Mississippi Farm Country

VOLUME 91 NO.1

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

FARM WOMAN of the

YEAR

A PUBLICATION OF MISSISSIPPI FARM BUREAU FEDERATION • MSFB.ORG

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MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

TABLE

of

CONTENTS

january/feruary 2015 Volume 91 Number 1 January/February 2015

FEATURES

Mississippi Farm Country (ISSN 1529-9600) magazine is published bimonthly by the Mississippi Farm Bureau® Federation.

Farm Bureau members receive this publication as part of their membership benefit. Periodicals postage is paid at Jackson, MS and at additional mailing offices.

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Postmaster: Send address changes to P.O. Box 1972, Jackson, MS 39215 EDITORIAL AND BUSINESS OFFICES 6311 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, MS 39211 601-977-4153

ADVERTISING Angela Thompson 1-800-227-8244 ext. 4242

FARM BUREAU DIRECTORS Dr. Jim Perkins, Iuka Kevin Simpson, Ashland Tommy Swindoll, Hernando Bob Workman, Sledge Tripp Thomas, Batesville Dan Bishop, Baldwyn Herbert Word, Okolona Craig Canull, Caledonia Pepper Beard, McCarley Dott Arthur, Carthage Kenneth Thompson, Philadelphia Paul Myrick, Stringer Quinton Mills, Forest James Newman, Rolling Fork Robert Earl McGehee Jr., Brookhaven Earl Gay Edwards, Smithdale Bobby Selman, Monticello Dorothy Cole, Richton J. B. Brown, Perkinston Tom Daniels, Gulfport Betty Mills, Winona Kelly Davidson, Ruleville HONORARY VICE PRESIDENT Louis J. Breaux III

Material in this publication is based on what the editor believes to be reliable information. Neither Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation nor those individuals or organizations contributing to the MFBF publication assume any liability for errors that might go undetected in the publication — this includes statements in articles or advertisements that could lead to erroneous personal or business management decisions.

FARM BUREAU®, FB®and all Farm Bureau logos used in this magazine are registered service marks owned by the American Farm Bureau Federation. They may not be used in any commercial manner without the prior written consent of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Farm Bureau members can now receive up to $500 off eligible tractors and equipment at any Case IH dealership. Members can also use a new smartphone app to access Farm Bureau information. More information can be found on pages 2, 5 & 7.

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EDITOR — Glynda Phillips

FARM BUREAU OFFICERS President — Mike McCormick Vice President — Donald Gant Vice President — Ted Kendall IV Vice President — Reggie Magee Treasurer — Billy Davis Corporate Secretary — Ilene Sumrall

New Member Benefits

Farm Woman of the Year

Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Farm Woman of the Year Carla Taylor has been recognized for her contributions to Farm Bureau, Mississippi agriculture and her local community. Come with us as we learn more about this outstanding individual.

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Solve the Mystery

This Newton County town sits in the bend of a 27-mile-long river with the same name. Read the clues and make your guess.

DEPARTMENTS

About The Cover

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Carla Taylor is pictured at Taylor Jersey Farm near Booneville.

Member Benefits 6 Commodity Update: Sweetpotatoes 16 Strolling: Sam Scott

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

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McCormick to Serve as MFBF President Mike McCormick, a 52-year-old

cow-calf and timber farmer from Jefferson County, has been elected to serve as the 10th president of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF). The election took place at the organization’s annual membership meeting in December. Mike raises cattle and produces timber on a 1,200-acre farm near Union Church that has been in his family since the 1820s. He primarily runs a cow/calf operation with some stockers and hay.

Mike has served for seven years as president of Jefferson County Farm Bureau. He has been a member of the MFBF Board of Directors for four years and has served five years on the national Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board. He is a former chair of the MFBF Beef and Forestry advisory committees and a former member of the American Farm Bureau Federation Beef and Forestry advisory committees.

Mike is a founding member of the Farm Families of Mississippi ag promotion campaign and served as vice chair of the committee. He currently serves on the MFBF Land Use Committee. Mike is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. His wife, Suezan, teaches in the Louisiana State University School of Dentistry and is a longtime vice chair of the Jefferson County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee.

