Hello from Idaho!
I’m Cheryl Koompin, current Co-Chair of the United States Potato Board’s (USPB) International Marketing Committee. This Thanksgiving, I put on a different hat—in fact it was a knit, neon green hat that I wore as I walked down the streets of New York, holding on to a bar that anchored the Healthy Mr. Potato Head Balloon in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!
Above: Healthy Mr. Potato Head himself, as he makes his final appearance in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
My husband, Klaren, and I want to say thank you to the potato industry, as it was a privilege to represent the USPB as balloon handlers– how exciting this was! Country spud visits city spud during the holidays! NBC, CBS, ABC and dozens of other television crews were tucked into the 3.5 million folks crowding the famous three mile parade route, and when our balloon showed up, potato nutrition took center stage. (Take a look at the “HMPH Balloon Handler” experience here.)
Above: Klaren and Cheryl Koompin
What fun it was to experience the Big Apple while walking under the Big Potato on Thanksgiving morning! Groups of folks shouted from the sidelines, “WE LOVE POTATOES!” Music to all of our ears was: “I love you Mr. Potato Head!” And who could forget the balloon-captain-inspired banters of thousands of voices, one side of the street yelling: “POTATO!” and the other yelling: “POWER!” or “You say Potato!” and the other yelling: “I say Potaaato!” Back and forth, back and forth. Simply incredible!
Above: The Koompin Family
I smile recalling it. It was truly emotional to be with the other potato industry folks marching along Broadway and 34th streets, up REALLY close to so many smiling faces and waving hands in support of Healthy MR. POTATO HEAD. Thank you, thank you, from me and Klaren for this great experience!! And thank you for an opportunity to travel with our two grown sons touring this old, historical American city and sharing the experience with other potato industry folks.
December 27th, 2007 at 1:01 pm
Hello from your neighbor to the west! I wanted to also say thank you to the potato board family and hello to you guys! It was an amazing experience to have travelled from Washington to the other side of the country and get a taste of the big apple. Being trained in the PR workshop benefitted me in so many ways as I prepare for my teaching career!
This parade was an AMAZING trip that allowed me to give back to this industry that I’ve grown up in, and to meet some AMAZING people while doing it! I never imagined becoming good friends with so many people after such a short time. But you guys made this trip incredible! POTATO POWER!!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this Opportunity! I had a blast!