Ak-Chin Indian Community Potato Washing Plant and its Harvest

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The team at the Cowboy Lifestyle Network recently had the opportunity to talk with Ak-Chin Farms Manager Steve Coester who shared with us some of the important and interesting facts about the potato washing plant and its harvest. The Ak-Chin Indian Community Potato Washing Plant has been fully operational since 2012. In the past, the Community shared a plant with other growers about 10 miles away from the current farm. Although all the other farmers withdrew from growing potatoes, the Ak-Chin Indian Community continued to produce potatoes for well-known companies such as Frito Lay, Barrel O’ Fun and Poore Brothers.
The potato harvest usually begins in the middle of May and is completed around the 4^th of July. After the potatoes are harvested, they get delivered to the potato washing facility and go through a rough sorter where dirt clods and additional trash, such as roots and leaves, are shaken off the potatoes. After that, they are separated and put through a flume that they tumble through and remaining dirt is washed off the potatoes. At this time, any additional trash and/or bad potatoes are then hand-picked out of the bunch on the sorting table. Lastly, they are placed into large bins and are loaded directly into the semi-trucks to be delivered to various potato chip plants across the Southwest.
The Ak-Chin Indian Community takes pride in the type of potatoes they harvest, which are referred to as “chipping potatoes.” The potatoes are round and white, and developed with less starch and sugar than the average spud. The potato chip does not turn brown but instead, remains pure white, indicating the minuscule amounts of starch and sugar. The Ak-Chin Indian Community believes that the round shape of their potato makes a better chip. Next time you are eating one of your favorite Frito Lay, Barrel O’ Fun or Poore Brothers potato chips, it might have come from the Ak-Chin Indian Community here in Arizona.

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Danny O'Donnell

Danny co-founded Cowboy Lifestyle Network (CLN), now a western media powerhouse with over 4 million fans. CLN’s success reflects his deep understanding of the western community—not just its spirit, but its economic heartbeat—connecting businesses, events, and enthusiasts in a thriving industry. With this massive reach, Danny has become a trusted voice on rodeo culture, horse care, and Western traditions, covering events from the Houston Livestock Show to the Super Bowl Party Trophy Bar. His journey to building this platform began in Arizona, where he spent eight years in Pinal County’s 4-H program, learning ranching by caring for lambs and getting to know the land like an old friend. At Arizona State University, Danny shone as a two-time "All American" diver and team captain, graduating with a business degree that sparked his entrepreneurial drive. After a decade in corporate management sharpening his leadership skills, he launched CLN. "Giving back has always mattered to me," Danny shares. His support for Horses Help, Harris Brothers Charity Foundation, and a 25-year CLN Christmas Toy Drive proves it, building community trust through action.