New Beneficiary For Okey Dokey

This year the Opelika Okey Dokey comes with a new beneficiary that feels both nationally significant and proudly local.

We’re excited to announce that the Bonnie Plants Foundation will serve as the featured charitable partner for the Opelika Okey Dokey stop. As you probably know Bonnie Plants is one of the most recognized names in home gardening across the country. How many cucumber and tomato plants have we bought from them over the years? What many may not realize is that Bonnie Plants is also a major employer in the Auburn-Opelika community, along with a long-standing commitment to growing more than just vegetables.

Through the Bonnie Plants Foundation, the company invests in initiatives that promote youth gardening, food education, and access to fresh produce. Their programs help schools and community groups establish and sustain vegetable gardens, giving kids hands-on experience with growing food while learning about nutrition, responsibility, and environmental stewardship. It’s about empowering the next generation to understand where food comes from—and giving them the tools to grow it themselves.

At this year’s Opelika Okey Dokey, rider donations will directly support the Bonnie Plants Foundation’s ongoing efforts, helping expand educational gardens and food-based learning initiatives in communities that need them most. It’s a natural fit for Gravel Roll. Many of you have enjoyed the homegrown and canned prizes of pickles and pickled green beans over the years, so you know we love playing in the dirt while building stronger communities from the ground up.

In addition to supporting the Foundation, the Opelika Okey Dokey will continue directing a portion of proceeds toward local volunteer and host city support. Events like this don’t happen without an army of course marshals, aid station crews, logistics helpers, and community partners. Your participation in the Okey Dokey along with additional contributions help ensure we can properly support those volunteers and continue working closely with the City of Opelika to produce a safe, welcoming, and economically impactful event.

The Gravel Roll has always been about more than miles and gravel. It’s about bringing people together (with our awesome format of course!), celebrating our hosts, and leaving something positive behind when the dust settles. So get signed up for the Opelika Okey Dokey and make an extra donation when you do!