Potatoes USA is seeking board member nominations for 33 open seats for the 2025 term.
Those seats include representatives for Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming and a public member, according to a news release.
Potatoes USA says it is a national potato research and promotion organization and a central organizing force in implementing programs to strengthen potato demand. It provides the industry with ideas, information, tools and inspiration to unite and achieve common goals.
All state potato organizations soon will receive information and materials to begin the process of seeking and nominating interested growers. Those appointed to the board will be seated at the 2025 spring meeting in Denver, March 10-12.
Board member guidelines
Potatoes USA says it serves the good of both potato production regions and the organization by recruiting those who will take an active interest in participating on the board. A board member should communicate the interests of their production region to the board and carry the message of the board back to their farming community, according to the release.
Nominees should be willing to:
- Attend board meetings for the entirety of their term:
- Spring meeting — Held in Denver the second week in March.
- Summer meeting — Held in early August each year. The location changes each year.
- Winter meeting — Held alongside the Potato Expo, typically the first or second week in January. The location changes each year.
- Be active in the potato-farming community.
- Be visible in community work and participate in local government, cultural or business affairs — someone who is a leader.
- Be willing to represent and communicate with their constituents on a regular basis.
- Take the time to support Potatoes USA programs in their area.
- Speak to grower groups, newspaper reporters and interested parties about Potatoes USA programs, relating the value of the board to all growers, how the 3-cent per hundredweight assessment is invested and ask for input from those interested in becoming active in the promotion of potatoes.
Those interested in being considered by their state grower leadership to fill an open spot should contact their state program manager or Potatoes USA Executive Administrator Chelsea Gray at organization’s office in Denver at 303-873-2332 or chelsea@potatoesusa.com.
The nominating process will be completed by Aug. 15, 2024, the release said.
