Suffolk Peanut Fest Returns for 44th year

SUFFOLK NEWS-HERALD PEANUT FEST

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2022 | 11 Suffolk Peanut Fest Returns for 44th year honoring military, first responders

BY JAMES W. ROBINSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Suffolk Peanut Festival makes its return to the city for its 44th year, running from Thursday, Oct. 6 through Sunday, Oct. 9.

The celebration once again promises to be filled with food, games and activities for the whole family. Tourism Development Manager Theresa L. Earles, who also serves as promotions coordinator for the festival, said said there is a lot to be excited for at this year’s celebration.

“If you have never experienced the Suffolk Peanut Fest before, you are in for a treat,” Earles said.

“This four-day family friendly event offers something for everyone – a full carnival with amusement rides, concerts and variety acts, a demolition derby, fireworks, arts & crafts, and Imagination Station, petting zoo, pony rides and so much more! We also have the world’s only peanut butter sculpting contest – it’s a fun, gooey mess to behold. This year’s festival will also include tethered hot air balloon rides and the Kent Family Circus.”

Earles said they are pleased to welcome the Tunnel to Towers Foundation 9/11 Never Forget mobile exhibit and museum, created to honor those who lost their lives in the Sept. 11 attacks and provide education about the horrific events of that day.

“The is a high-tech, 80-foot tractortrailer transforms into a 1,100 sq. ft. exhibit, and helps to further educate citizens around the country about the tragic events of September 11, 2001. The exhibit includes interactive educational components, steel beams from the towers, other artifacts from ground zero, documentary videos, recordings of first responder radio transmissions, and interactive guided tours from FDNY heroes. Suffolk Peanut Fest is especially grateful to Dominion Energy for sponsoring this particular effort so we may share this monumental traveling museum with the community.”

During each new festival, a volunteer chairman is named to lead the event while also choosing the theme. Earles explained those new aspects of the festival.

“The 2022 chairman, Richard Bradshaw, chose the theme, ‘Broad Stripes, Bright Stars and Patriotic Guitars: A Tribute to Our Hometown Heroes and the Red, White and Blue,” in an effort to convey gratitude for our military services personnel and our first responders.

A Suffolk native and graduate of Suffolk Christian Academy, Bradshaw has been a volunteer with Suffolk Peanut Fest for 33 years. He attributes his patriotism to his father Harold’s Army career (the late Suffolk softball pitcher, Harold “Shady” Bradshaw).”

Earles provided more details about the food, games, and activities that will be at the event.

“Suffolk Peanut Fest offers numerous games and activities for folks of all ages, she said. “Little kids will love the tractor tire sandbox, petting zoo, touch-a-truck, pony rides, princess sing along/meet and greet, the Kent Family Circus, kid-friendly amusement games and rides.”

Earles said everyone enjoys the demolition derby and the Peanut Cup Auto Race, the straw maze, monster truck rides, the Imagination Station, the chalk art competition, etc.

“There’s also a cornhole tournament, ax throwing, clogging jamboree, arts and crafters, and more,” she said. “Not to mention delicious fest food . . . turkey legs, funnel cakes, candied apples, Carolina barbecue, crab cakes, and lots of other tasty fest faves.”

For more details, visit www.suffolkpeanutfest.com.

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Gabriella Federici Anna Gomer Page Henry

Gabriella Federici, 17, is a student at Nansemond Suffolk Academy where she is a member of the track, tennis and volleyball teams, along with taking part in drafting, photography and art; member American Red Cross Club; NSA Helping Those in Need club; and the NSA Connecting with Kids club. Federici’s special awards and achievements include: NSA World Language Honor’s Society; editor of NSA yearbook; historian on student council; exhibit of excellence in the NSA art show; honorable mention NSA Betty Burger Sculpture; honorable mention NSA art show; Sister Cities art show; NSA tennis team coach’s award recipient. Her volunteer and community involvement include: Suffolk Humane Society with Mutt Strut in 2017, 2018 and 2019; NSA Day of Caring; frequent donations to Goodwill; assisted with COVID-19 screening at Special for Women SYAA Sports.

Anna Gomer, 16, is a student at King’s Fork High School where she is varsity swim team captain, dancer at Allonge Dance Academy, member of National Honor Society, member of the Ecology Club, field hockey team manager, and a member of Founding a Sister Cities International Club at KFHS. Gomer’s awards and achievements include: five athletic varsity letters (swim ninth-11th grades and tennis ninth-10th grades); Rookie of the Year Award in swimming; attended regionals for swimming and tennis; two academic excellence/academic varsity letters (ninth and 10th grade years — 11th grade not yet awarded); and straight As in final grades for all courses ninth-10th grades. Her volunteer and community involvement includes: Suffolk Humane Society volunteer team; Isle of Wight Animal Services volunteer team; PAWS of Hertford County volunteer team; volunteering with Nansemond River Perseveration Alliance; volunteer assistant at Art-Ventures LLC; King’s Fork High School freshman/ sophomore mentorship program; and community festival planner through Hope for Suffolk at Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Page Henry, 17, is a student at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy where she is a member and captain of the varsity field hockey team, member and captain of the varsity lacrosse team, member of the varsity swim team and the state swim team, member of connecting with Kids Club; NSA Literary Magazine editor; and Saints ambassador at NSA. Henry’s awards and achievements include: varsity field hockey Heart & Hustle, Most Valuable Player and offensive player of the year award along with all-tournament team, first team all-state and another first team award; varsity lacrosse awards for Most Outstanding Player and TCIS second-team, first team all-TCIS, second team all-state and first team all-state; Spanish National Honor Society; NSA high honors/honors list; Suffolk Arts League honorable mention; and Continental Math League award recipient. Henry’s volunteer and community involvement include: Girl Scouts Bronze Award recipient, Silver Award recipient and working toward Gold Award; Morgan’s Message ambassador; Main Street United Methodist Church acolyte; and Suffolk Running Rebels U-12 girls lacrosse team coach.

