Nine members appointed to Michigan Potato Industry Commission

Nine members have been appointed to the Michigan Potato Industry Commission. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced numerous board and commission appointments last month.

MPIC appointments include:

• Kali Bagley, of Waterford, is a general manager at Downey’s Potato Chips. Bagley previously worked as a partner in training at Finn Partners. Bagley holds a bachelor’s in communications and advertising from Michigan State University. Bagley, appointed to represent retailers for a term commencing July 10 and expiring July 1, 2028, succeeds Philip Gusmano, whose term has expired.
• Travis Horkey, of Dundee, is a partner at Horkey Brother Farms. Horkey holds a bachelor’s in agriculture from Michigan State University. Horkey is reappointed to represent the fresh potato industry for a term commencing July 10 and expiring July 1, 2028.
• Chase Young, of Howard City, is a partner at Sandyland Farms. Young, appointed to represent the fresh potato industry for a term commencing July 10 and expiring July 1, 2028, succeeds Ryan Norton, whose term has expired.
• Ryan Pelletier, of McMillan, is a farm manager at Walther Farms. Previously, Pelletier worked as a safety officer and quality control manager at K&K Industries. Pelletier, who holds a bachelor’s in science in crop and soil sciences from Michigan State University, is reappointed to represent the seed potato industry for a term commencing July 10 and expiring on July 1, 2028.
• Ryan Norton, of Vicksburg, is a farm manager at Walther Farms. Norton holds a bachelor’s in engineering and applied sciences from Western Michigan University. Norton, appointed to represent the fresh potato industry for a term commencing July 10 and expiring July 1, 2028, succeeds Jonathon Yoder, whose term has expired.
• Michael Phillips, of Portage, is a supply manager at Walther Farms. Phillips holds a bachelor’s in business administration in supply chain management from Western Michigan University. Phillips is reappointed to represent the snack potato industry for a term commencing July 10 and expiring July 1, 2028.
• John Makarewicz, of Elmira, is a partner at Marker Farms. John Makarewicz is appointed to represent the seed potato industry for a term commencing July 10 and expiring July 1, 2028. Makarewicz succeeds Mathew Skogman, whose term has expired.
• Ryan Johnson, of Tustin, is the owner of A.L. Johnson and Sons, a potato packing facility. Johnson holds a bachelor’s in business administration from Saginaw Valley State University. Johnson is reappointed to represent shippers for a term commencing July 10 and expiring July 1, 2028.
• Wayne Leep, of Martin, is the owner of County Line Potato Farms LLC, a fourth-generation family farm. Leep was appointed as an at-large commissioner for a term commencing Aug. 7 and expiring July 1, 2028. Leep succeeds Dale Johnson, whose term has expired.

“We are incredibly grateful to all the outgoing commissioners who stepped up to serve the Michigan potato sector,” Kelly Turner, MPIC executive director, said in a statement. “The potato industry is full of hard-working, dedicated and knowledgeable people, and their willingness to go above and beyond isn’t something to be taken for granted.”