“Po-tay-to. Po-tah-to!”

As my year anniversary with CPAC is nearing (not sure how that’s possible…) and I can’t shy away from conversation with the excuse that “I just started” (even though I try… oops!), I am slowly becoming more confident in my “Potato knowledge”. Personally, I find it rather comical that I have been so uncertain about an industry that essentially raised me… Since I was 10, every summer I was on the farm with my dad; spraying and pulling weeds, renozzling sprinklers, riding in the farm truck, and “learning” all about Coors barley and Colorado Potatoes. I vividly remember how annoyed I was to be waking up so early on summer days to spray weeds or how cool I thought it was to get sunburned (every. single. day…), little did I know that those early mornings and aloe vera baths would be the beginning of a promising career (hopefully…). I will be completely honest, I never thought I would be professional in the ag industry, I was certain that my agricultural portfolio would remain small and consist of mainly “farm laborer”.

After (almost) a year, I am finally confident enough to be excited when people ask questions about Colorado Potatoes, instead of being anxious and extremely nervous! I remember feeling confident and knowledgeable about Colorado Potatoes, when I accepted my position… Nonchalantly walking into the office on Monday, May 7, 2018, foolishly believing I knew the industry and my job was going to be a “walk in the park”. One of the advantages I have had as the Marketing Administrative Assistant for CPAC is that I have been able to learn the industry from a whole new angle. A year ago, I knew the industry as a grower’s daughter (kind of from a grower P.O.V., if you will) and as a consumer. Total disclaimer: I think I purchased potatoes from a grocery store one time; it was an emergency and I needed them STAT but otherwise, I always had potatoes delivered by my dad or mom… (Perks of having family in the industry…) Learning about the Potato Community from a marketing standpoint has been a complete game changer!

I have had the opportunity to learn an immense amount from Linda, Jim and Dianna in my office, growers, national boards (i.e. Potatoes USA, National Potato Council, etc.) and many others. This last Friday afternoon I had three high school senior students from Bear Creek High School come to my office as part of their Senior Field Studies course. As part of their course they get to spend a week on a farm– just so happens that these three girls were staying with a grower family (my cousins) in our growing area! My Uncle Mike brought them by the office, in hopes that Linda and I could share some potato information with them… and that’s when it hit me! I can talk Colorado Potatoes! Do I have all the knowledge? Absolutely not. Will I tell you everything I DO know? Gladly! If you ask me a question I don’t have the answer for, will I do my research and get back to you with an answer? Definitely. Friday afternoon, I got so excited to discuss my job, the industry and honestly answer the questions that they may have. It was such a successful conversation (for me, anyways…), because in that moment I learned so much about myself. I know Colorado Potatoes! I LOVE my job, honestly! And, I am so excited to continue learning and growing in my position at CPAC.

This past year has completely flown by; I’m sad to not be the “new girl” anymore, but I’m so excited to continue paving my way through the industry.

Catch ya on the flip!

Jess

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work.“