Three
$1000 Cash Prizes Awarded.
Winning
Videos Debut @
Celebrity-Studded SpudFest,
Idaho’s
Only Family Film and
Television Festival
Eagle,
Idaho, Aug 2, 2007 From
coast to coast, it’s evident
that folks all across the
country love their Idaho
Spuds. Paul Searle from
McMinnville, OR, John Hill
from Orlando, FL, and Jay
Alan Meier from Vancouver,
WA are the Grand Prize
winners in the first annual
iTuber Video Contest
sponsored by the Idaho
Potato Commission. Each
winner will receive $1000.
The winning
videos will make their
national debut on August 2
in front of a
celebrity-studded “standing
room only” crowd at SpudFest,
Idaho’s unique family film
and television festival held
every summer in Driggs,
Idaho.
Founder of
SpudFest, Dawn Wells, who
played Mary Ann on
Gilligan’s Island was
present along with friends
Lou Ferrigno (Incredible
Hulk), Rich Fields (The
Price is Right) and the
Governor of Idaho, C.L.
“Butch” Otter.
“I am amazed
at the creativity we saw in
all the videos that were
submitted. The three winning
videos really made an
impression on our judges
with their uniqueness,
scripting and execution,”
said Frank Muir, President
and CEO, Idaho Potato
Commission. “SpudFest is a
natural and perfect venue
for us to showcase the
winning videos.”
Paul
Searle’s video Grown In
Idaho gives viewers a peek
into life on an Idaho Potato
farm. He shows how many
Idaho Potato growing
operations are family-owned
and run, and how these
families take pride in
growing their potatoes and
in being “grown in Idaho”
themselves. Paul’s video
is unique as he created it
using only still shots,
mainly family photographs.
Click here to view Grown In
Idaho,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTjoaMd1Nc8.
DJayMoney,
aka Jay Alan Meier, produced
an exciting rap song called
I.D.A.H.O Potato to let the
world know how great Idaho
Potatoes are. Using
original music and lyrics
that he wrote just for the
contest, DJayMoney touts the
nutritional aspects of Idaho
Potatoes, along with various
ways to prepare them. Click
here to view I.D.A.H.O
Potato,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Wf8SKRVjXQ.
The third
winning video, Opera Singing
Spud by John Hill, features
an Idaho Potato recipe
that’s easy enough for
anyone to prepare. John
used his computer animation
talents to create a dancing,
Opera singing Spuddy Buddy,
the Idaho Potato
Commission’s own mascot.
His original lyrics play
perfectly against a
well-known opera song,
turning this simple recipe
demonstration into fun
entertainment. Click here
to view Opera Singing Spud,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pij0BoAjvvk.
In addition,
five runners up were
selected. Each will receive
an Idaho Potato Gift Basket
valued at $150. The runners
up are:
- Potato
Thief by Kevin Larson, Idaho
Falls, ID
- Farm
Report by Chuck Hurst,
Boise, ID
Dawn Wells,
who kicked off the YouTube
contest with her own unique
potato peeling video has
dedicated her time to build
the Idaho Film & Television
Institute, a non-profit
educational organization for
aspiring film makers in
Eastern Idaho and across the
country.
“The iTuber
contest is a wonderful way
for video enthusiasts to
gain some practical
experience, recognition, and
maybe even win some money,”
stated Dawn Wells. “I’ve
really enjoyed being a part
of this contest the
versatility of the Idaho
Potato is certainly
demonstrated in all of the
videos.”
To view Dawn
Wells’ potato peeling video,
along with the other iTuber
Contest video entries, visit
www.iTuber.org.
Although
Idaho is famous worldwide
for its premium potatoes,
some consumers don’t realize
that only potatoes grown in
the Gem State can wear the
“Grown in Idaho” Seal. Both
words IdahoŽ Potatoes and
the “Grown in IdahoŽ” seal
are federally registered
Certification Marks that
certify to consumers that
they are purchasing genuine
Idaho Potatoes that have
been grown in the state of
Idaho. For more
information, including a
wide inventory of recipes,
visit
www.idahopotato.com.
