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By Bill Schaefer
Les Grigg has been traveling across the state of Idaho with a sheet of plywood with one-inch holes drilled in it in an effort to remind the world of the role members of his family played in the development of Tater Tots, one of the most popular potato side-dishes in the world.
The plywood artifact represents a replica of what is known in the history of Tater Tots as the Holey Board.
More than 70 years ago three men, F. Nephi “Neef” Grigg, his brother, Golden T. Grigg and Ross Erin Butler, were looking to develop a culinary use for the potato waste remaining after producing french fries at their Ore-Ida Ontario, Oregon processing plant.
Through trial and error the three men created a pulpy, mash that was then pushed through a plywood board with one-inch holes drilled in it (that came to be called the Holey Board) and then deep-fried creating the stubby, deep-fried potato side dish, with a crunchy exterior, that the world has known as Tater Tots since 1953.
Since then Ore-Ida was purchased by the Kraft Heinz company in 1965 and in 2022 the J.R. Simplot company reached an multi-year agreement with Kraft Heinz to be the exclusive manufacturer and supplier of Ore-Ida, including Tater Tots.
Today the Holey Board can be found in a glass case on a wall at the Ontario facility.
Adopting the phrase “Protect Your Tots” Les Grigg and his cousin Steve Grigg in 2024 have founded the F. Nephi & Golden Grigg Legacy Foundation to remind the world of the role members of their family shared in the development of the tater tot and to raise money for a new domestic violence and sexual assault and child abuse center in Idaho Falls.
Les Grigg has been traveling across Idaho with a replica of the Holey Board to promote the inaugural “Greater Tater Tot Festival” scheduled for August 16-17 at Sandy Downs in Idaho Falls.
Teaming up with the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce (GIFCC) to promote the festival Grigg said that admission to the festival is free and will run from 5:00 to 9:30 p.m. on Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
Michelle Covert, finance director for the GIFCC, said the chamber was looking for a summer event to celebrate the important role of agriculture in Eastern Idaho and when Les Grigg walked in to her office with the Holey Board the chamber saw the synergetic potential to recognize both agriculture and tater tots and possibly raise awareness of domestic violence and child abuse.
This being the inaugural event Covert said that she’s unsure of crowd size but would like to see anywhere from 5,000 to 10,000 in attendance over the two day event that would help turn it into an annual event.
Les Grigg said that they plan on having a ticketed, fundraising dinner with a silent auction on Friday evening. Entertainment will be provided by magician Scotty Wiese. It is still in the planning stages.
Live Music, food trucks, and vendors are planned for both days along with a variety of children activities including a children’s obstacle course sponsored by the Grit League.
Grigg said that they have scheduled author and victim advocate CJ Scarlett, aka ‘Badass Grandma’ for a series of talks during the two-day event. A 30-minute workshop on ‘Top 5 Ways to Protect Your Tots from Online Dangers’ is scheduled for Saturday. She will also be promoting her new book, ‘Raising Badass Kids: The Savvy Parents’ Guide to Predator-proofing Tweens and Teens.
For more information about the Greater Tater Tot Festival or if you’re interested in participating contact Michelle Covert at 208-523-1010, ext. 4 or finance@idahofallschamber.com or Les Grigg at griggtatertot@gmail.com or 208-589-0065.
