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Merrill potato festival kicks off
Free baked potatoes today; parade Saturday
By LEE JUILLERAT
H&N Regional Editor
October 15, 2010
That’s what makes this year’s theme: “Potatoes: Can You Dig It?” especially appropriate.
Despite water shortages that forced
many potato growers in Merrill, Malin and Tulelake areas to plant in Poe
Valley and Dairy, potatoes remain a staple crop. Figures for 2008, for
example, indicate potatoes produced sales of $23.5 million for Klamath
County.
The annual potato festival gets into gear today before the big Saturday celebration in Merrill.
The three-day celebration kicked off Thursday night with the talent show and queen’s coronation banquet. Queen candidates included Erin Westfall of Klamath Union, Jeanette Beebout of Mazama, Mallory Howreske of Henley, Rosana Chavolla of Tulelake, Briana O’Connor of Lost River and Lisa Clark from the Bonanza community.
Today’s activities include exhibits and vendors at the Merrill Civic Center from 1 to 5 p.m. and free baked potatoes at Sterling Savings Bank in Merrill from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Potatoes will be featured in exhibits and displays at the civic center and at food booths, whether baked, mashed or chipped.
Saturday opens with the annual Linkville Lopers Running Club Spud Run and Walk. Registrations will be taken at 8 a.m. with 1- and 5-mile walks-runs starting at 9 a.m. The parade begins its downtown march at 11 a.m., followed by the free barbecue at 12:30 p.m.
Sherry Parnell, secretary of the Merrill Lions Club which is sponsoring the event, said depending on weather, 1,500 to 3,000 typically take advantage of the meal, which features barbecued beef and, naturally, baked potatoes.
Members of the Karuk,
Hoopa and Yurok tribes from the Lower Klamath River Basin will
participate by serving barbecued salmon.
Side Bars
Fresh salmon
on the menu
Barbecued beef and baked potatoes, longtime traditions at the Klamath Basin Potato Festival’s free Saturday barbecue, will be supplemented with something new — fresh, wild Klamath River salmon.
Members of three Indian tribes from the Lower Klamath River Basin — Karuks, Yuroks and Hoopas — plan to provide freshly caught fall run Chinook salmon cooked on redwood planks. The barbecue starts at 12:30 p.m.
Craig Tucker, the Klamath campaign
coordinator for the Karuk Tribe, said eight to 10 tribal members have
formed the Klamath Justice Coalition, activists who support the removal
of four Klamath River dams.
Members of various tribes have discussed creating a “fish and chips” menu by adding salmon to potatoes as a sign of what they hope might happen — increased salmon runs from the coast to the Upper Klamath Basin — if the dams are removed.
“It’s a big step,” Tucker said.
Fred
Taylor serves as grand marshal
Serving as grand marshal for this year’s festivities, including Saturday’s parade, is Fred Taylor.
The 78-year-old Taylor came to Merrill with his family in 1946.
Over the years he had many jobs — hauling hay, working in the fertilizer industry, operating his own woodcutting and hauling business, working in a grain mill, doing odd jobs — until retiring in 2008.
He and his wife of 59 years, Joan Taylor, have 11 children. Two daughters, Sally and Anne, were festival queens in 1979 and 1980.
Granddaughters Anna,
Angela and Ashleigh have been festival junior princesses.
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