b'Turning Back The ClockA Look Back 25 Years Ago at Excerpts fromThe November 1994 Issue ofThe ValleyPotato Grower MagazineLets Talk Promotion guests. More than 300 baked pota- potato picking contests, a pep rally,toeswithtoppingswereserved. bonfire, and fireworks. This event isPotato Bowl USA is history now for Everyonereallyenjoyedthepota- planned by the Executive Commit-another year, but it lingers on in the toes and the bank was very happy tee of Potato Bowl USA. It is excit-minds of some of us. There was alot toseethelargeturnout.Itwasa ing to see how the Friday event hasof potato exposure during the week- beautiful day, so tables were set up grown. There were times when welongfestivitywhichtookplace outsidewherepeoplegatheredfor stoodfreezingatUniversityParkSeptember18ththruthe24th. food and coversation.trying to give away hot baked pota-Grocery stores had special ads and toes to keep people warm. We haddifferentkindsofpotatocontests. timeswhenwestagedamashedSeveral local health clubs promoted potatowrestlingmatchandwerepotatoes by a giveaway supplied by flagged by a local newspaper, whothe Red River Valley Potato Growers featured a photo of a couple of folksAssociation. One even had a recipe wrestling with the caption Playingcontest and gave away baked pota- In Food. it was really not food, buttoes. a throw away slough from the oldPillsburyplant.ThatwasthefirstCommunity National Bank was the and last annual match. Incidentally,site of a promotion that was set up J.R.SimplotattendedtheFrenchwithMarketingDirector,Don FryDaywithhiswife.HealsoAnderson.Earlyintheweekan attendedthefootballgameonexhibitwassetupinthebank Saturday.lobby. The Potato Bowl,USA bannerwasproudlydisplayedoverthe TheannualparadeSaturdaywasbooth on which a large sign read, ThankstoCommunityNational great. it was a gorgeous day for it.Red River Valley Potatoes. Assorted Bankforgivingussuchagrand Amongthemanyniceentreesinbrochuresandrecipesweremade opportunitytopromoteourprod- theparade,theAssociationsnewavailable as handouts at a table in uct. President/CEODennisE.Kihlsta-the booth. dius,droveintheparadetheFrench Fry Day was a gigantic suc- Associations1949DodgePowerOnFriday,September23rd,baked cess this year too, with over 2,000 Wagon which was being raffled off.potatoes were served from 11:00 to servings of J. R. Simplot french fries PotatoBowl1994hascomeand2:00.MissPotatoBowlUSA,Kim handed out with many servings of gone, but it was a good one.Cooley,wasonhandtogreetthe freepop.Therewereponyrides,NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 POTATO GROWER 27'