Whereas Dr. George Washington Carver, an African-American scientist, inventor, educator, and former slave— (1) suggested the planting of peanuts and soybeans to restore nitrogen to soil left barren from cotton production; (2) invented more than 300 products made from peanuts; and (3) became the first guest speaker in the history of the National Peanut Festival; Whereas peanut cultivation originated from the Incas of Peru as early as 1500 B.C., and spread from South America to Spain, Asia, and Africa; Whereas, in the 1700s, Africans were the first to introduce peanuts to North Americans; Whereas, in the early 1800s, the steady growth of peanut production altered its reputation as food primarily for livestock and the poor to a high-protein and well-liked food source for Civil War soldiers; Whereas, in the early 1900s, demand for peanuts grew due to advances in harvesting and production methods making peanuts and peanut products more easily available; Whereas Dr. Carver recommended peanuts as a crop to rival Southern cotton’s top commercial position, following its near destruction due to the boll weevil; Whereas thanks to Dr. Carver’s instrumental work in promoting the peanut in the Wiregrass area of Alabama, the National Peanut Festival invited him to serve as their first guest speaker; Whereas, in 1938, the first National Peanut Festival was held in Dothan, Alabama; Whereas the first National Peanut Festival established— (1) the Miss Peanut Award, first won by Elizabeth Johnson from Headland, Alabama; and (2) the Volunteer of the Year Award, named in honor of the first festival president, Harry P. Hall, and awarded annually since its advent; Whereas, during its 81 years, the National Peanut Festival became an established nonprofit organization through a resolution passed by the Chamber of Commerce in 1952; Whereas, in 1996, the George Washington Carver Statue was dedicated to honor the famed peanut pioneer and first guest speaker at the National Peanut Festival