b'Potatoes USA Elects Leadership for 2019-2020PotatoesUSA,theMarketingandPromotionsBoardfortheU.S.potatoindustry,concludedits47thAnnualMeeting on March 14. During this meet-ing,anewBoardChairmanandExecutiveCommitteewereelectedtolead the industry for the coming year.PhilHickmanofHorntown,Virginiawill serve a one-year term as Chairman,making him the boards first ChairmanfromVirginia.HickmanbringsvastexperiencetotheChairmanrolebyactivelyservingonthePotatoesUSAboardfor11yearsandfarmingsince1974, when he and his brother beganDublinFarmsattheages20and22,respectively. Hickman grew up farmingon property that has been in his family Back: Jason Davenport of Arvin, California; Dan Moss of Declo, Idaho; Philforover100yearsandhasharvested Hickman of Horntown, Virginia; Heidi Randall of Friesland, Wisconsin; Jarenpotatoesondifferentportionsofthe Raybould of Saint Anthony, Idaho; and Sheldon Rockey of Center, Colorado.land every year. Front: Blair Richardson, Potatoes USA CEO; Chris Hansen of Bliss, New York;Steve Streich of Kalispell, Montana; Eric Schroeder of Antigo, Wisconsin; andSteve Elfering of Idaho Falls, Idaho. Not pictured: Marty Meyers of Boardman,My experience working on a small farm Oregon.gives me the ability to work well with SheldonRockeyofCenter,Colorado hopes to continue what Moss has doneeach region. This is going to be valuable andHeidiAlsum-RandallofFriesland, bestkeeping everyone in the industryasIworktogeteachregiontowork Wisconsin were re-elected to Co-Chair focused in the same direction. Hickmantogether on the common goal of build- the Industry Outreach Committee. mentioned one area of focus will be toingdemandforU.S.potatoes,said increase retail sales. Lastly, he conveyedHickman. Jaren Raybould of Saint Anthony, Idaho thatPotatoesUSAworkstogrowthewasre-electedandSteveElferingof entire U.S. potato industry.ThemajorityofthePotatoesUSA IdahoFalls,IdahowaselectedtoCo-Executive Committee remains the same ChairtheDomesticMarketing ThefactthatImChairmanshowsasthepreviousyear.Appointed Committee. Potatoes USA is for every farm, no mat-Executive Committee members are: ter the size or focus. The organizationChris Hansen of Bliss, New York and Eric works to help all aspects of the industryJasonDavenportofArvin,California Schroeder of Antigo, Wisconsin were re- andthatssomethingweneedtowas re-elected to Chair the Finance and electedtoCo-ChairtheResearch remember as we continue to move for-Policy Committee. Committee. ward, Hickman concluded.Marty Myers of Boardman, Oregon and InHickmansacceptancespeech,he Hickman is a graduate of Virginia TechSteve Streich of Kalispell, Montana were thanked outgoing Chairman, Dan Moss andhispassionoutsideofpotatoesisre-elected to Co-Chair the International ofDeclo,Idaho,forhistremendous Virginia Tech football.Marketing Committee. leadershipinthepotatoindustry.He28 POTATO GROWER MAY/JUNE 2019'