USDA Appoints 24 Members to Potatoes USA’s Board of Directors

DENVER, CO — April 16, 2026 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the appointment of 24 members to Potatoes USA’s Board of Directors, effective immediately. Twenty members will serve three-year terms ending February 28, 2029, and four members will serve two-year terms ending February 28, 2028.

The nomination process for board members is conducted annually. Candidates are proposed by the industry and are appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture after a thorough review. The Board of Directors has 90 member positions, including 79 producers, two importers, and one public member.

The Potatoes USA Board of Directors guides the organization’s efforts to promote and support the potato industry. The Board sets strategic objectives for the organization and allocates resources to various marketing, research, and education initiatives. It also monitors the programs’ performance and makes adjustments as necessary to ensure the work is effective and impactful for the potato industry, including growers, processors, and other stakeholders.

New Board Members

• M. Keith Barrett, Muleshoe, Texas
• Richard Bernstein, Freeland, Md.
• Chelsea Blachford, Baker City, Ore.
• Tara Cunningham, Mount Vernon, Wash. (two-year term)
• Jacalynn Gumz, Endeavor, Wis.
• Leah Halverson, Grand Forks, N.D. (two-year term)
• Andrew Hyer, Moses Lake, Wash.
• Kenneth V Irving, Caribou, Maine
• Justin Kyllo, Larimore, N.D.
• Brian Meisner, Holyoke, Colo.
• Austin Moss, Rupert, Idaho
• Mike Phillips, Three Rivers, Mich.
• Mia Reed, Pasco, Wash.
• Jay Savage, Walpole, N.H. (two-year term)
• Ryan Tucker, Shelbyville, Mich.
• Laurie Widdowson, Kearney, Neb. (two-year term)
• Mike Wollman, Warden, Wash.

Returning Board Members

• Trever Belnap Lewisville, Idaho
• James Corneillie, Williams, Minn.
• Sander Dagen, Karlstad, Minn.
• Rhonda Kleyn, Quincy, Wash.
• David Masser, Sacramento, Pa.
• David Mundt, Firth, Idaho
• Levi Clayton Underwood, Pasco, Wash.

More information about Potatoes USA’s board can be found at PotatoesUSA.com or USDA Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS) National Potato Promotion Board webpage.

About Potatoes USA

As representatives of U.S. potato growers and importers, Potatoes USA’s mission is to strengthen the demand for potatoes through marketing and research. By launching impactful marketing campaigns; coordinating regional, national, and international market and production research; and establishing new trade markets, Potatoes USA promotes the benefits of potatoes to audiences across the globe, including consumers, foodservice operators, retailers, and health professionals. For more information on America’s Favorite Vegetable, please visit PotatoGoodness.com and PotatoesUSA.com.

Contacts

me***@*********sa.com