The Potato Leadership, Education, and Advancement Foundation (Potato LEAF) is excited to announce that applications are now being accepted for the 2026 “Leadership in the Field: From Battlefield to Potato Field” program, held July 13-16, 2026, at the Gettysburg National Military Park in Gettysburg, Pa.
Throughout the program, in cooperation with the Gettysburg Foundation, participants learn about the elements of the battle as they visit various areas of the battlefield and how ordinary people were asked to do extraordinary things that impacted the war.
The Battle of Gettysburg offers a robust case for the study of leadership: the complexity of battle, the size of the opposing armies, and the wide spectrum of personalities represented by the military leadership and civilians offer a wide range of perspectives. Character, communication, team building, humility, flexibility, resilience, strategic or visionary thinking, problem-solving under pressure, and accountability are just a few of the many lessons for which experiential learning at Gettysburg is effective.
What 2025 “Leadership in the Field” participants are saying:
Kali Bagley (Waterford, Mich.) with Downey’s Potato Chips
“This was truly an unforgettable experience that changed who I will be as a leader for the rest of my career and life. Since finishing the program, I have considered or actively used knowledge and teachings that I learned from the program nearly every single day and my goal is to continue to do so that I may shape and improve my leadership style daily thanks to the takeaways from this program. Without a second thought, I would recommend anyone aspiring to be the best leader that they possibly can be to complete this program.”
Tim Kunze (Indianapolis, Ind.) with Black Gold Farms
“The program is by far one of the most engaging Leadership programs I have attended. It’s surprising to see how a battle that took place over 160 years ago still resonates with the challenges we all face in our operations today.”
Applications are being accepted through March 6, 2026, and open to anyone in the U.S. potato industry. Participants will be selected with preference given to individuals who have participated in leadership programs and are currently serving or have served in industry leadership roles.
The fee for selected participants is $2,100, which includes all programming by Licensed Battlefield Guides, most meals, and lodging at the Gettysburg Hotel in downtown Gettysburg. The cost of travel is not included in the program fees.
