Four and half years ago, Bradley Smith was a freshman at Illinois trying to decide on the perfect major. Today, he’s found what he calls “the perfect job”—traveling across the country in a 26-foot-long peanut. Delete Edit embedded media in the Files Tab and re-insert as needed.

“When I tell people what I do, it’s a huge mix of reactions, but the first thing I always see is a huge smile,” he said. “It’s not every day that someone tells you that part of their job is operating a huge peanut.”

Serving as a brand specialist for Planters, Smith travels across the country promoting the company at local community events, festivals and grocery stores. He and the “Peanutters” also manage social media for Planters, documenting their experiences as they engage people with the NUTmobile in a new city every week.

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Smith learned about the opportunity during his first year at Illinois.

“Planters Peanutters and other companies did career presentations in my intro-level advertising class,” he said. “The Peanutters detailed their adventures across the country—specifically their experience at a peanut festival, and their chance to meet past President Jimmy Carter,” he said.

“Being exposed to different career presentations as a freshman was absolutely impactful—I remember thinking just how cool this particular opportunity would be.”

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Four years later, he graduated with a degree in advertising and applied for the job. Now he’s on the road in a giant peanut.

To drive the NUTmobile, Smith went through an extensive two weeks of “Peanut Prep”—a training program that primes employees for operating a 26-foot-long nut on wheels.

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“We like to say it drives as smooth as peanut butter,” he said.

As for the inside of the vehicle, Smith says it’s nothing to crack at.

“It’s decked out,” explained Smith. “Two TVs, a timeline of the history of Mr. Peanut on the ceiling, and even a peanut-themed dashboard. It’s pretty nuts.”

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From New York to Texas, Smith will spend a full year on the road traveling across the country.

“It’s cool that while you don’t always know where you’re going, you’re always going to make an impact,” he said. “It’s even cooler to say that I absolutely love what I do.”