“Revolutionary Spuds”
As the nation celebrates America’s 250th birthday, one way Idaho is taking part is the “Revolutionary Spuds” using Spuddy Buddy (the official Mascot of the Idaho Potato Commission) to make handcrafted spud characters based on figures from the Revolutionary War era.
There’s also an Acts of Kindness Service Challenge, the restoration of the Idaho Liberty bell, plus a brand new celebratory song for Idaho, and more.
Verbatim:
You might have seen folks dressed in period costumes at many celebratory events in Idaho over the years but have seen these little costumed potatoes?
Idaho is of course famous for potatoes, but potatoes dressed as figures from the Revolutionary War?
It’s actually part of how Idaho is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States.
They’re called the “Revolutionary Spuds,” and they’re the brainchild of this woman.
“I'm Julie Ellsworth. I am the Idaho State Treasurer.”
Ellsworth has been the state treasurer since 2019, was a state representative, a teacher, and… she’s pretty handy with a sewing needle. …We’ll get back to that in a minute.
“The legislature created a council and they put me as a member of it. And that is when my life changed.”
That was the America 250 in Idaho Advisory Council, created in 2025.
“The thing that the legislature asked of me was that we don't want this to be sterile in Idaho. We don't want it to be about agencies. We want the people to be involved.”
The Spuds idea came about when Julie was putting together a celebration for the anniversary of Paul Revere’s famous ride, but was short someone to play Paul Revere.
“So, I took the Spuddy Buddy in our office that leads tours for children when they come in the Capitol building. It's the Idaho Potato Commission mascot. And I took him home that weekend, and I turned him into Spud Revere.” “I put the little potato at the front of the steps, and people were lining up to have a picture with the potato.” “I've been a teacher, and I know that you need to get someone's attention, and I love the revolutionary characters, the people, their lives.” “So, After that, it's history. Then I went to the Potato Commission, admitted that I used their mascot. They allowed me to do the revolutionary spuds.”
And that’s where those sewing skills came in handy.
