This month’s Guest Blogger is Jena Garofalo, aka ' Spudshine,' on the Big Idaho Potato Tour. The spud truck trio made an appearance at all three Cariola campuses in early June. With her upbeat energy and adventurous spirit, Jena brings plenty of positivity to everyone she meets. No wonder this is her second Big Idaho Potato Tour!

When she’s not on the road, you’ll find her at Red Fish Lake, hiking near the Sawtooth Mountains, or skiing in Sun Valley. After a memorable day visiting with our students, we asked her to write about life on the road, ( which includes a lot of podcast listening) in a semi truck… that weighs 22 tons…and hauls a 4-ton potato!

Spudshine visits Mary Cariola…

My time at the three Mary Cariola Campuses was a spudtacular experience to say the least. As soon as we wrapped up that Tater, I called our boss Laura and expressed how this has been one of my favorite stops we have done this tour. Chatting with Greg Kamp, Director of Marketing and Communications, about the history of Mary Cariola was truly an eye opener. We are so grateful for these events. Bringing a smile to faces truly makes me happy! Thank you eternally to all the Mary Cariola staff for all that you do! We hope to stop next year!

Life on the Road....

This is my second year on the potato tour, and I am constantly expressing to potato fans that this job is like winning the lotto (I've never won or participated, but it seems similar, I'm sure!) We get to go to big cities and small towns and everything in between! Other than exploring new territory for myself, my favorite aspect of the job is connecting with people. Everyone has a story, some that can relate to potatoes! Listening and learning from everyone is a perk I will never oversee. Don't get me wrong, trying a garbage plate was another worldly experience! We work so well together as a team and strive to represent the Idaho Potato Farmers the best we can. And with my Tater Team mates, Monty "Tater Titan" and Cloy "Curly Fry", we become family.

During the Break....

We are fortunate to have five months off if we choose to return to The Big Idaho Potato Tour. During that time, I will admit I will become a homebody in Idaho for about three weeks until I'm ready to get going again! Last year, I worked at a ski resort as our time off spans from the end of September to the end of February. I visit with my family in Idaho and share all the stories from the road. My mom is constantly bragging to our family and friends about her spud on tour. I hope to do the Tour next year and I am planning a trip to Europe once we wrap up the giant tater! As for what I would like to do once I am no longer on tour? Funny you should ask, I would love to expand my knowledge of agriculture. I have always had an interest in farming, animals, and how to operate a farm in general!

What do you hope people get out of this Spud....

As exciting and fun as this whole tour is, I hope people gain information on how important it is to support those family-owned farms. No matter what state I visit, I always strive to buy and support local produce and businesses. I also hope people learn how potatoes can be healthy for you! We are so used to seeing them fully loaded or fried. We are partnered with the American Diabetes Association for good reason! My favorite potato fact is that a potato has more potassium than a banana. At the end of our tour in September it is harvest season for Idaho potatoes. We get to see the hard work that goes into collecting those spuds. I feel so fortunate to be a part of this Tour, whether we encourage you to visit Idaho, buy our potatoes, or bring a smile and stop for a chat, we are so thankful for all the support and opportunity you all give us. As always, keep your eyes peeled and have a spudtacular day!

For more information on the Big Idaho Potato Truck and their 2026 Tour, visit BigIdahoPotato.com