Ag Proud – Idaho would like for you to meet Jessica Windh.

On Nov. 15, the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) hosted its annual Big Idaho Potato Harvest Meeting in Idaho Falls. The “state of the industry” meeting welcomed growers, packers and processors from across the state gathered to network and learn about how the larger industry affects their operations and vice versa.

Trent Van Leuven, agriscience instructor and FFA advisor at Mackay Junior/Senior High School, was named 2024 CapEd Credit Union Idaho Teacher of the Year.

The 2023 National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, concluded in early November, with several noteworthy achievements from Idaho students.

“I think they took away with them an understanding of how much we value every drop of water. Runoff risk is a major concern of the EPA and the ability of Idaho producers to utilize every drop of water via ponds, irrigation systems [drip irrigation], tailwater collection and recovery systems, or other methods, seemed to fascinate the EPA representatives.”

Idaho again placed No. 1 in barley production in the U.S., at 60.48 million bushels, a 1% increase over 2022 production.

Idaho was again ranked as the No. 1 state in U.S. potato production, according to the USDA Annual Potato Summary for 2022, released in September.