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All of a spudden, Big Idaho Potato Tour visits Whitehorse

Wednesday, 26 July 2023 10:34

By Stuart Bonell

The crowd thanked their lucky starch that they caught the Big Idaho Potato Tour before they head south. (Photo S.Bonell)

The Tater Team took a detour to visit residents in mashing outfits.

It’s not very often that Yukoners sprout up to see a mash-ive potato, but that’s exactly what happened on Tuesday. The Big Idaho Potato Tour peeled through Whitehorse for a photo opportunity following a visit to Skagway. Tater Team member Kyle Rauterkus says that this year, the eleventh tour, was the first time bringing the giant potato this far north.

"This year, for the first time, we wanted to go up to Alaska!" said Rauterkus excitedly. "So, we just went up there, we did an event up there in Skagway, and we're heading back to the States right now."

Rauterkus says that it was an a-peel from locals that brought them on their detour into Whitehorse.

"We had a bunch of people from Whitehorse hitting us up on social media, [who] wanted us to bring the truck here, so we took a little detour out of our way on our way out to Watson Lake."

All eyes were on the four-ton potato, loaded onto a trailer for its trip across the United States to spread the good word about Idaho potatoes. Risa Kennedy was driving along the highway when her tot-er saw the potato.  It’s safe to say that she and her daughter were thrilled that the tour was able to wedge in another stop.

"You know what? Anything unique like this is a great moment," said Kennedy. "You know, especially in the summer. Pull over, do something fun and unique, make a memory with the kids, absolutely."

The tour has one more scheduled appearance in Seattle early next month. Rauterkus says that touring with the potato has been the root of his happiness this summer, calling the experience all that and a bag of chips.

"It's just so much fun, man," said Rauterkus. "You know, it's super silly at the end of the day and it makes a lot of peoples' day, so we're happy to do it."

The trailer with the potato states that it’s okay to ask if it’s real. Which only makes sense; after all, taters will say it’s fake.

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