Entities report 'smooth, upbeat' potato conference

Preparations under way for next year

MOSES LAKE — Coordinators and location administrators agree: This year's potato conference went smoothly.

"We had what we feel was a really upbeat conference," said conference Secretary/Treasurer Karen Bonaudi. "Everyone was really pleased with the speakers and with the social events, which all the participants agree are the best in the state."

Such events allow those in attendance to talk with their colleagues and with vendors, Bonaudi said.

"We understand a lot of business was written and a lot of contacts made at the trade show," she said.

Grant County Economic Development Council President and Basic American Foods Manager Brian Meiners said a study three years ago said the conference brings in about $500,000 in revenue. The state tourism commission said every dollar turns about seven times in the community, Meiners added, which means the conference brings about $3.5 million of economic activity.

"So, topline, it's important to the area economy," Meiners said. "It's a great thing (that) we have it here."

Event coordinators are still gathering numbers and counting money. Bonaudi said it looks like last year's numbers were exceeded, but she was not yet certain by how much.

The portions of the conference located at the Grant County Fairgrounds also went smoothly.

"We're always happy when the temperature's up and we have to use a little less propane to heat the building," Grant County Fairgrounds Fair and Facilities Manager Al Holman said. "From our angle, it went fairly smooth, we were pretty doggone happy. Did have a hot water tank that lost an element, so we had to scramble to get hot water back in the ladies' restroom, but with as many hot water tanks as you have out here, that occasionally happens.

Holman said it's nice to see how the conference progressed over the years with its seminars, activities and the direct-cable link between the fairgrounds and Big Bend Community College for keynote speaker Ed Barlow's address during the trade show Wednesday.

Job Corps students helped set up the fairgrounds' tent, Holman said, which remained in place for ultimate fighting Saturday night.

"Making a transition from one event to another," Holman said. "It's the nature of what we're becoming — a year-round, all-type-of-event event facility."

Things also ran smoothly at the community college's ATEC Building, reported ATEC Event and Conference Coordinator Jeremy Iverson.

"According to the feedback and everything I received from the organizers, everything seemed to go real smooth, no major glitches or anything and they were real happy with it," Iverson said. "They still like Moses Lake, I think."

The majority of the work Iverson and the building team had to do was gear up and handle logistics and personnel scheduling, which consumed the majority of the Monday before the event, which was Iverson's second in his position.

"As with anything, the more you do it, the little bit easier it gets," Iverson said. "I don't want to say it was easy, we put in a lot of hours, lot of cooperation to make it all go, but it just seemed to go a bit smoother. It seemed to flow. It was nice, a lot of the people we worked with on their end were the same people, so they could just say, 'Like last year,' and we all kind of knew what we were talking about."

Bonaudi said the board already started talking about next year's conference, with a meeting scheduled March 12.

"We were looking at the things we want to keep," she said. "People really do appreciate the keynote speakers coming from a little bit of a different angles, so if anyone has any ideas, someone they'd really like to hear, we'd be happy to get that input."