WSU PhD CANDIDATE HANNAH JOHNSON NAMED RECIPIENT OF POTATO LEAF 2025-26 ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP

Washington State University Ph. D. candidate, Hannah Johnson, is the recipient of the Potato Leadership, Education, and Advancement Foundation’s (Potato LEAF) 2025-26 academic scholarship. Annually, this $10,000.00 scholarship is awarded to a graduate student whose research provides advancements in the United States potato industry. Potato LEAF bases their decision on academic achievement, leadership attributes, extracurricular activities, grades, and potato related research and its benefit and commercial value to the potato industry.  In her research, Johnson aimed to improve potato development and stand uniformity by focusing on the relationship between in-season production practices and tuber dormancy. To minimize market loss, especially in regard to exports, Johnson has researched how to extend the sprout free period of stored potatoes.

Hannah Johnson earned her Master of Science in Crop and Soil Science from Michigan State University graduating with a 4.0 GPA. She has a Bachelor of Science in Crop Science and Minors in Agricultural Business and Entomology from Montana State University. Johnson also worked at Strohauer Farms as an agronomist assistant and interned at Walther Farms and CSS Farms. Johnson holds memberships with the Potato Association of America, Weed Science Society of America, and the North Central Weed Science Society.