Sudburians dig potato festival

It may be a rather humble vegetable, but the potato now has its own celebration. Nearly 500 people showed up at Valley Growers Sept. 13 for the first Spudsbury Potato Festival.

The Blezard Valley potato farm teamed up with the Human League Association to put on the event, which included a potato cannon, potato-sack races and a potato pancake breakfast, among other activities.

Although there was no admission charge, voluntary donations brought in nearly $1,400 for the Human League Association's breakfast and sports subsidy programs for children.

Human League Association executive director Leanne Lavoie said she got the idea for a potato festival years ago when attending other Ontario festivals celebrating a specific vegetable or fruit.

“The potato has been a part of the history of the area for over 100 years now, but people don't really think much about potatoes because they aren't sexy. They're just potatoes,” she said. “They're boring, but they're delicious.”

When Lavoie finally decided to put her idea into action, she contacted Valley Growers owner Tami Rainville, who immediately jumped on board.

“Valley Growers has a really cute little logo — it's a heart-shaped potato — and a slogan that says 'We dig potatoes,'” Lavoie said.

“I think our web page is going to say 'We dig Valley Growers,' because they've gone over and above in trying to make this successful.”

Rainville said she was happy when Lavoie approached her, as she's wanted to hold a potato festival of some kind for years.

“When she said 'If you guys host it, I'll organize it,' I said 'That sounds like the perfect fit,'” she said, adding that she hopes to host a bigger and better festival next year.

Among those taking in the event were Lisa Jones and her three kids, Tessa, Lorelai and Clark. She said her kids were having a blast.

“It's part of the valley's heritage, really,” Jones said. “We love potatoes — poutine, on the barbecue and raw, even.”

The potato festival meant good business for 13-year-old Kelly Mazerolle, who owns her own pastry business. She set up shop at the event, selling about 100 cupcakes.

In honour of the potato, she created a cake decorated to look like poutine using pretzel sticks, caramel and white fondant. “People said it was really cute and it looked like a real poutine,” she said.