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CHECKOFF REPORT
Investments Made by Growers for the Future of the Peanut Industry
Alabama Peanut Producers Association sponsors Pediatrician, School Nutrition, and School Nurse Meetings
The Alabama Peanut Producers Association sponsored the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics Spring Meeting, April 28-30, held at The Lodge at Gulf State Park, Gulf Shores, Alabama. Attendees received packs of Alabama peanuts as well as peanut butter cookies at one of the mid-morning breaks. The Alabama School Nutrition Conference was held May 4-6 in Gulf Shores, Alabama. APPA sponsored and exhibited in the School Nutrition Industry Show on May 5. More than 170 school nutrition supervisors, managers Kaye Lynn Hataway, APPA and lunchroom workers received peanuts, peanut promotions coordinator, visits with Tammy Scott from Slocomb High School at the Alabama School nutrition, peanut allergy information and other peanut “swag.” Visitors to the APPA booth received a special PB&J sandwich bag if they fi lled out a survey regarding Nutrition Industry Show. peanut bans in their schools.
APPA also exhibited at the Alabama Association of School Nurses annual conference on June 9-10 in Trussville, Alabama. More than 200 school nurses received peanut allergy information to take back to their schools to share with administration, teachers and parents. Abby Richardson, APPA communications coordinator, is pictured with Preston Stevens, from Dale County FFA, winner of the Fiber and/ or Oil Crop Production Profi ciency Award. Kaye Lynn Hataway, APPA promotions coordinator, poses for a picture with representatives from the National Peanut Festival at the Houston County Welcome Center Tourism Day - from the left, Terri Granger, Lydia Paulson, current Miss National Peanut Festival, Hataway and Carrie Cavendar
The Alabama Peanut Producers Association sponsored the Alabama FFA Fiber and/or Oil Crop Production Profi ciency Award and the Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance Profi ciency Awards during the state convention held in Montgomery, Alabama, June 8-10. The Fiber and/or Oil Crop Production Profi ciency winner was Preston Stevens of Dale County FFA. The Agricultural Mechanics Repair/ Maintenance - Placement Profi ciency winner was Blake Knuckles of Wetumpka FFA. The Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance – Entrepreneurship winner was Luke Pullen from Wetumpka FFA.
APPA also exhibited during the two-day FFA Career and Trade Show. This event allowed APPA to showcase how peanuts are grown, careers in the peanut industry and nutrition information to students, teachers and parents who stopped by the booth.
The Alabama Peanut Producers Association promoted peanuts at a Rocket City Trash Pandas baseball game in Huntsville, May 27, 2022. APPA staff handed out recipes, activity books, allergy information and more. Due to a rained-out game earlier in the week, the team played a double header, therefore APPA staff were able to interact with more fans than anticipated. Fans received packs of Alabama peanuts when they exited the stadium. Over the last couple of years APPA has made an effort to reach consumers in the Huntsville area as it was recently named the fastest growing city in Alabama.
The eight Alabama Welcome Centers celebrated Alabama Tourism Month during May. APPA attended the Houston County Welcome Center May 12 and the Baldwin County Welcome Center May 20 for tourism celebrations. Visitors stopped by the APPA table to get peanuts and recipes. APPA staff shared with visitors about where and how peanuts are grown in the state.
Alabama Peanuts promoted at the Magic City Wine Fest in Birmingham
In partnership with The Peanut Institute, APPA collaborated with iHeart Media to promote peanuts at the Magic City Wine Fest held at the Birmingham Zoo May 14. More than 2,000 wine enthusiasts converged on the Birmingham Zoo for a night of wine tasting and of course, peanuts. APPA sponsored the offi cial photo booth for the Magic City Wine Fest. Attendees stopped by the APPA tent to grab a pack of Alabama peanuts and a group selfi e in the photo booth. Prior to the event, APPA aired 20 radio commercials on WDXB-102.5 The Bull Country promoting peanuts and the wine fest from May 2-14.
