Chieftain was released jointly by the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station and the USDA in 1966. It was tested as Iowa 57410. It is the result of the cross between La 1354 and Ia 1027-18. Chieftain has medium maturity, high yield potential and attractive tuber type. It is widely adapted.
Plants are medium to large and spreading.
Stems are medium green without other pigmentation, having nodes the same diameter as the stem with prominent wings. Leaves are dark green, slightly pubescent with numerous secondary leaflets. Flowers are light violet, anthers are yellow, with a moderate amount of fertile pollen. Tubers are oblong to round, medium thick with a smooth, medium red skin and white flesh. Eyes are shallow and well distributed on tubers.