b'NPPGA Delegation meet With Leadership AtDC Fly-InKickingoffthefirstfulldayonTuesday,attendeeswerejoinedbySharonBomerLauritsen,AssistantU.S.TradeRepresentativeforAgriculturalAffairsandCommodityPolicy,OfficeoftheU.S.TradeRepresentative, for a breakfast sessionfocusedontheadministrationsefforts to promote trade and U.S. agri-cultural exports.Laterthatmorning,PamMiller,AdministratorofUSDAsFoodandNutritionServices,joinedBethJohnson, Principal and CEO of Food (Lefttoright)NPPGAPresident,DonavonJohnson,NorthDakotaDirections, Inc., for a conversation on Reresentative. Kelly Armstrong, Tom Nilson of Nilson Farms and Casey Folsontheimportanceofthefederalnutri- of Folson Farms.tion programs and the role of pota- Thompson(R-Penn.),SenatorJohn (D-Wash.), Representative Kim Schriertoes within them. A panel on legisla- Hoeven (R-N.D.), Representative Dan (D-Wash.), and Chair of the House Agtive efforts to address the ag labor cri- Kildee (D-Mich.), and Representative Committee Collin Peterson (D-Minn).sisfollowedwithCharlieGarrison, Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.). PresidentoftheGarrisonGroup, During the following two days, atten-Diane Kurrle, Senior Vice President of Wrappingupthedayattheannual deesmetwithdozensofthe U.S. Apple Association, and Mary StandingUpForPotatoes Congressional, staff, and administra-Nowak,DirectorofGovernment CongressionalReception,attendees tionofficialstoadvocatefortheAffairsoftheNationalCouncilof were joined by Seator. Angus King (I- industrys policy priorities. FarmerCooperativesandAg Maine),RepresentativeRickLarsenWorkforce Coalition.AkeynotelunchsponsoredbySyngentafeaturedanaddressbyfamedpoliticalforecasterCharlieCook,editorandpublisherofTheCook Political Report and columnistfor the National Journal, who provid-ed the group an overview of the cur-rent political climate.Attendees then moved to the SenateHartBuildingtoheardirectlyfrommembersofCongress,includingSenatorJamesRisch(R-Idaho), (Left to right) Casey Folson of Folson Farms, Tom Nilson of Nilson Farms,RepresentativeGlenn"G.T." MinnesotaRepresentativeCollinPetersonandNPPGA President,DonavonJohnson.22 POTATO GROWER APRIL 2020'