Educational Sessions at Potato Expo 2026

Retired Marine Corps Colonel Rob Abbott is a Licensed Battlefield Guide specializing in battlefield studies and leadership. He has conducted seminars for the U.S. Military, U.S. Forest Service, First Responders, as well as annual staff rides for Princeton and George Mason Universities. 

Rob taught military history, strategy and leadership for the U.S. Marine Corps Command and Staff College and Counterinsurgency and Interagency Coordination for the Marine Corps Small Wars Center in Quantico, Va. He has led from the platoon to regimental level and is a combat veteran of Desert Storm, Somalia and Iraq.

3:40-4:10pm Wednesday, Jan. 7 

Cultivation Stage 

 For the past couple of years, the Leadership, Education, and Advancement Foundation’s (Potato LEAF) has developed a new leadership program entitled Leadership in the Field: From Battlefield to Potato Field. 

Join Federally Licensed Gettysburg Battlefield Guide and Marine Corps Colonel Rob Abbott (USMC retired) has he discusses the mental health challenges as faced by Civil War Soldiers. The talk is about 30 minutes and will begin with the Gettysburg Battlefield. The talk will discuss how Soldiers dealt with what we know now as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 

Rob will relate his personal experience and offer suggestions on how to move forward. 

11:30am-12:00pm Thursday, Jan. 8 

Cultivation Stage 

  For the past couple of years, the Leadership, Education, and Advancement Foundation’s (Potato LEAF) has developed a new leadership program entitled Leadership in the Field: From Battlefield to Potato Field. 

Join Federally Licensed Gettysburg Battlefield Guide and Marine Corps Colonel Rob Abbott (USMC retired) as he discusses leadership succession on the battlefield and how these lessons and techniques may enhance your succession. The talk is about 30 minutes and will place the July 1863 Gettysburg battle in context, cite a few historical instances of battlefield succession and discuss ways in which you can prepare your team.

Mike Wenkel is the Chief Operating Officer of the National Potato Council where his responsibilities include overseeing the day-to-day operations for the organization as it works to represent the interest of the U.S. potato industry in Washington, D.C. 

He manages operations of the Potato Leadership, Education, and Advancement Foundation (Potato LEAF) that provides leadership development opportunities within the U.S. potato industry including the long-standing Leadership Institute and the new Leadership in the Field program.

Wenkel holds designations as a Certified Association Executive and as a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach. He currently serves as the treasurer of the Minor Crop Farmer Alliance and Vice Chair of the Potato Sustainability Alliance.

1:00-1:30pm Thursday, Jan. 8 

Cultivation Stage 

Employees make decisions and take actions every day that can affect your workforce and organization. Yet, only 32 percent of the employees in the U.S. are engaged, 23 percent worldwide.  

During this session you will be introduced to Gallup's framework to improve employee engagement, increase productivity and profitability while reducing absenteeism, turnover, and accidents.

 2:20-2:50pm Thursday, Jan. 8 

Cultivation Stage 

People often focus on becoming competent in their areas of weakness, but despite all efforts they never become exceptional. In a strength-based culture people instead invest in improving their areas of talent, allowing them to excel in their career and life.

During this session participants will be introduced to the principles of a strengths-based culture and provided with tools to identify their talents and ways to perform at their best.