Spud Team Six: Capstone Solutions for Industry Engagement

About this episode

The episode features a discussion with emerging leaders from the U.S. potato industry about their innovative capstone projects aimed at solving critical issues.

The 2025 Leadership Institute added a new layer of innovation with the introduction of capstone projects, requiring participants to identify and solve critical issues facing the U.S. potato industry. On this episode of Eye on Potatoes, we sit down with Michael Rainis of Friehe Farms, Mike Murphy of Childstock Farms, and Matthew McKenna of County Farms—the trio behind "SPUD Team Six." Fresh off their presentation on the main stage at Potato Expo 2026, these emerging leaders share their c...

People in this episode

Guests: Michael Rainis, Mike Murphy, Matthew McKenna

Topics covered

• leadership
• innovation
• potato industry
• capstone projects

Keywords

• Potato Expo 2026
• SPUD Team Six
• Friehe Farms
• Childstock Farms
• County Farms

Mentioned in this episode

Places: U.S.

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• A United Potato Front: The 2026 CEO Roundtable · April 30, 2026 · 23 min
• Leadership In the Field: Leadership Lessons from the Battlefield · April 17, 2026 · 21 min
• Wetter, Warmer, Wilder: How Weather Patterns Reshape Potato Farming · March 31, 2026 · 16 min
• Bridging the Optimism Gap: Insights from the Spud Sector Survey · March 5, 2026 · 34 min