Gilbert, and Rob Trenary. Bill Klein, 2nd place winner in two events, sows off is skills at te Bobcat Rodeo Rob Bristow, Bobcat of St. Louis-Columbia, congratulates Alex Trenary, our youngest event winner! From left: Caitlyn Ridgway, Stepanie LaFollette and Sue Gilbert elp register event contestants - Tank You, Ladies! District #2 President Mont Gilbert (left) and MLICA Cairman of te Board Larry LaFollette take a minute to discuss te rules of te competition. Rob Bristow, Bobcat of St. Louis-Columbia, congratulates Rob Trenary on winning an event, as well as receiving a compimentary membersip in MLICA!
Missouri LICA News 2010 Summer Issue Page 5 Irrigation Reservoirs by Mari Gilford, NRCS Agricultural Engineer, and Dick Purcell, NRCS State Conservation Engineer NRCS must address several tecnical and policy issues wen designing ponds. Tis article details considerations wen designing surface water storage for irrigation and answers questions discussed at te Missouri LICA Winter Convention. An irrigation reservoir is designed for more tan just usable irrigation water. Tere is sediment storage, temporary storage between te principal spillway and auxiliary spillway, evaporative losses and finally, usable irrigation volume. [See figure 1 below.] Figure 1 Principal Spillway Auxiliary Spillway Top of Dam Temporary Storage (Runoff) Evaporation difference in elevation between te auxiliary crest and te low point in te centerline of te dam) multiplied by te storage of te structure below te auxiliary spillway crest. For example, if te effective fill eigt is 25 feet and te storage is 160 acre-feet, te product of te storage times te effective fill eigt (160 x 25) would be 4,000. Te 160 acrefeet of storage includes volumes for sediment, evaporation and runoff, as well as irrigation. Tis example would not provide te minimum water recommended for irrigation on a 120-acre field, yet still exceeds te application restrictions for te Pond standard. [See figure 2 below.] g y pp Figure 2 Overall Heigt of Dam Top of Dam Auxiliary Spillway Available Irrigation Water Effective Fill Heigt Sediment Storage Centerline of Dam In Missouri, assuming te crop is corn, you will need an average of one inc a week of net irrigation for a normal year. For a 120 acre field tat is irrigated wit a center pivot for 16 weeks, te total water requirements would be 160 acre-feet of water or 52.1 million gallons. Te drainage coming into a reservoir must be large enoug to provide enoug runoff to keep te reservoir full. Rainfall and runoff volumes vary across te state, wit te igest numbers in te Souteast and te lowest in te Nortwest. Minimum ratios of drainage area to surface area are 3:1 to 12:1, depending on te part of te state you are looking at. Tese numbers are only for average years and will not maintain full pool during te igest evaporation monts. For an irrigation reservoir, tis ratio sould be raised to a minimum of 20:1, regardless of were you are in te state, in order to supply te needed amount of irrigation water in a dry year. After all, te greatest return on your irrigation dollars is aving water wen you need it te most. Using NRCS practice standard Pond (378), te Agency is restricted to designing reservoirs tat ave less tan 35 feet of overall eigt and a product of eigt times storage of 3,000 or less. Te product is te effective fill eigt (te Dams designed wit eigts of 35 feet or more may require bot construction and safety permits from te Missouri Department of Natural Resources, unless te agricultural exemption is granted. In addition, for dams of tis size, 404 and 401 permits are usually required from te Corps of Engineers and te Department of Natural Resources. A Storm Water Discarge Permit may also be required. Dams wit eigts greater tan 35 feet, or products of HxS tat exceed 3,000, cannot be designed using NRCS practice standard 378. For NRCS, tese structures must be designed using Tecnical Release 60 (TR-60), wic requires an increase in safety factors. Consequently, tey are muc more expensive tan a typical farm pond. Generally, proper sizing of a surface water reservoir for typical row crops exceeds te simpler policy requirements of a farm pond for NRCS. Alternative crops on smaller acreages may be better served by small surface reservoirs. At tis time, financial support from federal programs for irrigation is focused on efficiency of water use, not supply.
