What is Caters Taters?
RDO Caters Taters for Charity is a potato luncheon held each fall that donates all proceeds 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, a beverage, and dessert.
Why potatoes? R.D. Offutt Company is the largest potato grower in the nation. The one-pound potatoes enjoyed at the luncheon are provided by our farm in O’Neill, NE.
The event was formed as the result of a challenge to the Community Responsibility Committee from the RDO management team to hold a function that ‘gives back’ to the community. The first Caters Taters was held in 2000. As it evolved and grew into a first-class fundraiser, proceeds from the event supported the American Cancer Society. In 2007, returning to the original intent of benefitting a different local charity each year, the event supported ‘Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Red River Valley.’ The event supported the Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Dakota in 2008, the American Red Cross in 2009, and Hospice of the Red River Valley in 2010.
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 Caters Taters mascot, ‘Tommy Tater.’
| Year | Guests Served | Donation | Benefiting Charity |
| 2011 | 2321 | $ 35,406 | Sanford Children's Hospital |
| 2010 | 2462 | $ 35,025 | Hospice of Red River Valley |
| 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 |
Tommy Tater flags down customers.
Guests at the RDO Caters Taters Event
Latest news
2011 Charity
RDO Caters Taters is pleased to announce that we will be supporting the Sanford Children’s Hospital!
2011 Raffle Information
RDO Caters Taters is working on putting together an amazing raffle to benefit the Sanford Children’s Hospital. To see a list of prizes and winners from 2011, click here.