Meeting Minutes

December 2023

The Idaho Potato Commission met at the Eagle, ID office, on December 22, 2023. This meeting was also held by video conference. 

Paul Saito, Chairman

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Bryan Wada
Eric Jemmett
Brett Jensen
Daren Bitter
Mark Duncanson
Mark Darrington
Brian Jones
Mike Telford
Jamey Higham, President/CEO
Sam Eaton, VP Legal/Government Affairs 
Ross Johnson, VP Retail/International
Travis Blacker, VP Industry Relations 
Alan Kahn, VP Foodservice
Grayson Waldie, Accounting/Finance Manager
Jamie Bowen, Domestic Marketing Director

VISITORS:
Dennis Hardy, Ben Johnson, Melinda Stafford, Brad Carlson, Brody Miller, John Russell, Doug Gross, Mary Hasenoehrl, Danielle Brazil, Mike Thornton

VIDEO CONFERENCE:
Sue Kennedy, Shawn Boyle, Travis Jones, Jessica Stampe, Michael Parrella, Camron Hammond

CALL TO ORDER:
The meeting convened at 8:30 a.m., with Chairman Saito presiding. He welcomed everyone and went over the anti-trust agreement. 

MINUTES

MOTION:
Commissioner Wada made a motion to approve the October 25, 2023, minutes. Commissioner Jemmett seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

FINANCIAL REPORT: 
Mr. Waldie discussed receipts and expenditures for the November financials. For the month of November, Fresh revenue is at $594k, up $406k compared to last year. Processed is at $1.3 mil, up $109k. Total for the month of November is $1.6 mil, up $298k compared to last year. Year-to-date for Fresh is up $1.2 mil compared to last year and Processed is up $129k compared to 2023.  Total Year-to-date for Fresh and Processed is up $1.3 mil compared to last year.  Expenditures for November are at $1.5 mil vs $1.6 mil budget. Currently the reserve is $3.4 mil. Chairman Saito then asked for a motion to approve the November financials as presented if there were no further questions.

MOTION:
Commissioner Bitter made a motion to approve the November financials. Commissioner Wada seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

AUDIT REPORT: 
Chairman Saito passed the time over to IPC’s auditor, John Russell from Zwygart John & Associates Certified Public Accountants to review the 2023 audit report.  Mr. Russell explained IPC’s audit and summary of the following: end of year and comparisons, understanding the report, foot notes, vacation, pension, and other costs.  He reviewed the management and analysis report for IPC. Mr. Russell stated he found no issues with IPC’s financial reporting. He asked if there were any questions when he was finished, there were none.

MOTION:
Commissioner Bitter made a motion to accept the 2023 Audit report as presented. Commissioner Jemmett seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

CHAIRMANS COMMITTEE:
Chairman Saito called upon Mr. Eaton, who presented the following: A) UI Ag and Sciences Presentation by Michael Parrella to request funding from IPC for Nematologist in Parma; C) Farm Bill update; D) Legislative Session starts January 8th; E) Potato Drop at the Capitol on January 22.

MOTION:
Commissioner Darrington made a motion to approve UI funding for Nematologist at Parma Facility of $250k over 5 years. Commissioner Wada seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT:
Mr. Higham reported the following: A) Christmas Dinner; B) Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Game Schedule by Danielle Brazil; C) Spud Kings game December 30 in Idaho Falls; D) Idaho Potato Drop on NYE; E) E. ID Ag Expo and Potato School and Potato Expo; Legislative Dinner, January 23; F) Calendar Updates; G) Consumer/PR Update by Sue Kennedy.

RETAIL:
Commissioner Jones turned time over to Mr. Johnson who opened up discussion on Retail and the present crop and prices so far.  Mr. Johnson explained how the field representative’s goals with bin promotions and working with retailers.

EXPORT:
Commissioner Jones turned time over to Mr. Johnson who presented on the current Export budget and went over details of the proposal to add funding towards Export initiatives.

MOTION:
Commissioner Wada made a motion to approve additional Export funding of $500k. Commissioner Jones seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

MOTION:
Commissioner Jemmett made a motion to nominate IPC representative Randy Bauscher to the PVMI Institute. Commissioner Bitter seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.

LIASON REPORTS:

UNITED: 
Commissioner Jensen had nothing to report.

IGSA: 
Commissioner Jones turned time over to Shawn Boyle who reported on the following: A) Political Action Committee (PAC) reinstated and a brief history and details on the organization.

Other Items:  

Meeting adjourned at 11:55 a.m.