The plastic spud with the interchangeable features is homegrown, produced by Pawtucket-based toymaker Hasbro Inc. As part of a campaign dubbed ``Rhode Island - The Birthplace of Fun,'' 6-foot statues of him will greet visitors around the state and ads will be placed in national magazines.

``With Mr. Potato Head sprouting up in our communities, Rhode Island will peel ahead of the crop when it comes to attracting visitors from around the world,'' Gov. Lincoln Almond said during a mock swearing-in ceremony Thursday.

But what about Idaho, where spuds come in 50-pound bags rather than 160-pound statues?

``We're not trying to usurp their territory,'' said Becky Bovell of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corp.'s tourism division. ``I think that they're safe in that their potatoes are to be consumed and ours are to be enjoyed.''

The Mr. Potato Head statues were designed by local artists with different themes. The first 20 will go up over several days, followed by another 20 or more as corporate sponsors sign on.

There's Salty Spud, dressed in orange raingear with a fishing net in one hand. There's one covered in sand with seaweed hair, starfish eyes and a mouth of shells. Another wears horn-rimmed sunglasses and a bikini.

Hasbro sponsored one of the statues, donated many of the toys for giveaways and waived licensing fees for use of the spud's likeness. The state contributed $200,000 for advertising and other expenses.

The campaign comes at a time when Hasbro is working to make Mr. Potato Head its corporate symbol. Mr. Potato Head, first made in 1952, was one of Hasbro's first toys and has seen a burst in popularity from its role in the Toy Story movies.

[Updated 3/24/2000]