Potato conference to remain Grant County through 2008

Moses Lake selected for effort, access, cost-effectiveness

MOSES LAKE — Grant County is still home base for spuds.

The Washington State Potato Conference and Trade Show board of directors voted unanimously to keep the event in Moses Lake through 2008, it was announced Monday.

"The board wanted a firm commitment from the community and Grant County that the planned improvements to the (Grant County) Fairgrounds facilities would happen," said conference board president Dale Lathim in a statement.

Lathim's statement referred to the fairgrounds improvement plan that was accelerated by various city and county representatives during the summer, as the board also considered several sites in the Tri-Cities area after being notified of their intent to make a bid for the 2006 conference and beyond.

After meeting with Moses Lake and Grant County representatives, the board executive committee was assured that it would receive a written agreement with the county and the city that the intended upgrades would take place and the benefits noted in the proposal to host the event would extend over the three-year period required for the conceptual plan to be realized.

In making its decision, the board also weighed proposals received from the Tri-Cities Convention Center in Kennewick and TRAC in Pasco, and visited all three sites.

At its Oct. 6 meeting, board members noted that the Tri-Cities did provide a larger population and all that came with it, including more hotel and motel space, easier air transportation and a chance for increased attendance.

Moses Lake took the advantage in two areas — access and benefits to potato growers and the community's concerted efforts to enrich the conference, according to a conference board press release.

While the lower Basin has more acreage under potatoes, Moses Lake is more central to the number of farmers still actually growing potatoes, including those who come over from the Skagit Valley.

Moses Lake also remained the most cost-effective location, making the conference more affordable for exhibitors and participants.

"Everyone was impressed with the efforts of Grant County and the Moses Lake community in stepping up to this challenge," Lathim said. "They truly offered to become full partners in the event and actively seek to increase its value to the potato industry. This builds on past history and establishes new traditions."

The news was met with enthusiasm by several of the area representatives who worked to keep the conference here.

"I think it's absolutely fantastic news for everyone in Moses Lake and Grant County," said Bob Russell, chair of the Fair Facility Advisory Committee, which came up with the proposed changes to the fairgrounds. "I think it just shows what can happen when everybody works together for the good of everybody."

"We're thrilled — it's exciting news for Moses Lake, I think," said P.J. De Benedetti, president of the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce, noting that the improvements that will be made to the fairgrounds will also hopefully attract other conferences at times when the grounds are not as busy.

Grant County Fairgrounds fair and facilities manager Al Holman concurred that it was nice to see the city, county and citizens work together with the business community "to keep a wonderful event like the conference in Moses Lake."

Holman said that the fairgrounds have been preparing for the 2005 potato conference, and will move ahead with the renovated bathroom project on the Ardell Pavilion. Holman said he hopes to select a contract within the next couple of days and should be submitting timelines and conceptual master plans to Grant County commissioners in a couple months.

"It's more at the tweaking stage than development," he said.