Page 6 Missouri LICA News 2010 Summer Issue Welcome Aboard! We d like to welcome te following members to Missouri LICA! Contractors Dayrel Adkison; Cris 6939 NE Nettleton Rd. Hamilton, MO 64644 P: 816-583-2444 Cell: 816-465-0218 Em: annadawn2000@yaoo.com District: 1 County: Caldwell Mark Borgman; Diane Borgman Soil & Trencing, Inc. 20781 Poplar Ave. Nelson, MO 65347 P: 660-837-3390 Cell: 660-631-4484 Fx: 660-529-2660 Em: mborgman@iland.net District: 3 County: Saline Tom Cain; Saron TK Trencing 31503 Holt 250 Rd Oregon, MO 64473 P: 660-446-2434 Cell: 660-491-2434 Fx: 660-446-2434 Em: toc1@ofmlive.net District: 1 County: Holt Sponsor: Jim Bledsoe Roy Cope; Marsa Roy Cope Farm Excavating 132 New Truxton Rd. Truxton, MO 63381 P: 636-597-4475 Cell: 573-220-3075 Fx: 636-597-4075 District: 2 County: Montgomery Sponsor: Mont Gilbert Ricard Gercken Gercken Const. Services Inc. 137 N. Stewart Rd. Liberty, MO 64068 P: 816-781-7491 Fx: 816-781-7496 Em: gerckenr@aol.com District: 1 County: Clay Contractors (Cont.) Kenny Germann; Gerry Kennet Germann Construction LLC 27660 CR 250 Carrollton, MO 64633 P: 660-542-2348 Cell: 660-322-0084 Fx: 660-542-2348 Em: germannconstruction@otmail.com District: 1 County: Carroll James Gilbert Gilbert Construction 121 Hensley Street Montgomery City, MO 63361 P: 573-564-2032 (office) Cell: 573-220-6415 District: 2 County: Montgomery Sponsor: Mont Gilbert Joe Hedrick; Leslie Hedrick Construction RR 1, Box 377 Butler, MO 64730 P: 660-679-3494 Cell: 660-424-0956 District: 4 County: Bates Sponsor: Gerald Bauer Kelton Noland; Susan TK Trencing 29457 Palmer Dr. Oregon, MO 64473 P: 660-446-2849 Cell: 660-491-1180 Fx: 660-446-2849 Em: sknoland@ofmlive.net District: 1 County: Holt Sponsor: Jim Bledsoe Courtney Ray; Amy Midwest Erosion Management, Inc. 3602 Pear St. St. Josep, MO 64503 P: 816-324-6695 Cell: 816-262-1289 Fx: 816-232-7559 Em: courtsturf1@yaoo.com District: 1 County: Bucanan Sponsor: Jim Bledsoe Contractors (Cont.) Jim Rucker RC Storm Water Management 64 Monarc Truxton, MO 63381 P: 314-581-0983 Cell: 314-581-0983 Em: rcstormwater@yaoo.com District: 2 County: Montgomery Sponsor: Mont Gilbert Dennis Sowalter; Terresa Sowalter & Son Soil Contractors 12358 Hwy 59 Craig, MO 64437 P: 660-683-5766 Cell: 816-390-5767 Em: dtsow@squawcreek.net District: 1 County: Holt Brad Stieferman Stieferman Construction Services, LLC 958 Higway C Bonnots Mill, MO 65016 P: 573-291-7400 Cell: 573-291-7400 Email: bradstieferman@yaoo.com Sponsor: Ken Balkenbusc Rob Trenary; Vickie Rob's Lawn Care & Landscaping 7013 Heritage Hwy Jefferson City, MO 65109 P: 573-694-4777 District: 5 County: Cole Sponsor: Rob Bristow
Missouri LICA News 2010 Summer Issue Page 7 More New Missouri LICA Members! Contractors (Cont.) Jeff Utz; Debra Jeffco 11140 SW 150 Rd Rockville, MO 64780 P: 660-598-2236 Cell: 417-876-8541 Em: ontemap_2004@otmail.com District: 4 County: St. Clair Sponsor: Gerald Bauer Company AquaBlok, Ltd. MLICA Contact: Eric Kraus 3401 Glendale Avenue, Suite 300 Toledo, OH 43614 P: 800-688-2649 Cell: 419-410-7226 Fx: 419-385-2990 Em: pondmanagement@ aquablokinfo.com Web: www.aquablokinfo.com Bobcat of St. Louis - Columbia MLICA Contact: Rob Bristow 1101 Nort Lenway Columbia, MO 65202 P: 573-886-9435 Cell: 573-289-0040 Fx: 573-886-9434 Em: rbristow@bobcatofstl.com Web: www.bobcatofstl.com District: 2 County: Boone Dennis Oil Company, Inc. MLICA Contact: David Henley 545 N. National Springfield, MO 65802 P: 417-862-1114 Cell: 417-849-5674 Fx: 417-862-1502 District: 4 County: Greene Sponsor: Mel Kleinsorge Expander Americas, Inc. MLICA