It was August 19—National Potato Day!
The family was going to the Potato Festival.
"First, I'll drop off my potato soup for the cooking contest," said Dad.
He took a big pot out of the car.
"Let's walk around while Dad goes to the judges' tent," said Mom.
At the first booth was a big world map.
"It says potatoes came from the Andes Mountains in South America," said Kate.
"Early explorers took them to Europe and Asia."
"Potatoes kept thousands of Europeans from starving," said Mom.
"But look," said Seth, pointing at the map.
"Europeans took potatoes to North America."
"Potatoes grow well in many places," said Mom.
"They're one of the world's largest food crops."
"Enough geography," said Seth.
"Let's eat!"
"We're waiting for Dad," said Kate.
They walked to another booth.
A sign read: "What Can You Do with a Potato?"
"Wow! You can polish shoes and remove rust with potatoes," said Mom.
"This is cool," said Kate.
"You can make glue."
"Look at this!" called Seth.
They watched a man stick two pieces of metal into a potato.
He connected wires to the metal pieces.
A small lightbulb lit up!
"It's a potato battery," said Seth.
"A potato can power a small lightbulb for about forty days," said the man.
"Cool!" said Seth.
"A potato costs a lot less than batteries!"
Seth's stomach growled.
"Sounds like you need to power up," said Mom.
"There's Dad at the French fry booth."
They hurried over.
Dad grinned. "I'm discovering how to eat French fries."
"It's easy," said Seth.
"You dip them in ketchup."
"In the Philippines they use banana ketchup," said Dad.
"The English put vinegar on them.
And in France they use mustard."
"Were French fries invented in France?" asked Kate.
"Nobody is sure," said Dad.
"Thomas Jefferson first ate them in France.
He loved them.
He even served French fries at the White House."
Kate ordered curly fries and Seth got waffle fries.
Mom and Dad got steak fries.
Seth licked ketchup from his fingers. "I'm full—until dinner."
Dad grinned and held up a blue ribbon.
"Tonight we're having Dad's prize-winning potato soup!"