Submitted by Christie Cochran
Aroostook Republican Correspondent
There are so few hand crews harvesting potatoes in this day and age, and it is really fun to get out and watch them as well as get involved in the work. The Thibodeau Homestead on the Powers Road in Caribou holds tight to the tradition of hand picking and organic growing of some special county potatoes including Reds, Russets and other varieties.
Contributed photo by Christie Cochran
First-time potato picker Jeff Rossignol — raised in West Gardiner — had never seen potato picking done before. He participated in a two-day harvest and it likely won’t be his last now that he’s living in “The County.”
Farm owners Danny and Bonnie Thibodeau — along with family members and a great crew of truckers, farm workers, friends and neighbors — have welcomed several area Girl Scout Troops to help with this special harvesting. One volunteer in particular, Jeff Rossignol, also picked both days to help the Girl Scouts; it was his first time in a potato field let alone having to pick his way down a row, keeping up with a pretty good sized “section.” Rossignol is from the West Gardiner area where they don’t plant the fall crop. Instead, Rossignol spent harvest time helping his brother Andrew with bringing in hay and assisting with the many chores on a dairy farm.
Those helping with the harvest included Alex Gehring, Christine Kashian, Meagan Nadeau, Cassie Caron and Garland Caron, along with Rachel Wasson, Jenna Gustafson, Tiffany Bishop, David and Tracy McCrossin. Also assisting the Girl Scouts’ harvest experience were Beth and Scott Walker, Andy and daughter Jazmine Robinson, Alexis McCrossin, Buffy, Abbie and Griffen McNeal, Bekah Walker, Kassy Belk, Jeff Rossignol, Paige Nadeau, “Baby Ray” and Amanda Lericos.
Additional volunteers include Jerry Nadeau, Kate Leavitt, Debbie Rahe, Erin, Michael, Christine, Ann and Kelly Kashian, Peter Rahe, Tammy Nadeau, David Thibodeau, Bonnie Thibodeau and Damien Hartley.
