Michigan State Fair to celebrate Year of the Potato

The Michigan State Fair, which began Aug. 29 and runs through Sept. 2, will feature a “Year of the Potato” celebration which will include free bags of potatoes and potato chips as well as potato-themed giveaways.

Five-pound bags of Michigan-grown fresh potatoes and individual bags of Michigan-made chips will be given away during the event, timed to coincide with the peak of summer harvests. Recipe cards will be available for fairgoers, who can also play agriculture trivia games for prizes.

Young artists can display their work at the Potato Gallery in the Potato Art Studio, while Chris Long, senior potato specialist at Michigan State University, will delve into the different types of potatoes and how to prepare them during a pair of educational sessions on Thursday, Aug. 29 and Friday, Aug. 30.

Kelly Turner, executive director of the Michigan Potato Industry Commission and the 2024 Spudwoman of the Year, will be on hand to read from children’s book “Potatoes for Pirate Pearl.” Copies of the book will be available for families after each of Turner’s readings on Thursday, Aug. 29 and Saturday, Aug. 31.

“Potatoes have always held a special place in our hearts, and we’re excited to share that passion with all of you,” Turner said in a news release. “Michigan is proud to be known as the U.S. chipping capital — growing the potatoes that fill one in four bags of U.S.-produced potato chips — and there’s no better place to showcase our love for potatoes and our world-class potato chips than at this event.”

More information is available online.