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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="_Hlk198547159"><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@01DD2B0C.8382EB20"></span></b></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547159'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547159'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547159'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Dear FHB Community,</span></b></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547159'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547159'></span><p class=MsoNormal><a name="_Hlk198547143"><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The deadline to submit your nominations for the <b>second annual </b></span></a><a href="https://scabusa.org/excellence_awards"><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#467886'>USWBSI Excellence Awards</span></b></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'> is quickly approaching, <b>submissions are due by August 26</b>. Make sure to start putting your nomination materials together today to help us celebrate the outstanding researchers, teams and advocates who are making significant strides in reducing the impact of FHB on wheat and barley. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#002060'>Award Categories<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Outstanding New Investigator Award</span></b></span><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></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Collaborative Achievement Award</span></b></span><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></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Innovative Impact Award</span></b></span><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></li><li class=MsoNormal style='mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Lifetime Achievement Award</span></b></span><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></li></ul><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Full award descriptions, eligibility criteria, and nomination form access are available on the </span></span><a href="https://scabusa.org/excellence_awards"><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#467886'>USWBSI Excellence Awards webpage</span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#002060'>Nomination Deadline<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Complete a nomination submission via the online </span></span><a href="https://umn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eb6PI0NvgtsSJRI"><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#467886'>2026 USWBSI Excellence Awards Nomination Form</span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><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></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Awardees will be recognized at the 2026 National FHB Forum in </span></span><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 program. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Please consider nominating your peers to recognize those driving meaningful impact in reducing the threat of Fusarium Head Blight!<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>If you have any questions, please contact the USWBSI NFO at </span></span><a href="mailto:nfo@scabusa.org"><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#467886'>nfo@scabusa.org</span></span><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'></span></a><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198547143'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>. </span></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><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>