Gold Dust Hosts 13th Annual Open House Field Day
Gold Dust Potato Processors, Inc. and Walker Brothers use annual event to thank long-time advisor Duane Preston and raise money for Make-A-Wish Oregon.
Malin, OR (www.golddustfarms.com) August 23rd, 2013 – Gold Dust Potatoes and Walker Brothers held their 13th annual Open House Field Day on Tuesday, August 20th. The yearly event, held the third Tuesday of every August, gives Gold Dust’s vendors and customers a chance to see where their chipping potatoes are grown, stored and shipped from.
The day began with a breakfast meeting at Mike and Wanda’s in Tulelake, CA, and featured presentations by Lexi Crawford from Gold Dust and Klamath Water Users Association (KWUA) executive director, Greg Addington. After breakfast, guests were given tours of chipping potato fields operated by Staunton Family Farm and Huffman Brothers Farm, two of Gold Dust’s growers. Following the field tours visitors were treated to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) presentation by HoneyComb Corporation at Gold Dust’s Malin, OR campus and a talk with Lucie Grant of Jet Harvest Solutions about innovations to protect potatoes after harvest. The guests also looked at the chipping potato varieties Gold Dust would be shipping this year and were treated to sandwiches and refreshments.
As in previous years, Gold Dust held a golf scramble for their guests at the Running Y Ranch followed by dinner and awards. At the dinner, the Walker family presented Duane “Sarge” Preston with plaque and a gift to thank him for his years of advice and in helping them grow the family’s business. Mr. Preston has been advising Gold Dust and Walker Brothers for nearly 20 years about growing chipping potatoes.
This year, Gold Dust decided to use the Open House Field Day as an opportunity to give a helping hand to a charity, choosing Make A Wish Oregon. Between the morning’s breakfast and the dinner following the golf event, the guests raised $1,900 to help grant wishes for ailing children.
“It’s an honor to have so many people come out and see our operation, and to get the chance to thank them for helping us grow,” said Tricia Hill, Chief Financial Officer of Gold Dust. “And then to see the generosity they have for the Make A Wish Foundation, it’s tremendous.”
Guests at Gold Dust’s 13th Annual Open House Field Day included representatives from PD Sproule Farms, Frederickson Farms, Frito-Lay, Orion Snacks International, IREH, Rabo Bank, Marshall Insurance, Mayo Manufacturing, Crary Industries/Lockwood, Industrial Ventilation and Conservis. Local businesses included Huffman Brothers Farm, Staunton Family Farm, Basin Fertilizer and Rusth, Spires & Pulley, LLP. Guests traveled from as far away as North Dakota, Minnesota, California and South Korea.
About Gold Dust Potato Processors, Inc., and Walker Brothers:
Gold Dust and Walker Brothers are family held companies that operate from its offices in Malin, Oregon. Gold Dust provides processes frying and chipping potato varieties grown by Walker Brothers to US-based, Central American and Pacific Rim snack-food companies. For more information about Gold Dust and Walker Brothers, please visitwww.golddustfarms.com.
Contact:
Lexi Crawford, Internal Operations Manager
Gold Dust Potato Processors, Inc. / Walker Brothers
541.723.2600
www.golddustfarms.com
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For a Microsoft Word version of this press release, click here.
For a blog post and photos, please visit 2013 Open House Field Day.
