The National Potato Council (NPC) has appointed its 2025 Executive Committee leadership during its annual Washington Summit. At the meeting of the Voting Delegates, Ted Tschirky of Pasco, Washington, was elected as the new president for the next 12 months.
Tschirky, who previously served as NPC's first vice president and vice president of trade affairs, has been active in state and national potato associations for more than 20 years. A third-generation farmer from Washington's Columbia River basin, he was a member of the Washington State Potato Commission (WSPC) before taking on leadership roles within the NPC.
Reflecting on his experience in agricultural advocacy, Tschirky emphasized the importance of engaging with policymakers at both state and federal levels. He encouraged executive committee and board members to strengthen relationships with state representatives to ensure that lawmakers consider the impact of agricultural policies on the industry.
Tschirky's experience in farming began at age 18 with the Future Farmers of America, growing potatoes for Lamb Weston. His family's farming history dates back to his great-grandparents, who migrated from Switzerland and initially settled in Oregon. His father later established Washington Tschirky Farms in the 1950s, which now primarily produces potatoes for processing and includes a storage facility. Tschirky manages the business with his wife, Merideth, and their sons, Tyler and Dylan.
The newly elected executive committee includes Ben Sklarczyk of Johannesburg, Michigan, as first vice president and vice president of grower outreach and industry research, Chris Olsen of Othello, Washington, as vice president of environmental affairs, TJ Hall of Hoople, North Dakota, as vice president of finance, Dean Gibson of Paul, Idaho, as vice president of legislative affairs, and Brett Jensen of Idaho Falls, Idaho, as vice president of trade affairs. Bob Mattive of Monte Vista, Colorado, will serve as the immediate past president, and Kam Quarles, NPC's CEO, is a non-voting member.
The NPC, a grower-led organization, is managed by an executive committee and a board of directors that oversees operations and policy initiatives. Board members are appointed by the executive committee based on recommendations from state potato grower organizations and serve for one year.
The NPC Washington Summit, held from February 24-28, provided a platform for industry members to discuss and advocate for policies affecting potato growers. Key issues addressed included maintaining potatoes in federal nutrition programs, promoting fair trade agreements, and investing in agricultural research to support the long-term sustainability of the U.S. potato industry. During the summit, growers and industry stakeholders met with members of Congress and administration officials to highlight these priorities.
For more information:
Mark Szymanski
National Potato Council
Tel: +1 202.682.9456
Email: media@nationalpotatocouncil.org
www.nationalpotatocouncil.org