Free potatoes may go fast

Free potatoes five tons worth are slated to be dropped off at the Hill County Fairgrounds on Friday morning.

Don Bleak of the North Havre Community Services Food Bank said the potatoes, from Maughan Farms near Carter, will be dumped on the fairgrounds midway at 10 a.m. Anyone who wants potatoes can pick them up, but they might have to hurry.

Last year, Maughan Farms dumped 10 tons, and they didn't last long, Bleak said.

"They went very fast. In an hour they were gone," he said.

Steve Maughan said the farm donates potatoes whenever it has any left at the end of the season.

"In the food bank circuit, there's always a need for potatoes," he said.

The potatoes will be loose, Maughan said, and anyone who wants to pick them up should bring a container.

Steve and his brother, Wayne Maughan, who raise the potatoes and other crops like wheat, corn and alfalfa, used to coordinate potato drops with the Missoula Food Bank when they lived in western Montana, Steve Maughan said.

The farm will continue to donate potatoes on a year-by-year basis, whenever they have spares at the end of the season, Maughan said.

The Havre food bank is coordinating the drop of the potatoes with Maughan Farms.