Meet the supporters who will make the 35th Annual Brooklet Peanut Festival possible

The 35th Annual Brooklet Peanut Festival is just around the corner, set for Saturday, September 21st. The event will be held at 209 Railroad Street in downtown Brooklet, GA and begins with a lively parade at 10:00am, live-streamed by Grice Connect, followed by a full day of free entertainment, arts and crafts, food, and all things peanut.

Last week, the Grice Connect team were honored guests at a peanut boil with key sponsors and supporters of the festival at the Randy Newman building on the festival grounds. Everyone enjoyed sampling fresh from the field boiled peanuts compliments of Ray and James Sanders/Sunrise Produce.

Then they all shared with DeWayne Grice and Ellen Perkins on video why they enjoy supporting the annual festival. Special thanks to Jennifer Gerald and Jennifer Redmon for their hospitality along with Lloyd Strickland who even pulled fresh peanuts from the field for us to use in the live stream.

You can watch the full live stream below or continue reading for a summary.

Ellen Perkins, one of the festival’s key organizers, shared her excitement about the event: “This is a super popular event, and it's not just about fun—it's about celebrating our agricultural roots, especially peanuts.” Perkins credited the support of numerous sponsors and the hard work of volunteers for making the festival possible.

David Cromley, President of the Bulloch County Farm Bureau and a local peanut farmer, emphasized the significance of the festival for agriculture. "As a peanut farmer, this festival is really special. It’s great to see the community come out and celebrate agriculture, which is the backbone of our region," he said, adding that despite challenging weather, the peanut crops are looking promising this year.

Local businesses are also gearing up for the festival. Morris Bank, a long-time sponsor, has been part of the community for 35 years. "Morris Bank has its roots here in Brooklet, and this festival is a great way to celebrate that," said Lisa Hodges, the bank’s Brooklet branch manager. Trish Tootle, also from Morris Bank, added, "These are the finest people on the face of the Earth, and we look forward to the parade every year."

Community involvement is a common theme among sponsors. Darien Adams of Core Credit Union expressed her enthusiasm: "We are so happy to be involved with the Peanut Festival again. We've had a physical location in Brooklet for years. We love this community and being involved, and we're very excited for the parade to see our favorite Brooklet members."

Bulloch Solutions, another key sponsor, highlighted the festival's family-friendly atmosphere. Carrie Binns, sales and marketing coordinator, shared, "I love that it brings the community together here. It feels like the best down-home, pure, great place to live. It means a lot to me as a Bulloch Solutions employee because it helps us have a plug into the community where we can really interact and have a good time."

City officials are equally excited. Lori Phillips, representing the City of Brooklet, said, "It means a great deal. We always enjoy supporting and sponsoring the festival and helping out in any way we can. It's the community and the people that make Brooklet special, and everybody comes together for this event."

Essential services are also preparing for the influx of visitors. Phillip Smith from Allen's Environmental Services, which provides sanitation facilities for the festival, remarked, "We basically support the Peanut Festival down here, making sure everybody has clean places to use the bathroom. Whatever they need, we can do it."

Yancey Brothers, a dealer for Caterpillar equipment, is another proud sponsor. Mike Tafft, the regional sales manager, shared, "We've heard about the inception of the festival and just want to be a part of it moving forward. Thirty-five years is a long time, and we are excited to support this community event."

Blanchard Equipment, a John Deere dealership, is also joining the festivities. Jeff Allen, representing Blanchard, expressed his enthusiasm: "We sell John Deere equipment, including everything you need for peanut farming, whether you're digging them up or combining them. This is my first time at the Brooklet Peanut Festival, and I'm excited to see what it's all about." He also mentioned the company's upcoming move to a new, state-of-the-art facility in Statesboro, highlighting their commitment to the local agricultural community.

Birdsong Peanuts, a major player in the peanut industry, is eager to participate as well. Dina Nesmith from Birdsong Peanuts explained their role: "Our buying point is about three miles outside of Brooklet. We buy peanuts, store them, shell them, and sell them to manufacturers. So that's where your peanut butter and candy bars come from—a lot of it starts right here." She added, "It's nice to sell the seed and see them plant it. We just received our first two loads of peanuts about 20 minutes ago, so we're ready to get started."

Sponsors like Georgia Power also play an important role. "It's a privilege to be a part of something like this," said Joel Hanner of Georgia Power. "Our motto is 'citizens where we serve,' and events like this allow us to support the community directly."

East Georgia Regional Medical Center is another dedicated partner. Brian Realiza, a local resident and hospital representative, remarked, "It's a blessing to support a community event like this. It’s fun and family-friendly, and it’s always great to see people come together."

Cindy Saxon from Statesboro Golf Carts, which provides the free shuttles at the festival, emphasized how the company values community involvement. "All of our families are from this area, and we care about the community. We’re glad to give back and help out however we can," she said.

Festival-goers will have the chance to enjoy a variety of activities, including performances from The Good Time Buddies and The Blue Steel Band. Many local companies, like Tidewater, Yancey and Blanchard, will have a presence in the parade, showcasing their commitment to agriculture and the community. "We love supporting the Peanut Festival because most of our farmers do peanuts," said Heather Hendricks from Tidewater, a Case IH dealer.

Brooks Edwards from Candler Peanut Company, a local peanut processor, shared how important the festival is for showcasing the hard work of local farmers. "This is the time of year we can see the end result of all the trials and tribulations that come with farming, and it's great to be a part of that celebration," Edwards said.

With free admission and plenty of activities for all ages, the Brooklet Peanut Festival promises to be a fun, family-friendly event that highlights both the community and its agricultural heritage. Be sure to join in the festivities on September 21st and experience everything Brooklet has to offer!

Key Details:

Date: Saturday, September 21st, 2024
Parade: 10:00 AM, live-streamed by Grice Connect
Location: Downtown Brooklet, GA
Activities: Parade, free entertainment, arts and crafts, food vendors, carnival rides
Brooklet Peanut Festival website