AN AWARD-WINNING farm shop in Somerset is inviting children across the county to enter a potato modelling competition this month (January 2021).
Rumwell Farm Shop & Café is asking youngsters to create a model from a spud and other materials for the chance to win a goody bag filled with gifts and chocolate.
Anne Mitchell, Joint Owner of the farm shop, located on the A38 between Taunton and Wellington said: “To celebrate the humble spud, we thought it would be a fun idea during lockdown to get children creating their own models out of the vegetable.
“The potatoes can be modelled into absolutely anything they wish, whether it’s famous faces or animals, the more creative the better! We are then asking them to snap a photo of their potato model when it’s done and send it in to us via and we’ll share all the entries on our website in a gallery in February.
“There will be three age categories, two-four, five-eight and nine-11-years, and the winners from each will be awarded a prize and will have a photo of their winning potato model displayed in our shop during February for all to see.
“The winners will be expected to collect their prizes and have their photos taken for publicity, including social media, in February at a mutually agreeable day and time if restrictions have been lifted and it is safe to do so. We are looking forward to seeing all of the wonderful, spud-tacular entries when they come in! We’re sure they will raise a smile.”
The deadline for entries to be submitted is 5pm, February 1, 2021 and, after this date, the team will choose winners in each age category, who will each receive a goody bag filled with gifts and chocolate.
Anne added: “We grow our own range of potatoes including the varieties Wilja, Maris Piper, Estima and Marfona at our farm, which is just four miles from our shop. Each year we harvest 5,000 tonnes of potatoes, which are sold in the farm shop and across Somerset. The farm shop in fact began when we started selling our potatoes from the farm to people in 1997.
“We want to give children something to do while it’s colder outside and to spread some joy during this difficult time, especially now we have gone into another lockdown. Hopefully this fun challenge will put a smile on their faces and help entertain them while they spend more time at home this month, now the schools have been shut. It’s also a great way of giving them something to do that’s not screen-based.”
Rumwell Farm Shop is an independent, family-run, award-winning business owned by the Mitchell family. Originally a potato store, David and Anne Mitchell began selling their potatoes and free-range eggs at the gate more than 24 years ago.
Due to customer demand, the product range soon increased, and the business grew. David and Anne’s sons, James and Jack, are now also involved, as well as their daughters-in-law, Sophie and Donna.
Rumwell Farm Shop has a traditional butchery counter selling its home-reared, outdoor-reared pork and Rumwell Angus beef. There is also a delicatessen, bakery, jam kitchen, food hall, wine cellar and gift room.
Its own, home-grown potatoes are available, when in season, as well as everything from fruit, vegetables and groceries to plants, Somerset-grown cut flowers, gifts and cards.
The Rumwell Café, which is currently closed as Somerset is in tier four, is a large and spacious building. The food prepared in the café kitchen is sourced from the farm shop, the Mitchell family farm, which is just four miles away, and other regional suppliers.
Families are welcome to the café when it is open and there is a menu especially for children. The café also serves afternoon teas, carvery on a Sunday and is licensed to sell alcoholic beverages.
For more information, please call Rumwell Farm Shop, which is located in Rumwell between Taunton and Wellington, on 01823 461599 or visit www.rumwellfarmshop.com.