Senior Crowned 2025 Peanut Fest Queen

Congratulations to Gabby Armstrong '26 for being crowned the 2025 Suffolk Peanut Fest Queen at a ceremony at the Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront on Thursday, October 2!

This year marks the 47th anniversary of the festival, which is scheduled for October 9-12 at the Suffolk Executive Airport. The Peanut Fest Court is composed of nine outstanding seniors from Suffolk high schools, including NSA's representatives, Gabby Armstrong '26 and Aubrey Rountree '26. Applicants were evaluated based on their activities, awards, achievements, volunteerism and community involvement. Each senior also wrote a personal essay based on the Peanut Fest theme. Gabby's essay, which reflects on this year's theme, "A Hunka Hunka Shellin' Fun," is included below.

For as long as I can remember, I have always been someone who has found pleasure in hiding, almost like a peanut in its shell. For years, I stayed hidden in my protective shell, scared of the dangers of the outside world. I had an immense fear of others judging me for being myself. I was scared that I wouldn’t live up to others' expectations, that they would think I was weird, or that they would laugh if I failed. All of these thoughts that spun around in my head led me to believe that staying inside my hard, protective shell, where the prying eyes of the outside world couldn’t see through, was the safest option. I did my best in my own little peanut shell, my private oasis made of cellulose and lignin, kept judgement at bay. However, I soon realized, the more and more I shut myself away from others, the more I felt disconnected from my peers and the outside world. By the time I was 11, I wanted to be a part of something I wanted to belong to. I didn’t want to only inhabit the confines of this hard, brown shell. 

The first crack in my shell began in 5th grade. I had found a group of friends that I finally felt I fit in with. I finally felt valued for being myself, for not what they wanted me to be. The more I talked to others, the more my walls came crumbling down. I was myself, at last. By the time I had reached high school, I was no longer a peanut in a shell. I was a girl with a dream, a dream to be more than what others thought she was. A dream to be more than just a girl in a shell. A girl who wanted to tell the world, “This is me, and I am not ashamed!” 

Although it took me over 14 years to feel comfortable being myself, I started to realize that vulnerability was completely normal. Letting your barriers and walls down is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign of strength. My shell wasn’t meant to be permanent, because eventually a shell has to crack open, so that the outside world can see your true beauty on the inside.

As festival ambassadors, Gabby and her court will serve as judges for exhibits and will compete in the traditional peanut butter sculpting contest. Good luck, Gabby and Aubrey! To learn more about the Peanut Fest, please visit SuffolkPeanutFest.com.