Why is Idaho important?

Have you ever wondered what the purpose of Idaho is? I know lots of great people that come from Idaho. I've never been able to explain the desire to live up there other than "everyone enjoys different things." I tend to be more of a city-slicker myself. The few experiences I remember of the time I have spent there are interesting, to say the least. I remember a hole in our tire about the size of a large pancake and being stuck on the side of the road for hours, I remember the 7-eleven being surrounded by cops right after we somehow miraculously decided not to go in. I remember visiting a friend up there in the winter and wondering how to hide from the penetrating freezing-ness. You know, things like that.

BUT......

lately, as I've been saying my prayers, I have been trying to thank the good Lord for things that He probably doesn't usually hear much gratitude over. That's why as I was thanking Him for potato chips the other day, a whole list of things flooded my poor little human mind.

chips... yummy!
french fries... delicious!
potato salad... depending on who made it, to die for!
Mr. Potato Head & his wife, Mrs. Potato Head... what would we do without them?
DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN MAKE ELECTRICITY FROM A POTATO?!

Interestingly enough, after I had thanked the good Lord for potatoes, I found this quote online by John Tyler Pettee

"Pray for peace and grace
and spiritual food,
For wisdom and guidance,
For all of these are good,
but don't forget the potatoes."

I would just like you to know that I love all of the things listed above. So now I am grateful for all of the things that goes into making potatoes. Dirt, water, sun, a farmer guy, tractors, seeds, etc. etc. etc. Do you see how just being thankful for one potato can change your entire life?

If we didn't have Idaho, the "potato state," do you know how hard our lives would be?!

Did you know that Idaho...

• produces 11 billion pounds of potatoes during harvest?

• produces 1/4 of nation's potato crop?

• is the leading potato producer worldwide?

So I'm a nerd and researched facts about potatoes... sue me. Actually as I was sitting and researching about the process of preparing potatoes to make chips in the hall at UVU, an old friend from high school came up and sat by me. When he asked what I was doing on my computer I had to tell him that I was doing something really embarrassing. He said it couldn't possibly be that bad and then the whole building heard him erupt in laughter when I told him that I was researching fun facts about potatoes. At first he assumed it was for a school project. The laughing meter only increased when I explained that I have just recently become obsessed with this God-given gift.

For those of you who don't understand my new-found obsession with potatoes, you should know that even Oprah is a fan. Of potatoes she said (and I quote),

"My idea of heaven is a great big baked potato and someone to share it with."

So.... to the people from Idaho- you are now completely validated in my book (as well as Oprah's)! I can't say that I'll ever join you up there, but I sure am eternally indebted to you for your compassionate service.

"What I say is that, if a fellow really likes potatoes, he must be a pretty decent sort of fellow."

- A.A. Milne

(If you would like more information on potatoes, I found this website to be very interesting - http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/PotatoHistory.htm)