Bob Mattive of Colorado Elected National Potato Council President

The National Potato Council (NPC) installed its 2024 roster of Executive Committee members last week at the organization’s annual Washington Summit. During the Annual Meeting of the Voting Delegates, Bob Mattive of Monte Vista, Colorado, was elected to serve as the Council’s President for the next 12 months.

Having grown up on a small farm in Brighton, Colorado, Mattive began taking on leadership roles in high school – as class president and president of the 4H Club.

Now, the partner of Worley Family Farms, LLLP, in Monte Vista, will continue to serve the industry in his newly appointed role as President of the National Potato Council.

Mattive, who most recently served as NPC’s First Vice President and Vice President of Environmental Affairs, was elected to a one-year term on February 26, 2024.

Bob Mattive:
 

"I’ve always been interested in environmental issues and legislative affairs."

His involvement with the federal policy-focused organization brought about a national perspective and he served on different NPC committees throughout the years. Mattive also serves on several Colorado agricultural committees and boards.

Bob Mattive:
 

"I’ve learned a lot and I know we have to work hard and work together to keep relevant, educate the next generation, and continue advocating on behalf of our growers and industry partners."

Mattive became a part of the fourth-generation Worley Family Farms when he and his wife Gail (Worley) were invited by her father to join the operation in 1982. When he started farming with his father-in-law, the operation raised about 500 acres of potatoes.

Today, the farm raises around 1,800-1,900 acres of potatoes and 2,000 acres of other crops. The business is now also co-managed by their sons Grant and Reid and nephew Matthew Smartt.

Bob Mattive:
 

"As with most industries, technology has become a large part of our organization. We irrigate all of our acreage with computerized center pivot irrigation systems and utilize GPS operating systems in most of our tractors and other equipment."

The full NPC Executive Committee roster includes:
 

• President – Bob Mattive, Monte Vista, Colorado
• First Vice President and Vice President, Trade Affairs – Ted Tschirky, Pasco, Washington
• Vice President, Legislative Affairs – Dean Gibson, Paul, Idaho
• Vice President, Environmental Affairs – Ben Sklarczyk, Johannesburg, Michigan
• Vice President, Finance and Office Procedures – TJ Hall, Hoople, North Dakota
• Vice President, Grower Outreach and Industry Research – Chris Olsen, Othello, Washington
• Immediate Past President – RJ Andrus, Idaho Falls, Idaho

From left to right: Ted Tschirky, Dean Gibson, Ben Sklarczyk, Chris Olsen, RJ Andrus, TJ Hall, and Bob Mattive (Courtesy: National Potato Council)

As a grower-led organization, NPC is managed by an Executive Committee and Board of Directors, which oversees its operations and provides guidance on its policy activities. Board members are appointed by the Executive Committee from recommendations submitted by state potato grower organizations and hold office for one calendar year. 

NPC is the voice of U.S. potato growers and industry members in our nation’s capital. NPC protects potato growers’ interests in Washington, D.C. by addressing issues that affect the potato industry, from policy issues debated in Congress to regulatory issues proposed by federal agencies. The complete list of Executive Committee and Board of Directors may be found here .

The NPC 2024 Washington Summit is a forum for potato industry members to discuss, define, and advocate for the policy priorities impacting their businesses and protecting their ability to farm.

From February 26 – March 1, growers and industry stakeholders took the results from its latest economic impact study, "The Current and Potential Impact of Expanded Potato Exports,"to Members of Congress and the administration to advocate for issues such as keeping potatoes in federal nutrition programs, promoting free and fair-trade agreements, and protecting tax policies that support the long-term health of family-owned farming operations.