Potato Leadership Institue

2014 POTATO INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE February 20-27, 2014 TBD and Washington, D.C. Applications are due October 15, 2013. Scholarship applications are due October 15, 2013. Forms can be found below.

Cultivating Future Leaders

The Potato Industry Leadership Institute (PILI) provides tools to grow as leaders and motivates growers to commit their time and energy to the betterment of the potato industry. The Leadership Institute is an eight-day program that provides an overview of the potato industry, the challenges and issues beyond the production sector, and the roles of the industry's state and national organizations in maintaining a positive business climate for potato growers.

This Leadership Institute takes participants to a growing region to conduct in-depth discussions with upper management on key industry issues, and then concludes in Washington D.C. for an overview of public policy issues and lobbying training.

Institute graduates are one of the industry's greatest assets. Participants develop a broad understanding of the industry and a common bond that is envisioned to be a wellspring of leadership for the industry. Many important and complex decisions lie ahead for the industry. By creating this leadership base today, the industry is investing wisely in its future.

The Potato Industry Leadership Institute is a join venture of the National Potato Council and the U.S. Potato Board and is sponsored by Syngenta.

Grower-Leaders

At the conclusion of each year's class, participants elect one of their classmates to serve as the Grower-Leader for the next year's class. This Grower-Leader then attends the following year's session, serving as a mentor to the new class, while also assisting United States Potato Board (USPB) and National Potato Council (NPC) staff throughout the Institute.

Below are those who have served as Grower-Leaders of the PILI.

2013            Eric Schroeder, Wisconsin           eric@sbfi.biz 

2012             Grant Morris, Washington             grantmorris@live.com

2011              Rex Calloway, Washington             rmcalloway@aspeedynet.net

2010             Nick Johnson, Washington             nick@johnsonag.com

2009             Eric Halverson, North Dakota             erich@blackgoldpotato.com

2008             Ernie Ford, Colorado             sunnyvalleyfarms@amigo.net

2007             Matt Porter, Maine             porterfarmsinc@yahoo.com

2006             Ralph Child, New York             childstockfarms@verizon.net

2005              John Meyer, New York             jmeyer8008@aol.com

2004              George Cariveau, Minnesota             geofarms@aol.com

2013 Potato Industry Leadership Institute

Over Feb. 21-28, PILI participants traveled from all sections of the country to Idaho Falls, Idaho, where they received an overview of the local and national potato industry, including some of the challenges and issues beyond the production sector.

USPB President Tim O'Connor provided attendees with a market and consumer overview and talked about some of the exciting international export opportunities the industry is working to open. Participants then had a chance to tour Wilcox Fresh, a local production and packing facility located in Rexburg, Pleasant Valley Potatoes, a fresh pack shed located in Aberdeen, visit the processing facilities of Lamb Weston and Idahoan Foods, and see potato equipment manufacturing at Spudnik's plant in Blackfoot.

During the second half of the program, Leadership Institute attendees traded in their jeans and boots for suits and ties and flew to Washington, D.C., for sessions on lobbying and media training, and business etiquette. The class also participated in team building exercises, including the Iron "Potato" Chef Competition, where each team was given a pantry list and was challenged to prepare a nutritious, creative, and satisfying meal that included potatoes and chicken in one hour.

Attendees joined in the discussions on public policy taking place at NPC's Potato D.C. Fly-In, where they learned about the legislative and regulatory priorities of the U.S. potato industry. The program finished with a day of lobbying visits with member offices on Capitol Hill, where participants joined their state grower delegations in town for the Fly-In in advocating for policies that will improve the long-term health of the industry.