The Potato Leadership, Education and Advancement Foundation has named the 2025 class of the potato industry’s Leadership Institute.
Over the 10-day program, Feb. 19-28, participants will receive an overview of the local and national potato industry, including some of the challenges and issues beyond the production sector, along with tours of local agricultural businesses while traveling through Wisconsin before continuing to Washington, D.C., according to a news release.
Additionally, participants will hear from public policy and communication experts and practice how to effectively deliver key messages. Finally, the class will join other growers from their state to educate members of Congress on U.S. potato industry policy priorities, the release said.
The 2025 Leadership Institute class includes:
- Kyle Beiriger, Mosca, Colo.
- Helen Smith, DelNorte, Colo.
- Adam Koch, St. Ansgar, Iowa.
- Ryan Christensen, Grace, Idaho.
- Kristen Forster, Delco, Idaho.
- Andrew Mickelsen, Roberts, Idaho.
- Cameron Skeen, Fruitland, Idaho.
- William Toevs, Aberdeen, Idaho.
- Damon Wall, Indianapolis, Ind.
- Matthew McKenna, Washburn, Maine.
- Brice Walther, Schoolcraft, Mich.
- Alexandra Bare, Halsta, Minn.
- Stephen Hovan, Ronan, Mont.
- Landon Thomson, Grand Forks, N.D.
- Chris Gibson, Alliance, Neb.
- Michael Murphy, Malone, N.Y.
- Nick Vincent, Boardman, Ore.
- Travis Hahn, Bath, Pa.
- Jordan Erickson, Eltopia, Wash.
- Athena Gates, Eltopia, Wash.
- Michael Rainis, Moses Lake, Wash.
- Erin Meister, Plover, Wisc.
- Natalie Nesburg, Madison, Wisc.
- Matthew Young, Rhinelander, Wisc.
Colin Szawlowski of Valley Spud, Hadley, Mass. — a 2024 graduate of the program — will join the group serving as the grower leader elected from the previous year.
Potato LEAF, a 501(c)3 organization, works to provide tools, training and support necessary to develop growers and industry members as leaders. As part of its mission to encourage and train future leaders, the organization said it seeks to support graduate-level researchers driving innovation within the potato industry.
