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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><a name="_Hlk198803898"></a><a name="_Hlk198547159"><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><img width=599 height=105 style='width:6.2361in;height:1.0902in' id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01DCE834.23477020"></span></b></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547159'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547159'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547159'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Dear FHB Community,</span></b></span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547159'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547159'></span><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><a name="_Hlk198547143"><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The USWBSI Executive Committee is pleased to announce the second annual <b>Call for Nominations for the </b></span></a></span><a href="https://scabusa.org/excellence_awards"><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#467886'>USWBSI Excellence Awards</span></b></span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'></span></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>, celebrating outstanding contributions toward reducing the impact of Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) on wheat and barley. Following a highly successful inaugural year, these awards will again recognize both emerging talent and established leaders whose innovative research, collaboration, and advocacy have advanced the mission of the U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative. Please consider nominating your peers to help us recognize those driving meaningful impact in reducing the threat of Fusarium Head Blight!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#002060'>Award Categories<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Outstanding New Investigator Award</span></b></span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> – Recognizes researchers with up to 7 years as a USWBSI funded PI whose innovative work shows high potential for impact.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Collaborative Achievement Award</span></b></span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> – Honors multi-institutional or multi-disciplinary teams whose collaboration has led to meaningful progress in addressing FHB.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Innovative Impact Award</span></b></span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> – Celebrates individuals or teams whose outreach or advocacy has greatly enhanced FHB awareness and response.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Lifetime Achievement Award</span></b></span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> – Reserved for those with 20+ years of impactful FHB experience.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>We invite nominations from across the research and stakeholder community, including academia, industry, and governmental/non-governmental organizations. Self-nominations are welcome. Full award descriptions, eligibility criteria, and nomination form access are available on the </span></span></span><a href="https://scabusa.org/excellence_awards"><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#467886'>USWBSI Excellence Awards webpage</span></span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'></span></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#002060'>Nomination Deadline<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Complete a nomination submission via the online </span></span></span><a href="https://umn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eb6PI0NvgtsSJRI"><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#467886'>2026 USWBSI Excellence Awards Nomination Form</span></span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'></span></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> no later than <b>August 26, 2026.</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Awardees will be honored during the 2026 National FHB Forum in </span></span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Louisville, KY. Lifetime Achievement and Outstanding New Investigator awardees will also have an opportunity to present during the 2026 NFHB Forum program. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>For questions, please contact the USWBSI NFO at </span></span></span><a href="mailto:nfo@scabusa.org"><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#467886'>nfo@scabusa.org</span></span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'></span></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'></span><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'></span><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><b><span style='color:#0E2841'>______</span></b><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#0E2841;mso-ligatures:none'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><b><span style='color:#0E2841'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><a name="m_2463604685091156584__Hlk74295663"><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#0E2841'>U.S. Wheat & Barley Scab Initiative (USWBSI)<o:p></o:p></span></b></a></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='mso-bookmark:m_2463604685091156584__Hlk74295663'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>Networking & Facilitation Office (NFO)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='mso-bookmark:m_2463604685091156584__Hlk74295663'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>495 Borlaug Hall | 1991 Upper Buford Circle | St. Paul, MN 55108</span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:m_2463604685091156584__Hlk74295663'><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='mso-bookmark:m_2463604685091156584__Hlk74295663'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'><br></span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:m_2463604685091156584__Hlk74295663'></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#222222'><a href="mailto:nfo@scabusa.org" target="_blank"><span style='color:#1155CC'>nfo@scabusa.org</span></a> | 517.290.5023 | </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#414141'><a href="https://scabusa.org/" target="_blank"><span style='color:#1155CC'>https://scabusa.org</span></a></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#222222'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>Twitter </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#156082'><a href="https://twitter.com/USWBSI"><span style='color:#156082'>@USWBSI</span></a></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> | Linkedin </span><u><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#156082'><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/company/uswbsi"><span style='color:#156082'>#uswbsi</span></a></span></u><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#156082'> </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>