2025 Emerging Leader: Colin Szawlowski

COLIN SZAWLOWSKI

Owner/vice president of sales and management, Valley Spud/Barnwood Valley Farms

Hometown: Hadley, Massachusetts

Colin Szawlowski has accomplished a lot in his burgeoning potato industry career, but the highlight came just a few months ago.

Last November, Szawlowski, a fifth- generation farmer, was selected by the Potato Leadership, Education, and Advancement Foundation (Potato LEAF) as its 2025 Grower Leader after completing the 2024 Leadership Institute.

The foundation is the long-term funding source supporting leadership development and educational programs for the U.S. potato industry. Leadership program participants learn about local and national potato challenges and issues beyond the production sector and take tours of local agricultural businesses.

Each year, a Grower Leader from the previous class is selected to help guide incoming program participants.

“Everyone in the industry should go through this program, but getting picked (as) Grower Leader from that program, I would say, is truly my proudest moment in my career so far,” Szawlowski said.

There was never much doubt about the path Szawlowski’s career would take.

“My family has always owned a potato farm, so growing up in the industry sparked something which I realized would be my future career,” he said.

Working with his biggest influences, including his grandfather, father and two uncles, cemented that choice.

“My grandfather and my uncle have had a massive impact on who I am today,” Szawlowski said. “They were very similar. They really didn’t talk a lot, but when they did, you sure listened. I really don’t think I would be succeeding in the industry if it wasn’t for them.”