On Feb 21, students gathered in Mr. Nelson’s basic metals shop class to discuss the process of peanut production and similar products, these all tied into FFA, which they also discussed during the period while being provided complimentary peanuts. There also was a competition of who could find the biggest peanut, with a digital scale for comparison.

FFA advisor Mr. Nelson was the speaker and organizer of the event. “We talked with our FFA officers and came up with a plan for FFA week, and Peanut Day has been a long-standing tradition that celebrates, basically, peanuts as a commodity. It used to go back to the milk and peanut exchange with the Georgia FFA members and Minnesota FFA members,” he said.

“We don’t grow peanuts here in Minnesota. And that was historically why we did the exchange because agriculture is so different from the Southeast Part of The United States to the Midwest. We have more corn and soybeans, cattle and hogs, and dairy cattle. And, in Georgia, it’s much more drier conditions, sandier soil, and different growing seasons,” Nelson said.

Wyatt Hofmann was one student who attended the event. “I think peanut day was pretty good. It’s always nice to get stuff for free. But most of all I didn’t have to spend class time doing an assignment.”

Another person who helped organize the event was Mr. Gusso. “Nelson shared a slideshow with me. And I put that into my classroom and shared it with you guys, and then I played videos for you. I also had to travel with the peanuts because we had peanuts down at the CTE center as well.”