In 2009, a deadly salmonella outbreak swept across the nation. That outbreak was traced back to a peanut plant in my hometown. The plant was subsequently shut down, and all the bad press threatened to dry up our town.

In response, city leaders decided to put on a festival to bring awareness to the greatness of peanuts. Georgia is, after all, one of the biggest peanut producers in the world.

This past weekend was the festival's fourth year. I believe it to have been the biggest and best yet.

With the help of an area radio station, word of the Peanut Proud festival spread and vendors were excited to get in on the action.

In fact, so many vendors applied to be a part of the festival, some had to be turned away. Next year organizers plan to let them overflow from the square onto Main Street.