“I have a passion for Farm Bureau,” Mike said. “As a lifelong farmer who comes from a long line of family farmers, I know how important our 92-year-old organization is to agriculture. I intend to work with our staff and membership to build upon our past successes and ensure that Farm Bureau continues to successfully address the needs of all Mississippi farmers. I am humbled by your support and encouragement, and I look forward to meeting each 4

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

and every one of you in the days ahead.”

Also during convention activities, Dr. Gary Jackson, director of the Mississippi State University (MSU) Extension Service, was presented the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Distinguished Service Award for 2014. During his time in office, Dr. Jackson has initiated a process of reorganization and strategic planning to reconnect the Extension Service to the citizens of Mississippi.

The reorganization plan is complete, and Extension is currently finishing up a new state plan for needs-based educational programs that will be provided.

Mississippi farmers have always depended on Extension to help them do their jobs more effectively and efficiently. Farmers will continue to rely on Extension efforts in the years to come as they work to provide food and fiber for an ever-growing world population.

The Mississippi State University Extension Program celebrated its 100th year of service to Mississippians in 2014. The Smith Lever Act was signed on May 8, 1914.

The Distinguished Service Award is the highest honor Farm Bureau bestows on an individual, and it is reserved for someone who has truly made a difference in the lives of Mississippi farmers.

The late Conrad Mallette of Vancleave was awarded the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation’s 2014 Excellence in Leadership Award. Over the course of his lifetime, Conrad worked tirelessly to promote agricultural and industrial growth in Mississippi and Jackson County while helping Jackson County Farm Bureau become financially strong and the proud owner of two office buildings. A third office has opened in recent months in Ocean Springs.

Conrad served on the Jackson County Farm Bureau Board of Directors for 25 years and as board president for 16 years. He also served several terms on the

Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors. Conrad was a director with the Soil and Water Conservation Commission.

He served as a member of the county Farm Service Agency committee, the county Cattlemen’s Association and the First Baptist Church of Vancleave. He was appointed to the Pat Harrison Waterway District in 2004 and served as a director and as a member of the finance committee until his death in 2007. The 60,000-square-foot multipurpose complex in Vancleave was officially named in his honor in November 2007 and dedicated in February 2008.

The Excellence in Leadership Award was established to recognize those volunteer leaders of Farm Bureau who have made a significant contribution to Farm Bureau and agriculture in Mississippi. Their contributions have been performed as a result of an unselfish effort to strengthen Farm Bureau and to enhance rural life in Mississippi.

Mark Leggett, president of the Mississippi Poultry Association (MPA), is the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Ag Ambassador Award recipient for 2014.

Through the years, MPA has worked with Farm Bureau and other groups to form powerful coalitions to successfully work for not only the poultry industry but state agriculture as a whole. The Mississippi Poultry Association has also proven to be tireless in its efforts to get the farmer’s story before the consuming public. The organization has been one of the biggest supporters of the Farm Families of Mississippi ag promotion campaign and has been helpful in encouraging some of the major poultry companies to be a part of the program as well.

The Ag Ambassador Award recognizes individuals who have gone beyond their normal range of activities in promoting Mississippi agriculture, and it isn’t presented every year — only when Farm Bureau feels that it has been earned. FB More convention articles and photos will run in the March/April 2015 issue of Mississippi Farm Country magazine.

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Estate Planning for Families

B Y W I L L H O B S O N , S E N I O R V I C E P R E S I D E N T / T R U S T A N D E S T AT E P L A N N E R — H I L L I A R D LY O N S T R U S T C O M PA N Y, L L C

As of Jan. 1, 2014, everyone has an exemption against the federal estate tax of $5,340,000.

The size of the estate tax exemption now “floats,” based on the Cost of Living Index, so it is likely to rise annually.1 The state of Mississippi imposes no inheritance or estate taxes.2 For many years, estate and inheritance taxes were the driving forces in estate planning, but now they are not.

