030 The Man Behind the Tater Tot: Legacy, Invention, and Grandpa Wisdom with Steve Grigg

What does it mean to build something that lasts—then teach your grandkids how to carry it? In this episode of The Grandpa Channel, Steve Harris sits down with long-time friend Steve Grigg, son of Nephi Grigg, one of the founders of Ore-Ida and the inventor of the Tater Tot. But this isn’t just a food history story. It’s a deeply personal look at family legacy preservation, the evolution of grandparent family traditions, and the quiet superpowers grandfathers pass down through the generations. From humble beginnings during the Great Depression to building a frozen food empire, Nephi Grigg’s legacy isn’t just found in grocery store aisles—it lives on in steak Sundays, backyard trampolines, and the way Steve Grigg shows up as a grandfather today. This is a tater tot origin story you haven’t heard before—one filled with humor, love, and the kind of insights only a grandpa can offer. If you care about legacy, family, or just really love tater tots, this one’s for you. In this episode: The true tater tot origin story (and the holey board that started it all) How Nephi Grigg and his brother founded Ore-Ida The Depression-era roots that shaped a family's work ethic What “biting off more than you can chew—and chewing it” really looks like Creating grandparent family traditions that stick Why family legacy preservation doesn’t have to be fancy to be meaningful What it takes to raise kids and build connective tissue between generations How Steve Grigg passed on his father’s legacy in modern grandparenting The power of making them laugh, knowing their names, and always having steak Resources mentioned: Planted Media (for recording your own legacy story) Ore-Ida: oreida.com Legacy Foundation: F. Nephi & Golden Grigg Legacy Project