What is Caters Taters?

RDO Caters Taters for Charity is a potato luncheon held each fall, in which the proceeds are donated to a local charity. For a nominal donation, guests enjoy a delicious lunch featuring a ‘pound-tato’ - a one-pound baked potato with choice of a variety of tasty toppings – and includes beverage and dessert. Why potatoes? R.D. Offutt Company is one of the largest potato growers in the nation. The one-pound potatoes enjoyed at the luncheon are provided by our farm in O’Neill, NE.

Year Guests Served Donation Benefiting Charity
2009 1900 $ 33,692 American Red Cross
2008 2500 $ 28,822 Make-A-Wish Foundation ® of North Dakota
2007 2600 $ 24,047 Fargo-Moorhead Ronald McDonald House
2006 1950 $ 16,455 American Cancer Society
2005 1400 $ 12,300 American Cancer Society
2004 1300 $ 10,000 American Cancer Society
2003 1200 $ 8,258 American Cancer Society
2002 1000 $ 7,402 American Cancer Society
2001 900 $ 6,279 American Cancer Society
2000 750 $ 5,265 American Cancer Society

RDO Caters Taters is hosted by the Community Responsibility Committee (CRC) at R.D. Offutt Company and RDO Equipment Co. corporate headquarters in Fargo, ND. The CRC is a group of employee volunteers that facilitate RDO’s commitment to being a good corporate citizen and making a positive impact on the quality of life in the Fargo/Moorhead area. The event was formed as the result of a challenge to the CRC from the RDO management team to hold a function that ‘gives back’ to the community. The first Caters Taters was held in 2000. As the event evolved and grew into a first-class fundraiser, the American Cancer Society was the benefiting charity. In 2007, the event returned to its original intent of benefiting a different local charity each year, and that year’s event supported ‘Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Red River Valley’. The 2009 event beneficiary is ‘American Red Cross Minn-Kota Chapter.’

With the support of RDO management, and the volunteer efforts of RDO team members, the event not only serves more guests year after year, but now includes a take-out dining option, door prizes, a raffle and photo opportunities with the soon-to-be-renowned Caters Taters mascot, ‘Tommy Tater’.

We are extremely grateful to the Fargo/Moorhead community for their support of RDO Caters Taters for Charity. Without the generosity of our supporters and guests, this event would not be what it is today.

Tommy Tater flags down customers
Tommy Tater flags down customers.

Guests at the 2009 RDO Caters Taters Event
Guests at the 2009 RDO Caters Taters Event