Numbers down for 2006 potato conference
Quality of overall program raised bar for next year
MOSES LAKE — Even though the quantity of patrons at this year's Washington State Potato Conference was down, the conference board president thinks the quality is up.
Conference chair Dale Lathim said overall, numbers were down by about 400 people.
"We had a drop off in just about every category in terms of where they register," Lathim said. "Where we saw the biggest decline was over at the trade show."
The reasons why are unclear, Lathim said, and will be analyzed at a debriefing meeting in March to figure out a reason.
"The numbers came in less than last year, but last year was the first at the ATEC Center," Lathim said, noting there was much focus on that fact. He postulated that people could have turned out to check out the new facilities.
The lower numbers don't really have an impact on Lathim's overall impressions of the conference.
"We look at quality, get feedback from vendors, participants and speakers, and put it all together," he said. "The quality of this year's show was maybe the best ever."
Lathim said keynote speaker Dr. Lowell Catlett was "very pleased" to be part of the conference and gave very positive feedback from his experience. Catlett's speech also generated much positive feedback itself.
"We thought last year with Dr. Patrick Moore we were on the right track," Lathim said, noting the board wondered if it would ever be able to come up with a speaker of Moore's caliber again. "(Conference attendees) received Catlett's talk even better than Patrick Moore."
Which makes finding a speaker for the 2007 Potato Conference and Trade Show that much more of a challenge.
"When you've set the bar as high as we have, you have to look really far and wide to find someone else to fit in that same mold," Lathim said. "We'll do our best to uncover them wherever they may be."
A number of changes were made in the program's scheduling, and each was well-received, Lathim said.
"We will continue to take feedback from participants," he said. "We're looking forward to next year being even better than this one."
SIDE BAR
And the winner is …
About 70 suggestions were submitted to determine a name for the new potato variety, the A95109-1, which debuted during the potato bar at the trade show, and everyone and their mother had an idea.
Well, our business and agriculture reporter's mom came up with two: "Potato potato" and "Potato for life."
After promises were extracted not to disown any children if they weren't declared the winner, the winning entry is Cheryl Elkins' suggestion of "Northwest Champion."
Other entries included:
"Columbia" - AJ Ochoa
"Basin Russet" - Frank Martinez
"Cougar" - Mike Hawley
"Miracle Russet" - Emma Schoening
"NW Leader" - Jim Carroll
"Pavek Russet" - Bob Halvorson
"Columbia River Russet" - Frank Valdez
"Trifecta" - Paul Morris
"Classic - Randy Reed
"Washingtonian" - Dan Toya
"Glory" - Cheryl Elkins
"Columbia Russet" - Darrin Morrison
Honorable mention goes to Nathan Cox and John Stahl, who both suggested the new variety be named the "Golden Russet."
The winner receives a gift basket courtesy of the Washington State Potato Commission. The name is merely a suggestion and may not become the actual name of the potato.