Kendal Legg Taylor Chanell Rockett

Kendal Legg, 16, is a student at Suffolk Christian Academy where she is a member of the Beta Club, Student Government Association, the yearbook staff and the varsity basketball team. Other activities include her part-time job at Chick-fil-a, dual enrollment for the last two school years, a member of the varsity soccer team, a competitive gymnast in ninth and 10th grades. Legg has received the Distinguished Christian High School student award, made the principal’s allAs list in 2020-21, class vice president for her junior and sophomore classes. Her volunteer and community involvement efforts are dedicated to support church mission projects.

Taylor Chanell Rockett, 17, is a student at Suffolk Christian Academy where she is a National Beta Club member 2019-23, member of Student Government Association 2020-23, class president 2020-23, treasurer of the Beta Club and SGA 2020-22, president of the Beta Club for 2022-23 and an officer for SGA 2020-23. She was a member of the SCA basketball team 202021, performed dance 11 years and was a soccer player from 2019-20. Rockett’s achievements and awards include: attended Harvard summer school in 2021; 2019 Solomon Award for highest grade point average 2019-20, 2020-21and 2021-22; all A honor roll 201920; biology award 2020-21; physical science award 2019-20; certificate of excellence for most improved in art 2019-20; English award 2019-21; Bible award for outstanding performance 2019-21; best performance in chemistry and AP government 2021-22; and ACSI distinguished Christian high school award in academic leadership 2021-22. Her volunteer and community involvement include: Belk Charity cards, Thanksgiving outreach, bazaar cleanup, custodial appreciation, serving dinner for State of the Academy at SGA, served at Sustain the Vision, helped teachers in the classroom in the Betas in the Classroom program; help with baccalaureate setup and taking it down afterwards, helped distribute pamphlets for graduation and seating those attending.

Emma Rotzler

Emma Rotzler, 16, is a student at Lakeland High School where she is a member of the National Honor Society, Lakeland High School FFA and a member of the varsity volleyball team. In 2021, she served as an intern for Hope for Suffolk and is an ambassador member of Girl Scout Troop No. 946. Rotzler is a junior fair board member for Franklin/Southampton County Fair, a 4-H member of Southampton Livestock Club and an Isle of Wight 4-H Club. Awards and achievements she has received include: 2022 Virginia Teen Miss Agriculture USA; Southampton Livestock 4-H Ambassador Award; president of Southampton Livestock Club and Isle of Wight 4-H Club; completed 34 credits toward an associate’s degree at Paul D. Camp Community College; and senior rabbit showman for Southampton County Fair and the Isle of Wight County Fair. Rotzler said she is currently working on her Gold Award for the Girl Scouts, which includes a beautification area along with a sensory area for children, a mini-teaching garden, a play area for barn visitors, changing areas for the 4-H members and a picnic area for club members in the Franklin/Southampton Fairground barn. In the past year, she said she helped create Valentine’s Day cards for nursing homes with the National Honor Society and low 4-H Club. As a junior fair board member, Rotzler said she volunteered at the Fair Queen’s Bingon and the Valentine’s Day Pageant sponsored by the Sounthampton County Fair Queens. She also helped set up and work the children’s play area at a Day in the Country at the Southampton Fairgrounds. She also adopted a family at Christmas with the low 4-H Club and donated household items, clothes and toys. Rotzler also created Easter baskets for children in need in Franklin with the Southampton County Livestock Club.

14 | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2022 PEANUT FEST

SUFFOLK NEWS-HERALD Rockett crowned queen for 2022 Peanut Fest

Suffolk Christian Academy’s Taylor Rockett was crowned as the 2022 Suffolk Peanut Fest queen Wednesday, Sept. 28 at the annual banquet held at Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront.

The Suffolk Peanut Fest Queen’s Banquet and Fashions is produced by the Pilot Club of Suffolk, celebrating the city’s shining young stars while supporting local charities, according to a news release from Suffolk Festival Inc.

The princesses in this year’s Peanut Fest court include Page Henry, Nansemond-Suffolk Academy; Emma Rotzler, Lakeland High School; Anna Gomer, King’s Fork High School; Gabriella Federici, Nansemond-Suffolk Academy; and Kendal Legg, Suffolk Christian Academy.

The queen and her court will be busy throughout the Festival, Oct. 6-9, at the Suffolk Executive Airport as they fulfill their royal peanut duties. To learn more, visit SuffolkPeanutFest.com.

Each participating Suffolk Peanut Fest Princess was nominated by her school, based on a creative essay interpreting the current festival theme (“Broad Stripes, Bright Stars, Patriotic Guitars: A Tribute to our Hometown Heroes and the Red, White and Blue”), along with academic success, extracurricular activities, awards, achievements, and community involvement.

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