US: Potato program seeks ‘leaders of tomorrow’
Mark Szymanski, spokesman for the council, said the annual event receives “tremendous interest” from state potato organizations, which nominate growers to participate. Two at-large positions are offered for growers from states without potato organizations, he said. There are waiting lists for the program in each state.
The 2015 program, Feb. 19-26, will begin in Eastern Washington. Participants will go from Spokane to Grand Coulee Dam to the Columbia River system. They will fly from the Tri-Cities to Washington, D.C., Matt Harris, director of government affairs for the Washington State Potato Commission, said. Participants will receive training in lobbying and media relations.
“For any industry, it’s important to develop the leaders of tomorrow, especially in agriculture,” Szymanski said. “We have an ageing population and it’s vital for us to get new blood into the industry.”
The Washington, D.C., segment coincides with the council’s annual fly-in, Szymanski said.
Deadline for applications is Oct. 15. Registration forms and scholarship applications are available online.
For more information:
Marie Ruff
National Potato Council
Email: marier@nationalpotatocouncil.org