Contact: Bill Foster P.O. Box 1920 Cottonwood, AZ 86326 P: 888-935-3884 Cell: 573-778-7079 Fx: 888-935-3643 Em: bill.foster@expandersystem.com Web: www.expandersystem.com Company (Cont.) Houston Heavy Equipment MLICA Contact: Brad Houston 1500 Boone Industrial Drive Columbia, MO 65202 P: 573-442-5079 Cell: 573-696-5571 Fx: 573-442-8498 Em: bouston@inbox.com District: 2 County: Boone Sponsor: Mel Kleinsorge Landmark Pipe Supply MLICA Contact: Stepen Sutter 6861 County Road 344 Taylor, MO 63471 P: 573-769-7473 Cell: 573-406-2006 Fx: 573-393-0110 Em: kdw@landmark-irrigation.com Web: www.landmark-irrigation.com District: 2 County: Marion Sponsor: Matt Walter RSC Equipment Sales & Rental MLICA Contact: Brian Rose 1040 Burlington Kansas City, MO 64116 P: 816-918-0542 Cell: 816-918-0542 Fx: 816-842-7472 Em: brian.rose@rscrental.com Web: www.rscrental.com District: 1 County: Jackson Sponsor: Tim O Neill Wally Gage's Eartwork Takeoff Service MLICA Contact: Wally Gage 110 Meadow Ridge Ct. Branson, MO 65616 P: 417-336-4400 Cell: 417-335-1555 Fx: 417-336-1482 Em: wgage4400@aol.com District: 4 County: Taney Sponsor: Larry LaFollette Supporting David Eller Dean Macinery Co. 14069 LIV 261 Cillicote, MO 64601-3044 P: 660-646-2080 Cell: 660-707-2329 Fx: 660-646-5060 Em: david.eller@deancat.com Web: www.deancat.com District: 1 County: Livingston Travis Gentry Dean Macinery Co. 3619 Pear St. St. Josep, MO 64503-3187 P: 816-233-2516 Cell: 816-271-3095 Fx: 816-233-2515 Em: travis.gentry@deancat.com Web: www.deancat.com District: 1 County: Bucanan Kevin Rus Dean Macinery Co. 5701 E. 87t Street Kansas City, MO 64132 P: 816-753-5300 Cell: 816-392-4105 Fx: 816-200-5415 Em: kevin.rus@deancat.com Web: www.deancat.com District: 1 County: Jackson July Upcoming Dates 8 District #2 Members Meeting 13-17 NLICA Summer Meeting August 7 MLICA Family Picnic at Jake s September 22-23 KC Builder s Sow October 5 District #5 Members Meeting 7 District #2 Members Meeting
Page 8 Missouri LICA News 2010 Summer Issue Leaders Market LICA in DC by Jon Peterson, LICA Director of Government Relations On May 6t and 7t, some of your LICA leadersip team visited Wasington DC and marketed LICA wit agencies and oter professional and industry organizations tat support our objectives. Te team consisted of Immediate Past President and Cairman of te Board Bruce Barnart, President Dirk Riniker, 2nd Vice President Steve Gerten, CEO Jerry Biuso, and Director of Government Relations Jon Peterson. After traveling to Wasington on Tuesday, May 5t, te group met early on Wednesday morning to review te scedule. Teir day started at te Longwort House Office Building and te office of Representative Steve King (IA-5t). Rep. King is a former LICA Region IV Vice President wo serves on te House Agriculture, Judiciary, and Small Business Committees. Te meeting was supposed to be wit King s Senior Legislative Assistant Brent Boydston, but wile we were waiting for Brent, out came Rep. King and e stayed and talked wit us for about 20 minutes. Wat a treat! He told us about getting started in te contracting business, ow e first got interested in politics (and e credited past LICA President and current president of te Land and Water Magazine, Ken Raasc wit tat), and wat is personal priorities were. He also alerted us to someting going on wit rural water districts tat LICA may want to watc. We all very muc enjoyed Rep. King taking time to be wit us. Bent Boydston joined us and we discussed ConExpo, invited im to attend and be part of our legislative session. He will also follow up on te rural water issue