Idaho Potato Commission Gives Away Diamond Pendant as Part of 75th Anniversary Celebration

EAGLE, ID, April 23, 2012—The Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) celebrated its 75th diamond anniversary this spring by giving away a brilliant one-carat diamond pendant (ARV: $3,500), the stone traditionally associated with 75th anniversaries. A two-month long sweepstakes was held on the IPC’s Facebook page, Facebook.com/famousidahopotatoes, and Paula Plunk, a substitute teacher from Bethel Springs, Tennessee, is the lucky winner.

The longtime Idaho® potato fan was cooking dinner when her husband let her know there was a voicemail message from the IPC notifying her that she won. Plunk was ecstatic to hear the news. “I’m in shock! We eat a lot of Idaho® potatoes in this house,” she gushed. “I’ve always been a fan of their potatoes but I never would have thought I’d win a diamond from the same place where we get our russets!”

“As one of the oldest and longest-running commodity organizations in the country, the IPC wanted to sponsor a promotion that fittingly celebrated its 75th anniversary and also showed our appreciation to our long-time fans and supporters,” explained Frank Muir, President and CEO, IPC. “Congratulations, Paula!”

This sweepstakes ran during February and March and was the IPC’s most successful Facebook promotion to date, garnering approximately 11,500 entries and helping to rocket the page past 18,000 “Likes.”

As part of its year-long celebration, the IPC recently launched, the Great Big Idaho® Potato Truck, the largest potato on wheels. Weighing in at six tons, (the equivalent of 32,346 medium-sized Idaho® potatoes), the Great Big Idaho® Potato Truck has embarked on a seven-month cross-country journey to help raise funds and awareness for Meals On Wheels Association of America, a non-profit organization that provides more than one million meals each day to homebound seniors.

The Big Idaho® Potato Truck officially embarked on its journey in celebration of the IPC's 75th anniversary from the Idaho state capitol in Boise.

The Truck received an official send-off right before April Fool’s Day in Boise, Idaho, and is now visiting millions of Idaho® potato fans in cities large and small throughout the country. For more information about the Truck and its schedule, visit www.bigidahopotato.com.

About the Idaho Potato Commission
The Idaho Potato Commission is a state agency that is primarily responsible for expanding the markets for Idaho-grown potatoes through advertising, promotion and research. The Commission also protects the use of the "Idaho® potato" and "Grown in Idaho®" seals, which are federally registered Certification Marks that belong to the IPC. These Marks ensure that consumers are purchasing potatoes that have been grown in the state of Idaho. For more information, visit www.idahopotato.com.

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