For the current class of Peanutters, life on the road is anything but predictable. The day might start before sunrise in one state and end with hundreds of fans at an event in another. As ambassadors for the PLANTERS® brand and drivers of the iconic NUTmobile, they spend a year traveling the country, creating memorable experiences and making connections in communities of all sizes. From long drive days and content creation to community events and meaningful interactions, every day brings a new adventure.
On the Move
Ask the current class of Peanutters what a typical day looks like, and they’ll tell you there really isn’t one. On any given day, they could be crossing state lines, attending community events, editing social media content from a hotel room, or introducing first-time visitors to the NUTmobile. They even have a name for their time on the road: “peanut time.”
“Every single day looks a little bit different depending on if it’s an office day, a content day, an event day, or a drive day,” says Christina Dominque, a peanutter on the NUTmobile. “Some of those days get combined with each other. We typically do one big event or two smaller events in the city we’re in.”
From handing out peanuts at festivals and local businesses to mapping out future stops between major corporate events, life on the NUTmobile is equal parts adventure, problem-solving, and connection. No two days are exactly alike, and that’s part of what makes the experience so memorable.
A Year on the Road: Fast Facts
So few job opportunities allow people to focus so heavily on building human connections. The NUTmobile may be the centerpiece, but it’s the relationships and shared experiences that make the role so meaningful. That’s what leaves a lasting impact, both for the Peanutters and for the people they meet.
Lanessa Aurand, brand manager, Hormel Foods
This Year’s Peanutters
Christina Domingue | Peanutter Name: Christinut
Favorite City Visited: The Outer Banks. I had a total pinch-me moment when I woke up early for the sunrise!
Best Road Trip Memory: Celebrating Karrissa’s birthday in Chicago. It’s definitely been fun making our own little traditions along the way!
Courtney Donohue | Peanutter name: Coconut
Favorite City Visited: Voorheesville, NY gave us such a warm welcome!
Advice: If you're considering becoming a Peanutter, do it! You'll learn, grow, travel, and make connections with people you meet along the way.
Karissa Schmit | Peanutter Name: Karishew
Favorite City Visited: Savannah, Georgia
Best Road Trip Memory: Meeting past Peanutters! It's exciting to connect with people who share similar experiences and hear how unique their year was!
Lessons Beyond the Road
For the current class of Peanutters, the year-long experience is about more than traveling the country in a giant peanut. It’s an opportunity to develop skills that will serve them long after their time on the road.
“You really have to be comfortable with change on the fly and problem solving in the moment,” says Karissa. “Things are going to come up or change on you. It’s not always going to go perfect, but the thing is, it always is in a way. The goal is to create experiences and memories that people will carry with them long after they meet us. We’re good at adapting to change, making it work, and still having a good time.”
Drawing on backgrounds in communications, marketing and public relations, this trio is building experience in public speaking, relationship building, teamwork and problem-solving, learning to adapt quickly as they navigate new cities, shifting schedules and unexpected opportunities.
“This role is incredibly unique, because it cultivates so many transferable skills that can be applied in any future career,” says Lanessa Aurand, brand manager at Hormel Foods. “I hope they leave realizing just how much they’ve grown throughout their year on the road. This experience challenges them in ways that build confidence, resilience and skills that will serve them long after their time with the NUTmobile.”
For many Peanutters, the role serves as a launchpad for future careers by providing hands-on experience and personal growth opportunitites that few entry-level positions can match.