University of Idaho Agricultural Education, Leadership, and Communications

There is some exciting news for future Vandals from Washington and Oregon!  Check out what University Financial Aid has to say  about the Western Undergraduate Exchange expansion. Photo Credit: University of Idaho Beginning in summer 2017, newly admitted students who meet the criteria will be awarded the WUE tuition and fee rate, which is 1.5 times the in-state tuition and fee rate. The award is a savings of more than $11,000 a year over the full out-of-state tuition and fee costs. The WUE will be awarded automatically to new students who are residents of Washington or Oregon and meet the following criteria:  New freshmen from Washington or Oregon with a 3.2 unweighted accredited high school GPA or higher, or a minimum 22 ACT/1020 SAT for home-schooled students or graduates from a non-accredited high school. The award is renewable for four years if a minimum 2.5 UI GPA is maintained. New transfers who are residents of Washington or Oregon with a 3.0 or higher trans

We are excited to welcome our newest editor  to the blogging team, Liz Bumstead!

by Maggie Elliot Photo Credit: Susan R. O'Hara An AVA, or “American Viticulture Area” is a grape-growing region producing distinct wines because of the unique terrain, climate, soil, and other factors of the land. In May, Idaho’s third AVA was designated, the Lewis Clark Valley AVA. Bordering the Lewiston and Clarkston state lines, the AVA is shared by two states, with twelve percent in Washington and the remaining in Idaho. Vineyards in the Lewis Clark Valley AVA are nestled between the steep Bitteroot Mountains. The deep, v-shaped valleys create ideal air drainage for wine grapes, inhibiting mold growth, lending frost protection, and the presence of cool summer nights work to develop acid retention. The soil is composed of silt based mollisols, carrying a high water holding capacity, promoting the need for minimal irrigation. The Lewis Clark Valley is set apart from other AVAs in the Northwest, as its landscape was not carved from ancient Missoula floods. I