Pasco’s Alissa Schneider prepares for a different Thanksgiving Day
High above the Meadowlands in Secaucus, New Jersey, the newest balloon on the block was taking a test flight for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. Healthy Mr. Potato Head, decked out in a slick pair of running shoes, baseball cap, portable mp3 player and water bottle, floated above Pasco’s Alissa Schneider and 18 other affiliates of the US potato industry at the Balloonfest practice session on November 5.
“It was amazing to see Healthy Mr. Potato Head in flight and to share the experience with so many other growers from across the nation,” says Alissa. “The balloon is fantastic, but my favorite part was meeting all the enthusiastic people.”
The daughter of potato growers Ed and Liz Schneider, Alissa was heavily involved in 4-H while growing up. After graduating from Pasco High, she attended St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY and spent a year studying in Spain. Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree, Alissa returned to the Tri-Cities and currently works for the Franklin County WSU Extension office, working with child care providers throughout southeast Washington.
Alissa successfully competed for two expense-paid trips to the East Coast as balloon anchor and potato ambassador in a contest organized by the Washington State Potato Foundation and funded by the Washington State Potato Commission and the US Potato Board. The two days of training to prepare for the parade included learning balloon handling skills as well as preparation for sharing the experience with media along with the nutritional message endorsed by the potato industry.
The three-year Healthy Mr. Potato Head nutrition campaign was developed by the US Potato Board, who partnered with Hasbro to create the new Potato Head character. In addition to the Macy’s parade balloon, the new studly spud will appear on retail packaging and point-of sale materials, in consumer media and in industry grassroots promotions.
So come Thanksgiving, instead of mashing mounds of potatoes with her family as usual, Alissa will find herself escorting one for 2.5 miles in the Big Apple after a 5:30 a.m. pick-up at the Times Square Marriott. And she may get in some shopping before she returns home. At Macy’s, of course.
Chef2Chef News Desk