Earlier this month, the Potato Leadership, Education, and Advancement Foundation, better known as Potato LEAF, announced the 2025 class of the potato industry’s Leadership Institute.  During the 10-day program, which runs February 19th through the 28th, 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 eventually traveling to Washington, D.C.  Additionally, participants will hear from public policy and communication experts and practice how to effectively deliver key messages.  And then the program wraps up with the class joining other growers from their state to educate members of Congress on U.S. potato industry policy priorities.

 

The 2025 Leadership Institute Class includes: 

  • Ryan Christensen, Grace, ID
  • Kristen Forster, Delco, ID
  • Andrew Mickelsen, Roberts, ID 
  • Cameron Skeen, Fruitland, ID 
  • William Toevs, Aberdeen, ID  
  • Nick Vincent, Boardman, OR 
  • Jordan Erickson, Eltopia, WA 
  • Athena Gates, Eltopia, WA 
  • Michael Rainis, Moses Lake, WA 
  • Kyle Beiriger, Mosca, CO 
  • Helen Smith, DelNorte, CO 
  • Adam Koch, St. Ansgar, IA 
  • Damon Wall, Indianapolis, IN 
  • Matthew McKenna, Washburn, ME 
  • Brice Walther, Schoolcraft, MI 
  • Alexandra Bare, Halsta, MI 
  • Stephen Hovan, Ronan, MT 
  • Landon Thomson, Grand Forks, ND 
  • Chris Gibson, Alliance, NE 
  • Michael Murphy, Malone, NY 
  • Travis Hahn, Bath, PA 
  • Erin Meister, Plover, WI 
  • Natalie Nesburg, Madison, WI 
  • Matthew Young, Rhinelander, WI 

 

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