Spudtacular! IPC's Stunt Tater Tops 10,000 Facebook Fans

Eagle ID — It’s official: Stunt Tater, the rugged, adventurous, charismatic Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) character, has captured the heart of thousands. In less than two years, Stunt (as he is known to friends) has evolved from a fast-talking Idaho® potato into a Facebook personality, his exploits followed by over 10,000 fans. His followers check in from around the globe, with Mexico claiming the largest contingent outside the United States. Domestically, Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York each contribute over 200 fans that track his daily posts.

Stunt Tater Tops 10,000 Fans on Facebook

The outgoing relative of the IPC Spuddy Buddy character (a cuddly plush toy), Stunt evolved with the IPC’s expanding online and social media initiatives that targeted a younger, Internet-savvy audience. Unlike Spuddy Buddy, Stunt talks directly to Idaho® potato consumers. And, unlike the circumspect Spuddy Buddy, he usually takes an unconventional and entertaining approach to messaging. His posts are often irreverent, and always funny and wacky, while communicating key IPC product benefits and industry positions.

When it comes to catching the attention of the right demographics, Stunt registers as an unqualified success: 84% of his followers are 13-17 years old, 90% are under 24. As busy as his audience, Stunt is launching a new web site –www.spudcenter.com – this month. His most recent Facebook posts encompasses his
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Spudtacular! Stunt Tater Tops 10,000 Fans, con’t.

potato-centric interests: Lucha Libre Tater Tacos (vegetarian tacos filled with Idaho®
potato hash); French Fry shoes on Zazzle.com; Idaho’s amazing 2010 potato crop (11.3 billion pounds or 31% of the total U.S. production); innovative potato dishes from national culinary events; online games like “Bouncin’ Taters;” snaps taken with “Miss Idaho;” and his unique brand of potato philosophy. The “giveaway” section of Stunt’s page offers chances to win Idaho® potato truck banks and Stunt Tater t-shirts, and his friends post pictures posing in their shirts or with their Stunt “squeezables.”

The Stunt Tater character is a compilation of still animation combined with human faces to deliver expression and speak the lines. The computer animation team at DTX Creative (Boise ID) brought Stunt Tater to life from a character profile conceived by Don Odiorne, IPC Vice President of Foodservice, According to Odiorne, “We had a chance to get our feet wet with ‘conversational’ marketing, and found this medium much more cost-effective than many other methods. The process has been an amazing learning experience while providing us with the opportunity to reach a whole new consumer demographic. From 1,000 followers last May, Stunt Tater’s popularity has been growing exponentially every week. Looking at a number of other big brands out there on social media venues, I am pleasantly surprised with Stunt Tater’s latest feat of accumulating 10,000 fans.”

About the Idaho Potato Commission

The Idaho Potato Commission is a state agency that is primarily responsible for expanding the markets for Idaho-grown potatoes through advertising, promotion and research. The Commission also protects the use of the “Idaho® potato” and “Grown in Idaho®” seals, which are federally registered Certification Marks that belong to the IPC. These Marks ensure that consumers are purchasing potatoes that have been grown in the state of Idaho. For more information, visit www.idahopotato.com.

Source: Idaho Potato Commission