This past Saturday (Sept. 19), the College’s Eighth Inaugural Potato Fest [sic] was held on the Lorimer Chapel lawn. The event was organized by the College’s Student Programming Board (SPB) and featured a wide assortment of potato-based foods and potato-themed activities.
Ella Kingsley `27, SPB Chair & Treasurer, said that many people ask why it is called the “Inaugural” Potato Fest. She took a moment to clarify, “when the second Potato Fest happened, and the poster was being made, someone got creative and put ‘inaugural’ on there. We all thought it was just so funny that we have kept doing it…it’s always gotta be on there.”
Students who attended the event enjoyed potato chips, potato gnocchi, hash brown casserole, French fries of various shapes, and potato salad. Portland Pie Co. provided specialty “twice-baked potato” pizza pies. According to Kingsley, SPB has a close relationship with Portland Pie Co. She shared that “[SPB] work[s] with a guy there, Pat, and he’s fantastic. Most of the time if we’re doing something that’s not a branded food truck, it’s Pat…he just knocks it out of the park, we’re so lucky to have that in our corner.” A Pinky D’s Poutine Factory truck completed the potato jubilee.
Members of SPB snapped polaroids of potato enjoyers holding up paper potato photo booth props, and people were invited to decorate real potatoes with craft supplies including googly eyes, Sharpies, and pipe cleaners.
Ainsley McCrum `28, SPB’s Fall Social Chair, considers the event a success, citing a good turnout. “Even if people don’t plan to go to it, they stop by and then all of a sudden there’s tons of people there, and… that’s the goal, just trying to get people together, build the community… that’s all you need.”
Watching the College community have a good time is its own reward for many SPB members, who spend weekly meetings brainstorming activities and events for the student body. Kingsley appreciates the spirit people bring to the meetings and explained that SPB is made up of “a group of people who are really creative; they like to see the community have fun, enjoy things… getting to sit in a room once a week plus an event every weekend with people who care about that, I think it’s really special.”
Creating spaces where people can connect and relax has been one of the highlights of McCrum’s experience working on SPB. “All the events that you’ve planned… you work hard to plan them and then to see people having fun and enjoying is really rewarding.” She has also made many new and gratifying connections through her position. “Getting to reach out to businesses, getting to meet different student leaders… so many people I never would’ve met.”
According to McCrum and Kingsley, SPB has many more fun and exciting events planned for the rest of the semester. All students have to do to stay informed about SPB events is check their emails! SPB also has social media accounts that anyone is welcome to follow. Students who are interested in getting involved in SPB should join the group on MuleLife.
As with many events at the College, hard work by SPB and the community spirit of the student body made the Eighth Inaugural Potato Fest a hit. Kingsley said it best: “It really is such a treat to have a community that shows up so earnestly and appreciates what we do… they make it easy.”
~ Anna Izquierdo `29
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