Applications are now being accepted for the 2008 Potato Industry Leadership Institute being held Feb. 20-28, 2008.
The Institute is an eight-day program designed to identify, develop and cultivate new leaders within the potato industry. The Institute focuses on leadership development, public policy, marketing, trade, team building, public communication, presentation skills and more.
Participants are selected through state organization nominations and a committee facilitated by the National Potato Council and the U.S. Potato Board, who jointly coordinate the program. The Institute receives a major sponsorship from Syngenta, who has long been committed to leadership development in agriculture.
The 2008 Institute will begin in the San Luis Valley in Colorado where participants will receive an overview of the U.S. potato industry, including domestic and international marketing. Tours of local production and processing will be held, in addition to exposure to the unique attributes of the growing area and market.
Participants will then head to Washington, D.C., where the focus will move to national legislative and regulatory priorities for the U.S. potato industry and skills training. Training sessions will include presentation skills, leadership development, media training and lobbying skills.
"If you have a passion for potatoes, the Leadership Institute is the best investment you will make," asserts Ernie Ford, a grower from the San Luis Valley, Colorado who was elected by the 2007 class to serve as the grower leader in 2008. "You'll be able to tell people how much passion you have for the industry and show them by leading us all into the future!"
If you are interested in participating in the 2008 Potato Industry Leadership Institute, contact the NPC or your local state organization. Applications are due Oct. 31, 2007.