March will be a busy month for 4-H as we help celebrate National Peanut Month! National Peanut Month was established in 1974, and is an opportunity for people to celebrate this important agricultural commodity. Peanuts are a special type of plant called a legume. Unlike other nuts, peanuts do not grow on trees. Instead, they grow on a small leafy plants that produce flowers above grown and fruit (the peanuts) below the ground. Peanuts are typically planted by local farmers in the Spring and harvested in the Fall. Tattnall County 4-H will be celebrating National Peanut Month in two main ways during March.

In-School Club Meetings

Each month, Tattnall County 4-H staff members teach a 45 minute In-School Club Meeting for 5th and 6th grade students at Collins Elementary School, Glennville Elementary School, Reidsville Elementary School, North Tattnall Middle School and South Tattnall Middle School. During the month of March, these students will be participating in a fun, interactive lesson focused on learning more about production of Peanuts in Georgia, as well as their history and uses.

Cloverleaf (5th-6th grade) Peanutrition Contest

In addition, we will be offering youth the opportunity to practice their recipe development and food preparation skills by participating in the Tattnall County 4-H Peanutrition Contest on March 11th from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Interested 5th and 6th grade youth can sign up for the competition no later than March 7th by calling the Extension Office at (912) 557-6724. We are also in need of a few additional 4-H Teen Leaders to serve as judges. All competitors and Teen Leader judges will also need to read the Peanutrition Information Packet (Download Here: Peanutrition Contest Packet) and turn in the required paperwork at event check-in on March 11th.

 

Additional Resources

Adults and community members who are interested in learning more fun facts about peanuts and peanut production in Georgia can visit the following websites to learn more!

Georgia Peanut Commission – https://www.gapeanuts.com/education/faq.php 

 

The Peanut Institute –

https://www.peanut-institute.org/peanut-facts/

 

The National Peanut Board –

https://www.nationalpeanutboard.org/