With COVID-19 restrictions still in place for the remainder of the semester, many in-person activities have temporarily been put to a halt, including ASU students' opportunity to see the Planters’ NUTmobile.
The 13,000-pound peanut on wheels drove around the Tempe campus Wednesday to recruit graduating seniors as new Planters spokespeople known as “Peanutters.”
Danny "Maca-Danny-A" Holton, started touring with the NUTmobile in June after graduating from ASU in 2020 as a business sustainability major.
Holton said he wanted to bring the NUTmobile to ASU because he believes “Sun Devils are the best recruits.”
The 26-foot-long peanut rolled around Tempe — passing by ASU Gammage, W.P. Carey School of Business, Sun Devil Stadium, Desert Financial Area and the ASU Bookstore. Though there were not many students on campus, the few passersby stopped to film, photograph and gawk at the NUTmobile.
The Peanutters will spend Thursday driving around downtown Phoenix. It will be at the Graduate Hotel in Tempe from 1-3 p.m. Thursday and again on Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m, Holton said. A Zoom info session on how to become a Peanutter will be held Thursday from 5-6 p.m.
"As far as I know, ASU did not organize this event," a University spokesperson wrote in an email. "It is a Planters event."
The first time Holton saw the NUTmobile, he was a student studying on the Tempe campus. Now, as a Peanutter, Holton is recruiting graduating ASU students with communication and marketing experience to apply for a year-long position.
“To come here is just so magical and full circle to be at the school that shaped me so much,” Holton said. “Now I get to come back and help somebody get this opportunity of a lifetime as well.”
Video by Drake Presto
Peanutters are expected to represent the Planters brand — organizing appearances at colleges, community functions, volunteer events, festivals and more. According to the "Be a Peanutter!" document, the job's "nuts and bolts" offers a competitive salary, other benefits, clothing, a "company car guaranteed to turn heads" and more.
Talya "Trailmix" Cohen, one of the Peanutters, said she enjoys traveling around the country and connecting with event organizers as well as curious onlookers of the NUTmobile.
“It’s the stories they tell and the stories you tell that connect you guys, and I think that’s the most important part of this job,” Cohen said. “Being able to spread that kind of joy through telling stories and talking to people is the biggest part of this.”
Oliver Artus, a junior financial planning major, knew Holton as his ultimate frisbee captain at ASU. Holton was often on the road driving the team to tournaments, Artus said.
"He's used to this lifestyle," Artus said. "This is just the best job for him, being so outgoing and so friendly. I'm just happy he made it back into town."
Despite the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic, Holton still finds the job rewarding and exciting.
“This is the best job ever,” Holton said. “I love this. I love interacting with people. I love traveling.”
Though not interested in applying for the Peanutter position, Artus enjoyed seeing the NUTmobile in person.
"I'm just here for the free nuts," Artus said.
Reach the reporter at kncasti1@asu.edu and follow @kristencasti11o on Twitter.
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Kristen Apolline Castillo is the community and culture editor for The State Press. She has been working for the publication for two years, where she also reported for the desk.
