May 2, 2018New crop of leaders receives NPC training
The weeklong workshop of classes, developed by the National Potato Council (NPC) and Potatoes USA, has become a training ground for future leaders of the potato industry and this year was no different.
The Potato Industry Leadership Institute (PILI) is an intense, seven-day immersion in all things related to the potato industry. Sponsored by Syngenta and Farm Credit, PILI begins with a guided tour, led by a grower leader, of a potato growing state for three days. Then the workshop moves to Washington, D.C., for a series of seminars on leadership, presentation skills, media training and how to advocate for agriculture issues on Capitol Hill.
The 2018 PILI class of 18 men and two women came from 11 potato-growing states.
Kory Hansen, of Nyssa, Oregon, said one of the best things he learned from this year’s PILI was how to mesh with other people.
“The way I approach talking to people. That’s the most important thing I learned, people skills,” Hansen said.
As a result of PILI he now has friends from all over the United States, he said.
“It was interesting the first night that we met we were sitting around talking and we noticed that the farming is the same whereever you go and we all have the same problems” Hansen said. “I made many friends from all across America.”
Paul McCormick, of Bliss, New York, said he enjoyed touring and seeing the potato industry in Colorado.
“There were some issues that the potato industry has there that I was not aware of,” McCormick said.
But it was the networking with his peers and everyone in the potato industry that he values most.
“The networking is fantastic,” he said. “From the people putting it on to the people just like me who joined. They’re all fantastic people and being able to connect with them has been one of the most valuable things.”
Karen Warsh of Denver, Colorado, is another graduate of the 2018 PILI. Warsh said the class taught her better communication skills.
Despite the long hours attending workshops and traveling, Warsh was adamant that PILI is worth the sacrifice.
“It’s an amazing experience, just go for it. It’s terrifying but it’s so worth it,” she said.
PILI is a demanding week of intensive workshops that take participants away from family and home. But the rewards include personal growth, new skill sets and an in-depth and better understanding of yourself, the people you work with and the potato industry.
And, most importantly, a network of peers for a lifetime. At least that’s the take away from graduates of the 2018 PILI.