DOTHAN, Ala. (WTVY) – The National Peanut Festival welcomed bakers of all levels for its annual recipe competition.
Sugar and peanuts filled the air as contestants carried in their creations.
166 students and adults entered dishes this year, each hoping to take home the top prize, a blue ribbon, and a ‘Kitchen Aid Mixer’.
“I’m a little nervous. I’ve seen a lot of good things on my way in. I don’t know. I’m hopeful that I’ll place,” said Aeryn, a contestant and student at Troy-Dothan.
Aeryn made a peanut pie pudding, with peanuts being the star of her dish.
Contestants brought pies, cakes, boiled peanuts, and a variety of other treats.
Professional foodies judged seven categories of sweet treats. Judges were looking for flavor, creativity, and most importantly, peanuts.
“We’re looking for all things peanut. This is the National Peanut Festival,” said Kathy Adam Phillips, a judge for this year’s competition.
For this year’s overall winner, Boyd Atterberry, it’s more than just a blue ribbon.
He took first place in the adult competition, sharing the spotlight with his three children, who also competed.
“The last three days, our kitchen’s kind of been crazy. Trying to plan out what everybody wanted to make. But it’s been worth it just seeing the happiness on my kids’ faces and hopefully something that we can pass down to them,” Atterberry said.
While some families are just beginning to create baking memories, others have been doing this for generations.
Kathy Adam Phillips was judging the same competition her mother won in 1966, proving that the love of food runs deep.
“Mom was the only one to actually win,” said Phillips. “I made a peanut butter jelly roll. Entered it in the miscellaneous and won first prize. And $50 to go with it. I was thrilled,” said Nancy, Kathy’s mother.
Not much has changed since 1966. All bakers left the competition with the same feeling Nancy did over 50 years ago.
The overall winner in the student category was Abby Dean, who served up ‘Fried Pickle Boiled Peanuts.’
This year’s categories included candy, pies, cakes, cupcakes, boiled peanuts, cookies, and miscellaneous.
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