Some people, thinking they do not need estate planning if they don’t have an estate tax issue, decide not to prepare wills. That is a bad idea. If a resident of Mississippi dies without a will, state law dictates what will be done with the assets. According to Mississippi Code Annotated, Sections 91-13, 91-1-7 and 91-1-11, if a married resident of Mississippi dies without a will, the surviving spouse and all children are entitled to an equal share of the estate. For example, the widow of a deceased farmer with four children will own only 20 percent of the property that supported them jointly. The more children, the smaller the share of the surviving spouse. This can have a devastating effect on a family farm or small business.

The problem might be avoided if the

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

property in question was owned by the couple jointly with rights of survivorship. In that case, at the first death, the surviving spouse owns the property entirely. Unfortunately, all assets are not usually owned in that fashion. To be safe, you should at least have a will that states that the survivor (or a trust held for his or her benefit) is to own the property after the death of the first spouse.

Careful preparation of your will not only allows you to control who owns your assets after death but also allows you to name a responsible party to settle your affairs and to dictate exactly how your affairs will be settled. You might wish for a particular child involved in your farm or business to be given an opportunity to buy real estate or business assets according to terms you specify. Also, younger people might wish to name a guardian for minor children.

Proactively preparing a will gives you an opportunity to control these very important matters and to plan for your family in the manner you feel appropriate.

While estate taxes are not the problem they once were, income taxes are becoming more serious. In 2014, the top federal income tax bracket is 39.6 percent.3 Under the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, for certain taxpayers, a surtax of 3.8 percent is imposed on some forms of income.4 Moreover, Mississippi imposes a tax of 5 percent on income over $10,000.5 For some Mississippi taxpayers, income taxes may consume 48.4 percent of income!

Individual Retirement Accounts (“IRAs”) are wonderful assets. Contributions to them reduce taxes while you are working and allows deferral of income taxes during your lifetime. In the hands of your heirs, the benefits of your IRA are not as pronounced. An heir must start withdrawing inherited IRA funds

by Dec. 31 of the year after

your death. Annual accelerating withdrawals are required thereafter. These withdrawals could force the recipient into higher marginal income tax brackets, possibly even the highest aggregate tax rate of 48.4 percent.

However, if IRA dollars pass to charitable purposes at your death, they are exempt from any form of income tax. A child receiving an IRA of $100,000 might realize only $51,600 after income taxes. If that IRA passes instead to the Mississippi Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Scholarship Foundation or to the Mississippi Farm Bureau Foundation and Relief Fund, all of it will be put to good, productive use.

Perhaps you would like to help provide scholarships for students studying agriculture. Mississippi Farm Bureau provides several scholarships for students from Mississippi studying agriculture in colleges and universities in Mississippi. Mississippi Farm Bureau also sponsors “Ag in the Classroom,” which is a school-based program helping students in grades K through 12 acquire a broader knowledge about agriculture and how it affects their world. The program’s objective is to encourage educators to teach more about the critical role of agriculture in our society. Most elementary and high school students simply would not otherwise receive this information.

Mississippi Farm Bureau also participates in a statewide education effort called “Farm Families of Mississippi,” which is a series of television, radio and billboard ads aimed at educating the general public about the benefits of agriculture in Mississippi.

You can designate these programs as the beneficiary of all or a portion of your IRA funds. By so doing, you can rest assured that after your death, 100 percent of those funds will be put to excellent, effective use promoting the values you treasure. FB Farm Bureau offers estate planning services. Call the Mississippi Farm Bureau Insurance Sales Department at (601) 957-3200 or call your local agent.

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Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010. Pub. L.111-312, §303 (as amended by American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA).

Pub.L.112-240, §101(a)(2)).

2 Estate Tax Laws. Miss. Code Ann. § 27-9-1; specifically, Tax Levy. Miss. Code Ann. §27-9-5.

3 Rev. Proc 2013-35, §3.01 4 26 U.S.C. §1411 5 Miss. Code Ann. §27-7-5(1) MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

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COMMODITY UPDATE: Sweetpotatoes

Growing Mississippi Sweetpotatoes

Samantha Laird

MFBF Commodity Coordinator for Sweetpotatoes

Sweetpotato production is a 365-day-a-year, labor-intensive commitment and challenge, a challenge that more than 100 Mississippi family farmers accept every year. Mississippi sweetpotato producers planted 20,500 acres of the state’s beloved vegetable in 2014, splitting the difference in acreage between the previous two years (22,500 acres in 2012 and 18,400 acres in 2013). Most of the crop is grown in Northeast Mississippi, with additional commercial acreage in the Mississippi Delta and Tate County.

