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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@01DD346F.343E3850"></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'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Dear FHB Community,<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'>Tomorrow, <b>August 26</b>, is the final deadline to submit your nominations for the 2nd Annual </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'>. Don't miss the opportunity to help us celebrate the outstanding researchers, teams, and advocates making significant strides in reducing the impact of FHB on wheat and barley. <b>Put the finishing touches on your materials and submit your nomination before the window closes!<o:p></o:p></b></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'>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 recognized at 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 program. <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'>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></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'><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>If you have any 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><span style='mso-bookmark:_Hlk198803898'></span><p class=MsoNormal><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><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'><b><span style='color:#0E2841'>Michelle Bjerkness<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black'>Director of Operations</span></i><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#222222'><o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><a name="m_2463604685091156584__Hlk74295663"><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#0E2841'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></a></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='mso-bookmark: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></span></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>