American Falls Grower Again Leads
United States Potato Board International Marketing Efforts

DENVER—(March 25, 2008) Cheryl Koompin of American Falls, ID, was re-elected to serve on the United States Potato Board (USPB) Executive Committee at the organization’s 36th Annual Meeting, March 12-14, in Denver, CO. Koompin begins her second year as co-chairperson of the International Marketing program, which directs all activities aimed at increasing the exports of US potatoes and potato products.

Prior to her election to the USPB by fellow Idaho constituents in 2005, Koompin became involved in USPB programs by traveling to West Africa to help with a USPB International Food Aid Initiative project, teaching Senegalese people to prepare US dehydrated potatoes. This experience sparked a passion in Koompin. As she began her first term, she immediately began serving on the International Marketing Committee, continuing her involvement in the food aid program, including another training mission in one of the least-developed, food-deficit countries in the world, Burkina Faso.

Although Koompin’s focus has been predominately international, she explains how very impressed she is with all the USPB programs and strategies and how they are developed by a professional staff that listens to input from the industry. “I appreciate the time and effort the staff puts in and how their different committees work together for the benefit of all segments of the US potato industry.”

Koompin’s involvement in farming began in 1974, just after she married her husband, Klaren. He and his brother, Ken, partnered in the operation of Koompin Farms. In 1964, it was an 80-acre operation. Today, they farm over 11,000 acres, including 3,300 acres of commercial and seed potatoes, with rotations of sweet and feed corn, fresh peas, wheat, sugar beets, and alfalfa.

The Koompins have two sons, Kamren and Kael, both of whom are involved with the farm and plan to continue the third generation of Koompin farming in American Falls. Koompin’s husband Klaren is currently Vice President of Trade Affairs for the National Potato Council (NPC), and their oldest son, Kamren, has completed the Potato Industry Leadership Institute.

Koompin is also a member of the NPC Grower Relations Committee and served as past chairman of the NPC Scholarship Committee. Locally, she participates on the American Falls Education Foundation Committee.

Koompin has a Bachelor of Arts in Family and Consumer Sciences, with an emphasis in nutrition. She presents several “potato” workshops each year to public groups including dietetic and nutrition students at Idaho State University. Not only does she deliver the “healthy potato” message, but also shares the tasty and convenient recipes provided by the USPB while her audiences participate in hands-on cooking demonstrations. Koompin presented the same potato message in China and Japan this past year. Koompin also works part-time for the University of Idaho Extension System.

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