IDAHO FALLS--The tater tot has been a classic food item for years. From a fast-food combo to cameos in the movie Napoleon Dynamite-- the tater tot continues to gain popularity. However, its origin story is a mystery to most people.
Leslie Grigg the great Nephew of the tater tot’s founders is bringing a festival to Idaho Falls where people can learn about the tater tot’s founding and donate to help prevent child abuse.
The event is the first tater tot festival in the state of Idaho at Sandy Downs in Idaho Falls and it starts Friday with a dinner, silent auction and concert. You can reserve a table at idahofallschamber.com. Saturday’s festivities begin at 10 a.m. and include dancing, presentations about child abuse from author CJ Scarlet and the history of the tater tot, music and of course, free tater tots.
“I think it needs to be a big deal, but I'm amazed that Idaho, for the last 70-some years, has produced between one-fourth and one-third of the nation's potato crop,” Grigg said. “We have not, as a state, done an admirable job in celebrating that and so this is going to be the first tater tot festival in the state of Idaho. And I'm proud to be who is making this happen.”
As part of the F. Nephi and Golden Grigg Legacy Foundation, proceeds from the event go to help prevent child abuse.
“I have been involved in child abuse prevention activities for most of my professional life, 38 years. And so as we thought about this legacy and what we wanted to accomplish, it was my natural heart desire to continue to move in the direction of child abuse prevention. So, we are trademarking the phrase, protect your tots.” Grigg said.
The foundation strives to ensure that tater tots are known for child abuse prevention and has partnered up with the Exchange Club National Foundation for Prevention of Child Abuse and The Domestic Violence Intervention Center in Idaho Falls.
For more information about the event go to idahofallschamber.com.