Across the street from the LSU Dairy Store on Monday, a voice screamed from the driver’s seat of a bus stopped at the intersection of Tower and South Stadium drives.
“Hey you,” a voice said. “Give me some of them sweet potatoes!”
The voice was that of a passing bus driver, who, much to the dismay of waiting traffic, waited until she was provided with a price sheet from the Biological Engineering Student Organization, which is selling sweet potatoes in front of the E.B. Doran building, the Biological Engineering Department’s home.
The organization began its annual sweet potato and rice sale Monday, a 22-year-old tradition, said BESO’s president, Stuart Feilden.
Feilden said the organization raised more than $4,000 last year and uses the money to pay for T-shirts, member trips to the national American Society of Agricultural Engineering conference and helping with projects around the Biological Engineering Department such as the student lounge.
Amanda Gary, a biological engineering senior, said the potatoes and rice all are bought from Garber farms in Iota, La.
“We spent two weekends for like 12 hours a day bagging and weighing them,” Gary said.
Feilden said members use personal vehicles to drive and pick up the potatoes and rice every year and have developed a cult following.
“We’re in the same spot every year,” Feilden said. “So we have a very loyal customer base.”
Amanda Leblanc, a biological engineering junior, said the majority of her customers are older members of the surrounding community.
“We had one lady come buy six, 40-pound sacks of sweet potatoes,” Leblanc said. “She said her whole family, all her kids and grandkids, were coming for Thanksgiving.”
Kristin Gascon, a biological engineering senior, said she enjoys meeting the older folks and hearing their stories.
“You are constantly laughing at what comes out of their mouths,” Gascon said. “The people are great.”
The organization plans to sell the sweet potatoes and popcorn rice until Nov. 26 or until its supply runs out.
“Last year we sold 10 tons, and it ran out the Tuesday before Thanksgiving,” Leblanc said. “We bought double this year, and we’re thinking we might have to go get more.”
By noon Monday, the students had sold just more than 1 ton of potatoes alone.
“There will be times when like two people show up,” Gary said. “And then we’ll just get swamped.”
Feilden said students interested in the Biological Engineering Student Organization can call the department at 578-3153 or visit its Web site at www.bae.lsu.edu.