Peanut Butter & Milk Festival

It all started in January of 1971 when Bruce Cottington, co-owner of Kohlhoff's Super Valu in Litchfield, Minnesota, and Lloyd Kuehl, produce manager, began talking about how often they ate peanut butter and drank milk on a radio talk show Bruce hosted every weekday on the local radio station, KLFD. A new store had recently opened and was giving them some stiff competition. Looking for a good promotion to stimulate sales, they hit on proclaiming Litchfield the peanut butter capital of the world. Bruce and the staff of Super Valu wondered if any of their listeners liked peanut butter as well as they did. They said if they did, they'd get a special price on peanut butter when they came into the store. The whole town came in!

As the idea gained momentum, Cottington began writing letters to anyone who might be receptive...President Nixon, Senator Humphrey, Governor Wendell Anderson, Ann Landers and Governor George Wallace. People went along with the idea, with Anderson proclaiming February 8-15 as Peanut Butter Days. Soon "Master Peanut Butter Eater" certificates were circulating and people from all over the U.S. began writing in for them. Litchfield went peanut butter crazy.

Since peanut butter and milk are a natural together, Master Milk Drinker certificates soon began circulating along with the Master Peanut Butter Eater certificates. The Master Milk Drinker certificates were signed by Harmon Killebrew and were color blind--having both a White Milk and a Chocolate Milk Director of Affairs.

The Peanut Butter and Milk Festival was started to do four things--promote rural America; promote good food; promote agriculture, particularly the dairy industry; and to involve young people in these promotions. Since Bruce is a lifetime FFA member, it seemed a natural step to involve the FFA groups in the program. He called Auburn University to ask about an FFA chapter in Alabama. He was told that Paul Dean at Hartford, Alabama, had the best FFA chapter in Alabama. Thus the Hartford-Litchfield connection.

Later that year, Bruce determined that he needed a special vehicle for his travels to Alabama. Al Fenton contacted the Chevrolet company and a special order was sent to Detroit for a Peanut Butter and Milk car. The bottom of the car was to be the color of peanut butter and the top was to be white for milk. The Detroit factory had to stop production to paint this special car which was used on many a trip to Alabama and was even featured in the 1971 National Peanut Festival Parade.

In October of that year, Bruce and his family set out for Alabama, stopping along the way to make presentations to several people. Beginning in St. Paul, a presentation was given to Governor Wendell Anderson. In Des Moines they presented Super Valu peanut butter and Land O'Lakes dairy products to Governor Robert Ray, a former Drake University classmate of Bruce's. Similar stops and presentations were made to Governor Winfield Dunn of Tennessee, Governor George Wallace of Alabama, and Lt. Governor William Morris of Missouri.

Governor George Wallace signed a legislative resolution stating that anybody in Meeker County was a resident of Alabama. Meeker County residents couldn't vote in Alabama, but they were more than welcome to pay taxes!

Once in Alabama, the Cottingtons visited the Dothan and Hartford areas and participated in the National Peanut Festival. Bruce visited with Paul Dean, FFA advisor at Hartford, and the idea of a north-south FFA and FHA exchange program was finalized.

Delegates

While many people from the community have come and gone over the past 50+ years, the committee remains dedicated to the future of this exchange program.  Hundreds of families have been involved in the sister city exchange, either by hosting a delegate in their home in the Litchfield area or by being a delegate to the Hartford, Alabama area.

Promotional Buttons

"Put the Squeeze on a Cow and Shell a Peanut Today", was the first button slogan.  It was started in1980 with Jim Turck's winning design.  This started the button promotion.  Buttons were sold prior to the February celebration every year.  This promotion promotion ended in 2007.

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Committee members give of their time and talents to keep the program successful.  Without the support of past and present members, and of the community, the program would not continue to exist. Not only is there plenty of work to be done in planning for the winter festival week, but members are out in the community representing the program throughout the year.

Committee members and annual student and adult delegates serve brats at Center Bank during Watercade and malts and ice cream cones in the American Dairy Association Malt Booth at the Meeker County Fair. These are fundraisers for the exchange program.

The Peanut Butter & Milk Festival is a proud member of The Chamber Serving the Meeker County Area (Litchfield Area Chamber of Commerce).

This program would not be possible without the unwaivering support of the community.  

Thank you to everyone who gives of time, treasure, and talent to make this program happen!

Annual Festival Event Sponsors

Mannanah Valley Dairy (Aggie Schmitz Family)

Ru-Be Dairy (Joe & Karen Becker and Patrick & Rachel Rusch Families)

McDonalds of Litchfield 

Central Counties Cooperative

Litchfield FFA Alumni & Supporters

Meeker Energy & Vibrant Broadband

KLFD Radio

Litchfield Rotary

The Chamber Serving the Meeker County Area

Annual Monetary Donors

List in Progress

Regular Meetings

3rd Tuesday monthly September to May

Litchfield High School Ag Room @ 7PM

Festival Meetings

Every Tuesday in January

Litchfield High School Ag Room @ 7PM

Annual Meeting

Immediately following the April regular meeting

Litchfield High School Ag Room @ 7PM

Board members and officers are elected at the annual meeting held in April. 

Board members serve 3 year terms and can be selected from any active committee member. 

Officers are selected annually from any of the elected board members.

Board Members

Terri Anderson

Karen Becker

Lori Christofferson

Jim Cottington

Janet Huhn

Cindy Knutson

Jordan Niece

Loree Schultz

Rachel Turck

2026-27 Officers

Chair

Terri Anderson

Vice Chair

Karen Becker

Secretary

Lori Christofferson

Treasurer

Loree Schultz

PBM Festival Week is typically held around late January or early-mid February. The week's activites are advertised on KLFD, Facebook, and the Litchfield Rail. Day of the week TYPICALLY does not change, but the annual schedule is subject to change year to year. 

Snow Day on the Lake

Snowmobiling, 4-Wheeling, and other activites on Lake Manuella. Snacks and warm beverages provided. Lake activities are dependent on ice quality.

Sunday afternoon @ the Roger & Janet Huhn Farm, Darwin

Chili Feed

Chili and soup supper to welcome and get to know Alabama guests. Committee members and host families volunteer to bring soups, chilis, and bars for this event.

Sunday evening @ the Forest City Threshers Dining Hall, Forest City

Game Night

Fellowship and fun with Alabama guests. Bring a snack to share. Games provided, story sharing encouraged!

Wednesday evening @ the Todd & Deana Wheeler Farm, Strout

Potluck Banquet

Banquet celebrating the PBM program. Bring a dish to share for dinner. Punch and light appetizers provided served by Meeker County Dairy Royalty. Silent auction with items donated by local businesses. Alabama delegates share about themselves and their MN expericence. FFA members are to be in Official Dress. 

Thursday evening @ St. Philip's Church, Litchfield