Spud havest break for kids

Students across eastern Idaho get a two week break for spud harvest. Farmers rely on this break for the extra help.

“It’s a win-win situation for the kids and farmers in this area. Today’s kids are not exposed to a lot of mechanical type work,” said Merrill Hanny, potato producer.

Student workers can make up to $1,500 in those two weeks.

“They have the opportunity to learn safety and most of all hard work and the benefits that come from that and that’s something sadly enough we are losing in this age of technology,” said Hanny.

In the past, there has been talk about getting rid of Spud Harvest Break. However that does not look like it will happen anytime soon.

“The tradition is here, has been forever. The school board really, the last time we looked at it as said unless we get a big ground swell of patrons coming to the board and do away with potato harvest they are not going to address it they like it the way it is.” said Dr. Bryan Jolley, Shelley School District superintendent.

According to Dr. Jolley students who are not working on the farms use this time to either relax or put more hours in at other jobs.