LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C. – The Lexington County Blowfish have once again teamed up with the South Carolina State Fair to host the Third Annual SC State Fair Celebrity Boiled Peanut Eating Contest. The event has been moved to the opening day of the SC State Fair, and will take place at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 12 on the Academic Avenue Stage.
Seven local celebrities will be vying for the coveted Golden Peanut Award by eating the official snack food of South Carolina.
The field includes 2019 champion Jonathon Rush (97.5 WCOS/The Morning Rush), WIS News 10 Sports Director Rick Henry, ABC Columbia Morning Co-Host and Weather Anchor Tyler Ryan, WLTX News 19 Sports Anchor and Reporter Chandler Mack and Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon.
The five returning competitors will be joined by a pair of newcomers, as WACH Fox 57 Multimedia Journalist and Reporter Jay Weaver and Brian Sumner from His Radio 92.1 will show off their skills in the contest.
“I’ve always said that this is a really nutty contest,” Blowie the Blowfish stated. “In the end, only one of these nuts will hit the game-winning home run and claim the coveted Golden Peanut Award.”
A special appearance will be made by Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott, who won the 2022 Golden Peanut Award. Sheriff Lott will be on site to make sure all rules and regulations are followed by the competitors. He will be joined in that task by SC State Fair General Manager Nancy Smith.
Meanwhile, Joe Pinner (aka Mr. Knozit and WIS-TV Employee of the Century [retired]) will return as the emcee for the contest. He will be joined in the hosting duties by WACH Fox 57 Breaking News and Traffic Anchor Dara Khaalid, who originally invited to compete -but was asked to help call the action instead and was named co-emcee.
The event is open to all SC State Fair attendees. The fair runs Oct. 12-23. For more information on SC State Fair tickets, visit SCStateFair.org.
MORE INFORMATION
• Read more about last year’s winner Sheriff Leon Lott