BOISE, Idaho — I’m your Boise State neighborhood reporter Jessica Davis at Albertsons Stadium at the Idaho Potato Bowl. People are here for the game, but a lot of people are also here for the potatoes — fans can take pictures with the world-famous potato and play potato games.

• The Idaho Potato Bowl is a staple event in Boise, featuring post-season college football.
• Simplot provided about 1,800 servings of tater tots, cooked on-site for the fans.
• Despite the rainy weather, attendees enjoyed spending time with family ahead of the holidays.

(The following is a transcription of the full broadcast story.)

We spoke with fans about their favorite potatoes, and how they like popular veggies cooked — so, of course, we asked fans what brought them to the bowl game.

“The Potato Bowl, as well as some French fries, we came out here to have some food, but of course, the game also and to celebrate,” says Fanny Reyes, a Boise fan supporting the Potato Bowl.

A bowl game dedicated to the starchy vegetable — the Potato Bowl is a Boise staple for post-season college football.

Joey Mellow, says he came to support his family members who work at BSU we asked him if he came for the game or potatoes he says “Both!”

Before I arrived I expected a variety of potatoes, but the only delicious potato-themed snack was tater tots provided by Simplot.

Eric Simplot, is a Regional Raw Manager at Simplot, he says “we bring out mobile fryer out today we’re doing some tater gyms, tater tots for some fans to warm up this morning and show off what we do and what we’re proud of here in Idaho potatoes and the products that we make with them.”

Simplot cooked up and served about 1,800 servings of tater tots heating them up with 360-degree oil.

And in about two minutes, you get crispy yet fluffy tater tots.

Fanny Reyes describes the tots, she says “They’re good, nice, and warm keeping us warm on this nice chilly day.”

With a rainy start, many fans are just glad to be spending the day with family ahead of the holidays.

James Ossman says, “I’m just happy to spend the day with my kids watching football and eating some fresh tater tots.”

Fanny Reyes adds, “Spending some time with family right before Christmas so you know I had to be out here celebrating Fresno State and northern Illinois so we’ll see may the best team win I guess.”

Coming up on New Years Eve, Idaho News 6 will bring you team coverage of the Fiesta Bowl from Phoenix.

BOISE, Idaho — The Idaho Potato Bowl, which was held at Albertsons Stadium on Monday, took a moment to celebrate two local heroes — Nampa Officer Cody Huss and his K9 Riddick. They were both honored with the SERVPRO First Responder Award.

Officer Huss was presented the award in honor of his and his late dog’s work for the community — Huss’ dog K9 Riddick died in a police pursuit in Septmeber.

Nampa Police K-9 ‘Riddick’ killed in rollover crash, two suspects in custody.

“Officer Cody Huss and his K-9 partner, Riddick, demonstrated extraordinary dedication to their community, working tirelessly to ensure safety and security,” the announcer said at the Idaho Potato Bowl. “K-9 Riddick, a steadfast and loyal partner, made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty…”

After substantial losses in the 2024 election, Democrats are searching for new leadership across the country.

Republicans took back the White House and Senate, along with retaining control of the House.

Party officials, including Idaho’s state Democratic Party Chair, Lauren Necochea, will vote for the new head of the Democratic National Committee early next year.

The race has several candidates across the political spectrum, including former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Ken Martin, who heads Minnesota’s version of the Democratic Party and Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ken Wikler.

Where the next chairperson lands ideologically, Necochea said, isn’t as important as being able to unify the different coalitions making up the party.

“To come together across our minor policy disagreements we might hold to advance the agenda of electing more Democrats so that we can implement more of these policies that lift up working families,” she said.

Progressive members of the party have long criticized moderates for compromising their liberal values on issues like healthcare and support for large corporations.

Necochea said she’s not hearing a steady drumbeat of party officials trying to upend the status quo.

“[Republicans are] coming after Social Security. They’re coming after Medicare. They’re coming after our health care,” she said.

“So I just hear from my colleagues across the nation that we want to get back to work and roll up our sleeves and be ready to make a big comeback in the midterms.”

Experience managing large and complex organizations is a must. But another important necessity is having a communication plan to reach voters who actively tune out news and vote Republican, even if liberal policies would benefit them more.

“It’s both a challenge to deliver education and information to people who are kind of trying to avoid it, but it’s also an opportunity because it means that a lot of people who came out and voted for Republicans didn’t know what they were voting for,” Necochea said.

Increasing face-to-face communication is vital and something she said Idaho Democrats have already been doing, though the party lost three legislative seats this year.

“If you only try a door a few times during an election cycle and you don’t catch them when they’re home, then you never get to have that conversation,” she said.

Another item on her wishlist is for the next DNC chair to continue supporting a 50-state strategy – meaning the national party invests in local candidates across the country to help break up GOP supermajorities.

All major offices in Idaho are held by Republicans and the GOP holds 86% of all legislative seats here.

Necochea will join other party officials at the DNC’s winter meeting on Feb. 1 outside of Washington, D.C.

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