Sherman Mills man to head spud board

PRESQUE ISLE – A 44-year-old Sherman Mills potato farmer was elected Friday as president of the Maine Potato Board during the agency’s annual organizational meeting.

Thomas Qualey, who has been farming for 23 years, produces 450 acres annually for the processing and seed segments of the industry.

Also elected as board officers were Seth Bradstreet III of Newport as vice president, Kendall Shaw of Fort Fairfield as secretary and David Whitaker of Presque Isle as treasurer.

As the new leader of the state’s largest agricultural industry, Qualey said he wants to keep the board moving toward the new trends in potato farming, such as in the processing field and the issues surrounding consistent quality.

In addition, improving the financial well-being of the potato farmer is a goal of Qualey’s during his tenure as president.

“I want to strive for the financial stability of the Aroostook County farmer,” the new president said during a brief interview after his election.

Qualey initially grew potatoes that were processed into chips, but left that part of the industry last year to join the french fry segment by becoming one of the newest contract growers for McCain Foods Inc.

“A new market opened up and we pursued it,” Qualey said.

The new president was scheduled to address growers and other industry officials during a banquet Friday night.

Also during the banquet, the industry’s Farmer of the Year, Jeffrey O. Smith of Mapleton, and the Young Farmer of the Year, Brian Lavertu of St. David, were scheduled to be honored by their colleagues.