Peanut Pusher, Betsy Owens
This article describes alumnus Betsy Hill Owens' life and career. This and other articles may be found in the University Archives.
Citation for this article is: Simmons, Karen. "Peanut Pusher," ECU Magazine, Winter 1988, Volume 2, No. 1.
Betsy Hill Owens '60 loves peanuts -- whether it's a handful of the cocktail variety straight from the can or a peanut butter cookie hot from the oven.
"Nothing smells better than peanuts roasting; that's comparable to coffee and bacon in the morning," she says. "And I'm a nut for chocolate coated peanuts; I can mow down a whole canful in one sitting."
Owens' job has a lot to do with her preference for peanuts -- she just started her 13th year as director of Growers' Peanut Food Promotions (GPFP) in Rocky Mount.
GPFP is the promotion arm of the North Carolina and Virginia Peanut Growers Association."Since the same type of peanut is grown in both states, officials decided in 1968 they could accomplish more by combining promotional activities," she says."My job is to conduct activities aimed at increasing the use and consumption of peanuts grown in North Carolina and Virginia."
The peanuts Owens promotes are Virginia-type."They are the largest ones grown in the country and are considered beautiful because of their size," Owens says."We feel we have the Cadillac of peanuts.Most of ours go into the cocktail market with only a small amount going into the peanut butter market."
GPFP is funded by peanut farmers through an assessment program. "Two dollars a ton of farmer stock goes to the two associates, which in turn budgets certain amoutns of GPFP," Owens says."They vote on the amount and whether to continue the program every six years."
Owens has seen a gradual increase in peanut consumption since coming to GPFP."Per capita consumption is now around 10 and a half pounds per person," she says."I'd like to say I'm responsible for that, but I can assure you I'm not."
What has helped, she says, are special promotions which keep peanuts in front of consumers.One promotion, now into its fourth year, motivates grocery stores to showcase in-shell peanuts by awards prizes for the best displays.
"In-shell peanuts are the hardest ones to sell because there's only so much you can do with them," Owens says."Usually, in-shell peanuts are stored on the bottom shelf behind the bird seed."
"One store participated by setting up 24 displays. They had peanuts with the beer, soft drinks, milk, nuts, snacks, produce, end of aisle displays, the checkout, and where you come into the store."
In addition to promotions, Owens also provides exhibits for state fairs and trade shows and assists small peanut companies in selling their products."I help them expand when they're ready, locate sources for packaging and provide information on how to cook them -- that sort of thing," she says.
Another hat Owens wears is that of journalist -- she edits a quarterly newspaper for the farmers, publishes numerous brochures containing recipes and other helpful information, and produces educational materials for elementary and high school students extolling the nutritional value of peanuts.
"I have the best job in the world because I get to do so many different things," she says."I like the travel aspect of it, and I enjoy being creative."
Since she is a "one-man band," Owens rarely finds time for the live television demonstrations she did during her first years with GPFP.
"One time I forgot to bring one of my major ingredients," Owens says with a laugh. "Another time I discovered that my glass mixing bowl had broken into three pieces.The only cooking utensil that station had was a coffee pot, so the host's secretary ran out to try and find something I could use.Unfortunately, it was so early that most of the stores hadn't opened yet.The only thing she could find was a yellow sand bucket at a drug store.So I mixed my cake in a yellow sand bucket."
Owens is a native of Deep Run, where she and her sister, Catherine Hill Tyndall '53 of Goldsboro, oversee the family farm."My father died when I was three, and my mother carried on the farming after that," she says.
After graduating from high school, she followed her sister's footsteps to East Carolina to pursue a degree in home economics. "I came along in the dark ages when women either taught school or became nurses," she says. "I didn't want to teach school, and I knew with a home economics degree many more options would be open, like becoming a dietician, an interior decorator or an extension agent."
Owens remembers her years at East Carolina as carefree and fun."Those were the good old days prior to demonstrations," she says. "There were no real problems, and everybody was having a good time."
She helped start Delta Zeta Sorority, served as vice president of the Inter-Sorority Council, was a member of the Home Economics Club, and was selected queen of the 1960 Alpha Phi Omega White Ball.
Ownes remains in close contact with ECU through the School of Home Economics Professional Society, and three years ago established a scholarship with her sister for home economics education students. The recipient receives $250 per semester and is selected annually on the basis of financial need and academic merit.
"We just have a real soft spot in our hearts for East Carolina and wanted to do something to be helpful," Owens says.
Owens was also a member of the steering committee which started the Bessie McNiel Scholarship.McNiel served as director of the Home Economics Department from 1950 to 1962.
After obtaining her degree, Owens did 4-H work with the extension service in Elizabeth City, became a full-time homemaker, and worked for the N.C. Pork Producers Association.
"My home economics background from East Carolina has been real helpful in all of my jobs," Owens says."Even when I was a full-time homemaker, I did a little bit of everything, from sewing and cooking to upholstery and making draperies."
Owens is an active member of the North Carolina Home Economics Association, having held all offices, and has been a national officer of the American Home Economics Association."I try to give back to my profession some of what it's given me," she says.
