Potato LEAF program cultivates industry leadership

The potato industry thrives on a long-term vision that extends well past the next harvest. Families manage their land and water resources today so they can pass down strong, sustainable operations to the next generation.

The Potato Leadership, Education, and Advancement Foundation, or Potato LEAF, adopts this same mindset by investing in the most valuable part of any farming business: its people.

This January marked six years of cultivating fresh leadership for the U.S. potato industry. Our core mission stands firm even as we refine our strategies to help growers navigate the shifting landscape of modern agriculture.

As an evolving organization, we take pride in expanding our hands-on learning programs and sharpening our curriculum to better serve the needs of farmers.

Leadership Institute Capstone Project

For 24 years, the Leadership Institute has provided an intensive 10-day immersion into the potato value chain. Participants receive professional development training that ranges from touring production facilities to engaging on policy priorities on Capitol Hill during the NPC Washington Summit.

We recognized that the true value of this leadership training comes through direct application, which led us to create the Capstone Project as a formal part of the institute in 2025.

This new initiative challenges class members to take the skills they acquire in media relations and policy analysis and use them for high-impact projects within their own operations. By integrating this capstone experience, we ensure that the lessons learned in Washington, D.C., result in practical benefits back home on the farm.

Leadership in the field

While the Leadership Institute focuses on industry advocacy, our Leadership in the Field program emphasizes personal has provided an intensive 10-day development through unique historical perspectives.

The now-annual program takes place at the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania and utilizes the resources of that revered battlefield to facilitate experiential teaching. We believe that the stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things at Gettysburg offer profound lessons for modern agriculture.

The curriculum focuses on essential traits such as character, communication and strategic thinking under immense pressure. Growers also learn about humility, flexibility, resilience and accountability, which are all qualities required to manage a successful farming operation.

Past participants have described the experience as the most relatable training they have ever received because it combines historical knowledge with practical leadership growth.

Academic scholarship

Beyond the field and the future generations leading potato organizations, we also invest in those who may discover the next great breakthroughs for our industry.

Each year, Potato LEAF presents a $10,000 academic scholarship to a graduate student whose research promises to benefit U.S. potato production.

We select winners through an evaluation of academic excellence, leadership skills and the commercial potential of their studies. By supporting these talented individuals, we ensure that science and innovation continue to drive our industry forward.

The success of these educational programs depends entirely on the continued support of our industry partners. From the annual live auction at Potato Expo to our recurring individual and business contributors, the funds we raise help us build a foundation for a stronger, more connected U.S. potato industry.

As we look toward the next year of training under the guidance of newly elected Grower Leader Anthony Hart, we remain committed to providing the professional development necessary to stand up for potatoes. Leadership development secures the future of the farm just as surely as healthy soil produces a crop, and we invite everyone in the industry to join us in this vital mission.

Learn more and get involved at pleaf.org.

Mike Wenkel is vice president and secretary/treasurer of Potato LEAF.

Contributing Writer