and get Jon more information. Tat was just an outstanding way to start our visits. From te House of Representatives it was off to te National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) and a visit wit new NACD CEO Jeff Eisenberg. Some of you migt want to ask Bruce and Steve about teir cab ride to NACD. Tey took te scenic route. In addition to introducing ourselves to te new NACD CEO, we discussed ow Soil and Water Conservation Districts around te country were involved in te TMDL process, talked about excanging exibits at eac oter s conferences, and agreed to look for projects or activities we could work on togeter. Bruce and Jerry met Jeff at te NACD meeting in Orlando in Feb. Jon as known im since teir USDA days. One of Jeff s priorities is more individual district project activity and funding from nongovernment sources. Tat sould be good news for many LICA members. After lunc at nearby Union Station, our team eaded to te American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Tere tey met wit ASCE s Director of Federal Relations Caroline Matceska, and Allison Dickert, wo is te driver for ASCE s Infrastructure Report Card work. In addition to discussing te infrastructure grades, we learned about te reautorization of te igway bill, and our team tougt tey migt ask te LICA Legislative Committee to look at it and se if we migt take a position in support. Caroline will work wit Jon on tis legislation. From ASCE it was on to te Portland Cement Association (PCA) and a visit wit David Hubbard, PCA s Vice President for Legislative Affairs. Here we talked about cap and trade and wy it is not going away. Our meeting was cut sort, as David ad to take part in a teleconference on te igway reautorization bill. It tuned out tat Dirk Riniker knew and worked wit many PCA members tat David knows. Tat made for a good day, and tat evening Jerry s son Micael treated te gang to an evening at te Nationals v. Braves baseball game. Jerry s son works for te Nationals, and we all ad a very fun, relaxed evening even toug te Nats lost in 10 innings. Tursday our LICA team met early, and eaded for USDA and te Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). Tey met wit NRCS Liaison to LICA Lyn Gillespie, wo is also NRCS s National Geotecnical Engineer, and were joined by Micelle Laur, te Acting NRCS Deputy Cief for Science and Tecnology. Our group was interested Micelle s tougts concerning additional CWA or oter legislation and more EPA regulations as a result, and wat tat means for NRCS s field workload. Micele ad worked at EPA, and is of te belief tat EPA will be regulating agriculture at some point. Tey ave done about all tey can wit point sources. NRCS would ave to work to minimize te effects of additional regulations on teir cooperators, farmers and rancers. Se also discussed te sortage of NRCS tecnical staff in te field. We ten ad an excellent discussion wit Lyn and er ConExpo session on federal contracting. Tat promises to be an excellent session, and Jerry asked Jon if e would introduce it in Las Vegas. We always enjoy excellent relations wit NRCS, and tis was no exception. LICA is fortunate to ave NRCS and Lyn elping us. Te rest of Tursday our travelers all went to Capitol Hill and visited teir own Congressional Members offices. Tey all reported some surprising and opefully beneficial results for LICA priorities and positions. Te Congressional Members and staffs were pleased to see LICA. All in all, our LICA travelers made some great progress in igligting and advertising te LICA brand in Wasington, DC. Good work LICA team!