This article appears in the January 2017 issue of Potato Grower.
When United Potato Growers of America announced on Aug. 23 that Jerry Wright, the organization’s president and CEO since December 2011, would be retiring, a press release stated that Wright would continue in his role until the board of directors had found “a suitable replacement.” Wright was the original president of United Potato Growers of Idaho when that organization was founded in early 2005, and took on the job at United of America in 2011.
On Nov. 16, the board unanimously voted to name Mark Klompien, who had been serving as president of the Idaho Grower Shippers Association (IGSA), United’s new president and CEO—certainly a more-than-suitable replacement. Klompien will continue to live and be based in Idaho Falls, Idaho while making regular trips to United headquarters in Salt Lake City.
Both Klompien and Wright are long-time friends of Potato Grower, and we had the opportunity to sit down with each of them in advance of Klompien’s officially taking the reins of United Dec. 1.
Mark Klompien
What’s your background in the potato industry?
I loved potatoes since growing up on my dad’s seed potato farm in the Gallatin Valley. I got a bachelor’s in ag engineering at Montana State University. When I got out of college, my parents gave me some really good advice. They said, “If you just come back to the farm, you’ll stay there, and that’s fine. But if you like something else, we encourage you to try something else out in the world and test it out.”
I went to work for Lamb Weston and was there about six years. An opportunity came up in 1993 with Basic American Foods in their engineering group. I took it, and spent the next 18 years of my life at Basic. Then I’ve spent the last five years at IGSA, which has been great.
What has Jerry done with United that you’d like to build on?
Jerry’s legacy, in my mind, is putting out information to growers to help them make informed decisions for the success of their own operations. The world of the grower has changed significantly over the last 20 years, not the least of which is the growth of technology. One of the outcomes of that technology is that growers are much more efficient and are really good at what they do. As buyers have consolidated and grown, United has provided growers an opportunity to collaborate and have the best data and knowledge to make the best economic decisions for their operations.
I hope to continue that. Obviously, we’d like to grow the membership of United. The more growers we can provide with this information, the more are working together and making decisions based on what’s good for all of them.
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing United?
Some growers, honestly, probably haven’t heard the information in a way that makes sense to them. The key is to bring that message to the growers in a positive way and help them understand it’s for their long-term sustainability and that it benefits grower returns.
Growers, by nature, are an independent lot. That independence is great; it’s part of the spirit of what drives these agricultural people. Without taking that away, we need to show there is in fact a way to keep that independent spirit but also have the information they need in a collaborative way to benefit their returns.
My whole premise is this: The overall health of the entire potato industry—frozen, dehydrators, fresh-packing sheds, chemicals, equipment—depends on a healthy grower base, and that starts with healthy returns. For growers to get in a room and talk about these kinds of things, they’ve really got to set egos aside. If they can do that, they will get healthy returns.
Jerry Wright
What do you hope to leave as a legacy at United?
We’ve been able to do to effect change in the industry. Some of the key things were the creation of a true fresh potato database. I feel like what we’ve done is educate the entire industry on the value of accurate data. We’ve helped educate the average potato grower on supply-demand economics. Today, they understand the impact of supply and demand, and balance supply in their individual markets, and are able to make more informed decisions with the data so they can manage their own prosperity.
One legacy I’m grateful to leave in the industry is a better understanding of how regional supply-demand economics actually work to give growers power to manage their own destiny.
What we’ve done is provide everyone a reliable, accurate database and understanding of supply and demand. We’ve helped each area regionally understand those dynamics for their areas. They’ve been able to balance their supply with demand in many areas, and it’s contributed to improved prosperity and stability in the potato industry.
Do you feel like the grower population is getting learning from this information?
The grower population in general has grown in their understanding and use of the data. They’re definitely getting it. In some areas, growers not only get the data, they use the data and make business decisions based on it, and it shows in their returns.
It’s one thing to have data. Anyone can look at numbers. It’s what you do with the numbers that makes a difference.
Why do you think United has been a success?
I wouldn’t for a moment take pride of authorship or accolades for United. There was a core group of Idaho and another core group across the country that got the vision. They were the ones that did it. It wasn’t anything Jerry Wright did. From its start, it was a true grower-driven movement. Even today, in areas that prosper, it is a grower-driven movement and process that has become a strategy.
What are your plans after Untied?
I chose to retire because I’ve been called to serve as a full-time missionary for the LDS Church. I’m called to serve in Project Self-Reliance, a church-wide program focused on eliminating poverty worldwide. I’m involved in job creation initiatives worldwide and a new process the church has launched worldwide on helping members start small businesses.
As I leave the potato industry, I’m able to build upon the last 10 years I’ve spent in the potato industry to work with people worldwide to improve their lives. It’s already been very, very rewarding for me.