If you’re in Skagway Saturday, keep your eyes peeled for a 28-foot-long, 10-foot-wide, and 11.5-foot-tall potato that will pass through town on the community’s first-ever Idaho Potato Day. The potato on wheels is driven by a team of three, dubbed the “tater team,” who have traveled across the country to raise awareness of Idaho potatoes.
“In Idaho they have a postcard of a big truck with a giant potato and the idea was to bring the postcard to life,” said Sue Kennedy, PR Director of the Idaho Potato Commission. The iconic postcard says “We grow ’em big in Idaho,” a nod to the 13 billion pounds of potatoes grown each year in the state that produces a third of the nation’s potatoes.
The Big Idaho Potato Truck started as a marketing campaign to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Idaho Potato Commission, but a one-year campaign turned into 11, and this year the truck is making its very first trip to the 49th state.
“We wanted to go to a state we haven’t been to,” said Kennedy. After stumbling upon Skagway, “We loved it, (it) is the most perfect town,” she said. It didn’t hurt that Skagway was the closest Alaska town to the continental U.S and required the least driving.
The celebration of the humble potato includes a parade up Broadway at 4:30 p.m. that will lead to the seventh annual Blues, Brews and BBQ festival. Attendees can expect a lot of music, drinks and potato-themed food dishes.
The Big Idaho Potato Truck has a space for 10 people, according to Skagway tourism director Jaime Bricker. The Skagway Arts Council will be on the truck during the parade, and the tater team will make a donation to the Arts Council.
“You can’t have a potato parade without a potato king and queen,” said Skagway Mayor Andrew Cremata. He crowned Idaho-born twins Cody Jennings and Cory Bricker with the honor. Jennings is Skagway’s first port director while Bricker is a manager for Alaska Marine Trucking, both positions that have to do with imports and exports (of potatoes, potentially).
Cremata also wants to make July 22, 2023 as Idaho Potato Day in Skagway. The Skagway assembly will vote on the mayoral proclamation Thursday.
“I’ve always been a fan of the potato,” said Cremata. He said he’d like to see annual Potato Day celebrations continue, but that will be up to future mayors.
Haines residents who are interested in participating in the event are in luck, as the Haines-Skagway Fast Ferry is having a 50% off sale for Saturday.