MS Peanut Supply

Brian Atkins is a big believer in finding his niche, or as he puts it, “going where everybody else ain’t.” And that philosophy is not only the driving force behind Mississippi Peanut Supply & Equipment Company, it was the basis on which the business was founded. In 2009, Brain and his wife Misti realized that more and more Northeast Mississippi farmers had begun planting what was then a new crop in the area, namely peanuts, yet there were no local suppliers to sell and service the processing equipment those farmers needed. And Brian and Misti saw their niche.

“A Congressional act eliminated the old quota system on peanuts in the early 2000s,” Brian told us, “and by 2005 or 2006, farmers around here (Monroe County) who had never planted them before decided to give it a try. Peanuts are a good rotation crop because they put nutrients back into the soil. Also, there is a good market for them not only for human consumption but also for the oil. So it was attracting plenty of farmers, but they were having to travel too far to get the equipment they needed. This was costing them not only money, but time as well. They needed a local source for their peanut growing needs, and Misti and I decided to fill that need.”

Brian comes from a Monroe County farm family that grew mostly cotton. After graduating from Mississippi State, he became an Extension County Agent, a job he held until 2006 when he and Misti started Mississippi Peanut Supply & Equipment. At that time, Misti was a teacher at _________. The company began small, a part-time operation that serviced equipment used in growing and harvesting peanuts. “When we started, the closest places a peanut farmer could get his equipment serviced were Mobile (250 miles) or Dothan (300 miles) which were both long hauls. So we had found a niche, and the business grew fast.”

Pretty soon, the fledgling company had attracted more business than Brian and Misti could handle part-time, so they decided to make it their career. And as they gained knowledge and experience in the industry, they also gained the confidence to diversify. “If a business isn’t growing, it’s dying,” Brain said, “and as the local peanut industry grew, we grew along with it. We now service and sell equipment for growers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, and, of course, Mississippi.”

That growth has included diversification. Mississippi Peanut Supply & Equipment now has ten full-time employees who service and repair all types of peanut growing equipment from inverters to harvesters and everything in between, both in-house and on-site. They also have sixteen drivers ________ (Misti quote)

The staff includes a full-time, on-site agricultural consultant, Dr. Tim _______, who ______________.  “Tim is a real asset to the peanut industry in this area, and local farmers are constantly calling on him for personalized advice on planting and harvesting dates, soil analysis, and the optimal use of fertilizers and ________.”

And true to the company’s philosophy, the operation has found another niche. They now sell peanuts, both raw and processed, to the public, and they deep fry them in their __________ right there at company headquarters. “We sell raw peanuts in ___ and _____ pound bags,” Brian said, “but we really zero in on the deep-fried nuts.” Varieties of deep-fried peanuts include Ranch, Sea Salt, Dill Pickle, Cajun, and Popcorn Salt, and they are sold under the brand name “MS Peanut.” Sales to the public are going well, and the niche market they are currently pursuing is private-labeled bags.

“We sell deep-fried peanuts to high schools in bags labeled with the school’s name and logo,” Brian said, “and they are a big hit at football games. But it’s not just high schools. One such private label is the Bully Nuts brand that is sold at Mississippi State sporting events. And we’ve even created private-label brands for political candidates. It’s a fun niche, and it’s going well.”

Brian and Misti are living their dream, and as Brian puts it, “It’s all fun.” But they felt a need to share their good fortune by giving back to the community, so they created the __________ Foundation. The purpose is to _________. The main source of funding is the Ag Night _______ which features ______ and last year drew ______ participants. Just last year, Ag Night raised $110,000.

Also tell about the intern program.

Mississippi Peanut Supply & Equipment is located at 41155 Hwy.45 S, Aberdeen, MS 39730.    Hours are 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday – Friday. Email: roland@mspeanut.com Phone: 662-369-2733