University of Idaho Extension Launches ePotato Curriculum for Idaho Schools

The new interactive lessons educate youth about potatoes, Idaho's iconic crop.

Mar. 24, 2026 at 11:27pm

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The University of Idaho Extension has introduced a new ePotato curriculum to teach Idaho students in grades 3-5 about potato growth, nutrition, and recipes. The multimedia lessons, which meet content standards across multiple subjects, are being rolled out in elementary school classrooms across the state.

Why it matters

As a major agricultural state, it's important for Idaho's youth to understand the significance of potatoes, one of the state's iconic crops. The ePotato curriculum aims to increase awareness among students about potato varieties, growing conditions, and the crop's economic and nutritional importance.

The details

The ePotato curriculum includes five one-hour lessons that cover topics like how potatoes are grown, the history and geography of different potato varieties, why Idaho is well-suited for potato cultivation, the nutritional benefits of potatoes, and healthy recipes using the versatile tuber. The lessons were developed by UI Extension educators Matt Fisher and Siew Guan Lee, and reviewed by potato experts like Extension Potato Storage Specialist Nora Olsen. The interactive lessons feature hands-on activities, such as using a potato to power a lightbulb.

  • The ePotato curriculum was published in November 2025.
  • Extension educator Cherie Carter has been visiting elementary classrooms in the Preston and Westside school districts to teach the ePotato lessons since early 2026.

The players

Cherie Carter

A University of Idaho Extension 4-H Youth Development Coordinator based in Franklin County who has been teaching the ePotato lessons in local elementary schools.

Matt Fisher

A 4-H area Extension educator focusing on agriculture and STEM who collaborated on developing the ePotato curriculum.

Siew Guan Lee

An Extension educator in Twin Falls County specializing in health and nutrition who collaborated on developing the ePotato curriculum.

Nora Olsen

A University of Idaho Extension Potato Storage Specialist who vetted the ePotato curriculum for accuracy.

Avonlea Beutler

A third-grade student at Harold B. Lee Elementary School whose family owns Circle A Farms, a local potato farm.

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What they’re saying

“We'll use a potato to make a lightbulb turn on. One lesson talks about the nutrition of potatoes and different recipes to try. I'm thinking of making something with potatoes and bringing it to the kids.”

— Cherie Carter, University of Idaho Extension 4-H Youth Development Coordinator

“A goal for Siew and myself is that kids should be more aware of what is around them. If they drive by a field, they may say, 'Oh, that's a potato field.' Idaho is known for its potatoes, and I don't think most youth are aware of what potatoes do for the state, what type of potatoes there are, where they are grown or anything like that.”

— Matt Fisher, 4-H area Extension educator focusing on agriculture and STEM

What’s next

The University of Idaho Extension plans to create future curriculum teaching children about other major Idaho crops, such as sugar beets and wheat.

The takeaway

The ePotato curriculum is an innovative way for the University of Idaho Extension to educate Idaho's youth about the state's iconic potato industry, helping students gain a deeper appreciation for the agricultural resources in their own communities.