As a farmer and contributor to Idaho’s agricultural community, J.R. Simplot has inadvertently had an impact on my life because of his impact on agriculture throughout the state as well as the nation. J.R. ‘Jack’ Simplot has been an important figure in history ever since he quit school at the age of 14 to begin his own business in 1923. Everything that J.R. put his mind to seemed to end in success. By the beginning of World War II, the Simplot Company had grown into one of the country’s largest shippers of potatoes. It also contributed to the military by shipping out millions of pounds of dehydrated potatoes and onions. Jack built a fertilizer manufacturing plant in Pocatello, Idaho when shortages came as a result of the war. The company showed its spirit and dedication in the 1950’s with the creation and marketing of the world’s first commercially frozen French fries. Jack has shown himself as one of the most prominent businessmen and founders in history by the risks he took to change the world as we know it today. He and his wife Esther made their home in Boise, where he resided until his death in 2008. He has been honored for his many contributions to industry as well as his achievements in business and support of community performing arts and education. He will forever be remembered for challenging the ways of business in Idaho and the country and achieving success through hard work and dedication to agriculture and his employees.

Check out this link for the official Simplot website: http://www.simplot.com/company/origins_founder.cfm