(NAFB.com) – The National Potato Council installed its 2026 roster of Executive Committee leaders during the group’s annual Washington Summit. Ben Sklarczyk  of Michigan is the Council’s new President for the next 12 months. He’s a third-generation grower and owns a hydroponic seed potato operation in his hometown of Johannesburg. A long-time advocate for the industry, Sklarczyk has been involved with the NPC since the early 2000s and joined the NPC Board of Directors in 2010. Before being elected President for 2026, he served for almost a decade on the Executive Committee, holding various leadership roles. As the new president, Sklarczyk said he’s committed to bringing strength and resilience to the potato industry. “Our agenda will include capitalizing on new federal dietary guidelines to promote potatoes as a staple of good health, ensuring fair trading practices for U.S. potatoes globally, and removing non-tariff barriers,” he said.