The Mississippi Peanut Growers Association and the National Peanut Board co-sponsored Peanut Day at the Mississippi State vs. University of Tennessee baseball game on May 21, 2022. Nearly 8,000 fans attended the fi nal game of the 2022 regular season and they were treated to all things peanuts. The fans were able to see the peanut mascot, Buddy McNutty, throw out the fi rst pitch to start the game and answer trivia questions on the Jumbotron throughout the game. Malcolm Broome, executive director of the Mississippi Peanut Growers Association, spent Mississippi State fans were time during the game on the radio with the game treated to peanuts during a announcer discussing peanuts in Mississippi, the baseball game in May. U.S. peanut industry, sustainability and peanut nutrition. Two peanut grower families assisted in handing out over 3,600 packs of peanuts and foam peanuts under the peanut tent at the stadium entrance.
Mississippi Peanut Growers Association Presents for Ag in the Classroom Workshop with Teachers and Volunteers
Malcolm Broome, executive director of the Mississippi Peanut Growers Association, presented information to 40 Ag in the Classroom teachers and volunteers during a two-day workshop at Mitchell Farms in Collins, Mississippi. The workshop was sponsored by the Mississippi Farm Bureau Women's Leadership Committee which aims to educate students on food, fi ber, energy and where it is produced. Broome presented information along with an educational packet of materials explaining the peanut industry from planting the seed all the way to the production of a jar of peanut butter. Several questions were asked on uses of the entire peanut and introduction of peanut protein to infants. The presentation also generated several requests for educational materials to share with summer camps and how to fi nd the new products like peanut puffs for infants.
Georgia Peanuts promoted at the National Junior High Rodeo Finals in Perry, Georgia
Georgia Peanuts were promoted during the National Junior High Finals Rodeo held at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry, Georgia, June 19-26, 2022. The seven-day event brought nearly 65,000 visitors to the event. The National High School Rodeo Association is one of the largest youth organizations in the western industry with an annual membership of 12,000 students from 44 states, 5 Canadian provinces, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. More than 1,200 junior high school Georgia Peanuts were promoted contestants competed for the National Champion throughout the National Junior title during the rodeo fi nals. Competitions included High Finals Rodeo in Perry, Ga. tie-down roping, bull riding, team roping, saddle bronc riding, barrel racing and more. Each exhibitor received a pack of Georgia Peanuts in their welcome bag and peanuts were promoted at the opening ceremonies during rodeo events throughout the week. Also, Georgia Peanuts were promoted in the program booklet at the event.
Georgia Peanuts Promoted at Atlanta Braves Game
The Atlanta Braves “School’s Out” Game took place May 29, at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. Georgia Peanuts were promoted throughout the Atlanta Braves fans game via on-site were treated to Georgia sampling and Peanuts during a logo presence on baseball game in May. the bullpen LEDs and in-park TVs. In addition, GPC staff attended the “Kids Run the Bases” activation after the game and passed out books and peanut packs. GPC was proud to also have Atlanta Braves third baseman, Austin Riley, autograph GPC’s A Homerun for Peanuts book.
On June 18, Georgia Public Broadcasting Education took home a Southeast Emmy Award presented by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Southeast chapter for “Georgia Peanuts Live Exploration.” The Georgia Peanut Commission teamed up with GPB Education last fall to help educate children about peanut production. The hour-long live program originally aired Sept. 30, 2021, and highlighted Georgia’s robust peanut industry. To view the program,” visit www.gpb.org/ education/liveexplorations/peanuts.
Georgia Peanuts Highlighted at NCAA Baseball Regional
Georgia Southern University hosted the NCAA Division I Baseball Regional June 3-6, at J.I. Clements Stadium in Statesboro, Georgia. In addition to Georgia Southern’s baseball team, UNC-Greensboro, Texas Tech and Notre Dame teams were also in attendance. The Georgia Peanut Commission provided souvenir peanuts, canned peanuts and table tents for the fan hospitality areas. July/August 2022 | Southeastern Peanut Farmer 13
