Growing Together: Dennis Wright

Dennis Wright didn’t grow up on a family farm, but as the oldest of 12 kids, he always knew he wanted to live somewhere he could work outside. Dennis is now general manager at AgriNorthwest in Kennewick, Washington, which grows russet potatoes for processing.

He started his career studying geology before earning a master’s degree in soil science at Utah State University, where his research helped NASA analyze earth satellite imagery.

From there, Dennis earned his master’s in business administration and left Utah for Washington state, where he interned with AgriNorthwest, helping operate an apple orchard and potato farm.

Though he was still passionate about working outdoors, Dennis decided after his internship that he wanted to prove himself in business. He got a job as a financial analyst at a mid-size regional bank in Salt Lake City, working through the challenging days of the 2008 housing crisis.

“After five years, I decided it was time to take the tie off and get out of city,” he said. “I went down to California to manage an almond orchard, and I did that for three years. We raised 1% of the world’s almonds. I worked with great people. I learned Spanish.

“Then I went to Texas and managed crops for an organic dairy farm. They had no farm team, so they said, ‘whatever you need, get the equipment, get the people.’ I did that for five years, and then AgriNorthwest had a position open, and now I’ve been here six years.”

Dennis enjoys collaborating with others in the industry, including a stint on the Executive Committee of Potatoes USA.

“Potatoes USA, of course, helps us strengthen demand for potatoes,” he said. “But just as important is the opportunity to get the growers together. You don’t find better people than farmers, and there’s something about getting an entire industry together in a room to work out problems and share insights. It helps us all.”

In addition to Potatoes USA, Dennis serves on a local climate committee for his county and works on sustainability projects with AgriNorthwest to calculate the company’s carbon footprint and practice as much regenerative agriculture as possible.

“I’ve always loved the land,” he said. “Getting out there and feeling the air and nature. Working in farming, you’re turning sunlight and water into food for millions of people. It doesn’t get much more sustainable and green than that.”

Dennis’ favorite way to eat potatoes is his homemade potato pancakes, which he makes for his family every Saturday morning. His recipe involves grating potatoes (he recommends getting the water out); adding onions, an egg, salt, and pepper; and frying in olive oil. He gets the potatoes and onions right off the farm.

Dennis and his wife have six kids, three of whom still live at home. When he isn’t working, he likes to go rock hunting with his son or hunting for deer and pheasants near the farm. He also enjoys photography, especially trying to capture the beauty of the farm and sharing it with others.