Miss Peanut Butter Festival

By JAINE TREADWELL

Features Editor

Oct. 30, 2000 10 PM

One morning, Savannah Hughes had a pitchfork in her hands stacking peanuts. The next morning, she was crowned Miss Peanut Butter Festival 2000.

Quite a turnabout?

Not really.

Savannah is a natural to represent the Peanut Butter Festival in Brundidge. She has lived all her 14 years on a farm. Her dad, Robert, has been farming for 30 plus years. Her granddaddy Jim Frank Hughes, only recently retired from farming. His dad farmed and his dad before him.

"My granddaddy said our family has been farming since they came over on the Mayflower," Savannah said, laughing. "They really have been farming since they came to America. But, with the way things are going, that might soon come to an end ."

Savannah knows more about farming than most teenagers. She drives the truck across the fields for her dad and rides on the tractor with him every afternoon. And, she has been involved with the Peanut Butter Festival since it was organized 10 years ago.

"I’m not sure how old I was, but one of my favorite memories of the Festival is the year that I wore a peanut costume and marched in the parade," she said.

Savannah has helped her family boil peanuts at the Festival each year. She has directed the runners during the 5K Peanut Butter Run and she has enjoyed each one of the Peanut Butter Festivals from start to finish.

"This year, I helped build the peanut stack that was the centerpiece for the Festival,"

she said. "Working with the Brundidge Historical Society to get ready for the Festival is always a lot of fun. I would like to see more young people get involved."

Being involved is exactly what Savannah wants to do as the reigning Miss Peanut Butter Festival.

"I might not be able to continue the farming tradition in my family, but I can represent them as Miss Peanut Butter Festival," she said. "I want to be involved in as many events and activities as I can to promote my hometown and farming. I don’t think farmers get the recognition they deserve. They feed the world and I don’t think we thank them enough for all they do for us."

If Savannah has her way, she will stay busy promoting the farming industry

in Pike County.

"If somebody wants me to come and represent the Peanut Butter Festival and the farming community, I’ll do it if I possibly can. This is very important to me."

Savannah’s first official act as

Miss Peanut Butter Festival 2000 was an appearance at the Brush Arbor Singing in Brundidge Oct. 25. She also participated in the Troy State University Appreciation Day Parade Saturday.

Next to the Pike County High School Bulldogs, the Trojans are Savannah’s favorite football team.

Savannah is a ninth grader at Pike County High School and is president of her class. She is a member of the Future Business Leaders of America, the National Junior Honor Society and the Science Club.

Her future plans are to attend college and pursue a degree in engineering – agricultural engineering, perhaps.

Savannah is the daughter of Robert Hughes and Sandra Hughes of Brundidge.