b'The Times They are A-changin by Ted Kreis, NPPGA Marketing and Communications Directorgive my back a break and use someoperators. They are all good, hard-ofthecommunicationskillsIhadworking people and among them I learned in college many years earli- havemadesomelifelongfriend-er. ships. Duane felt the combination of myThe Red River Valley truly produces education and my work experiencethe best tasting red potatoes in the qualified me for this job, so he gaveworld, so promoting them has come that 50-year-old man a chance, andfromtheheartforme.Thankyou forthatIwillforeverbegrateful.growers, for giving me that opportu-Thank you Duane!nity.ThishasbeenthebestjobIhaveThe times they are a-changin as Bob ever had, hands down.The travel toDylan once wrote, and nowhere is tradeshowsandconferenceshasthat more true than here at NPPGA, Justafewmonthsago,IhelpedallowedmetovisitmanyplacesIso stay tuned. writeanarticleannouncingthewouldnothaveotherwiseexperi-retirementofDianePeycke,enced.ButthemostrewardingSo long everyoneand thank you! NPPGAslongtimeFinanceandaspect of this job has been working OperationsDirectorfor35years.withthegrowersandwashplant NowIamannouncinganother retirementmy own.By the end of this year, I will not be coming into this old, homey office building every day as I have for the past 17 plus years, and that will be very bittersweet.I may continue to doafewthingsremotelyforthe associationandthefreshgrowers co-op, but on a very limited basis.At age 67, its time to slow down and relax more.FormerNPPGAPresidentDuane Maatz hired me way back in August of 2004.After working in retail pro- Here I am at my very first trade show, the PMA Fresh Summit in Anaheim in duce for many years, it was time to2004.4 POTATO GROWER NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021'