Sweetpotato production begins with plant production in March and April.

Unlike most crops, sweetpotatoes are not grown from true seed. Each spring, sweetpotato roots from the previous crop are placed onto prepared ground and covered with an inch of soil and black plastic mulch.

The black plastic mulch helps to warm the soil and encourage the sweetpotatoes to sprout. Approximately four weeks later, sprouts from the roots begin to push through the earth, and the plastic is removed. The shoots continue to grow for an additional month. Sweetpotato shoots are then cut and used to start the next phase of the production process. When a sweetpotato shoot (or “slip”) is cut, it often consists of just stems and leaves. Under ideal conditions, the slip will begin to produce its own roots within 24 hours.

Throughout May and June, slips are transplanted into ridged rows in commercial production fields. Each acre of production field requires an average of 13,000 slips.

Every single slip must be hand-placed into 6

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

a mechanical transplanter. The crop requires 90 to 120 days from transplanting to harvest, depending upon the variety grown, the number of sweetpotato roots set per hill and weather conditions throughout the growing season.

It has been said that, “Everything likes to eat a sweetpotato.” During the growing season, growers must protect the crop from numerous insects and four-legged mammals (deer, mice/rats, coyotes and, on some occasions, wild hogs).

Weeds also threaten yields by competing with the sweetpotato crop for water, light and nutrients. The vast majority of sweetpotato acreage receives a minimum of two between-row cultivations and one hand-weeding event.

Sweetpotato harvest typically begins around early September and lasts until all the crop is harvested or until weather conditions deteriorate to the point that sweetpotatoes remaining in the field are injured by hard frosts or cold, wet soil conditions. As with most aspects of sweetpotato production, sweetpotato harvest is a slow and labor-intensive process. Sweetpotato vines must be flail-mowed and the roots dug, roughly graded, placed into wooden 20-bushel bins and transported to curing and storage facilities.

In order to maximize sweetpotato flavor, aroma and sugar content and in order to help heal wounds and abrasions incurred during harvest, sweetpotatoes are often cured. The curing process exposes the storage roots to conditions of 85 degrees F and 85 percent relative humidity for an average

Mike Langley

MFBF Sweetpotatoes Commodity Advisory Committee Chair

of one week. Sweetpotatoes are then stored between 55 to 60 degrees F with high relative humidity. Over the first seven weeks of storage, the sweetpotatoes convert starches to sugars, increasing their palatability.

Modern storage facilities can ensure that sweetpotatoes maintain their culinary quality year round.

When an order is placed for sweetpotatoes, the roots are removed from storage, washed, graded and packaged. The USDA sets standards for sweetpotato grades based upon the size and quality of the roots.

Though loose packaging into 40-pound cartons is still the most common method, consumers today can purchase their sweetpotatoes in mesh bags or shrink-wrapped for microwave cooking. Jumbo-sized roots (those with a diameter larger than 3½”), canner-sized roots (those with a diameter less than 1½”) and roots with aesthetic flaws are used in processing and become canned “yams,” fries, chips, patties, tater tots, baby food and dog food. Though sweetpotatoes are available year round, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter holidays are often the busiest times of year for sweetpotato packers and shippers. As the busiest shipping seasons wind down, the production cycle begins all over again.

Baked, boiled, fried or grilled, the sweetpotato is a labor of love for the farmer and chef alike. FB This article was written by Stephen L. Meyers, Assistant Extension Professor and Sweetpotato Extension Specialist, Mississippi State University Extension Service.

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New Member Benefit Discount – Case IH Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation and Case IH have signed an agreement to give Farm Bureau members up to $500 off of selected Case IH equipment from participating dealers. The discount is stackable, which means it can be used with other discounts, promotions, rebates or offers that may be provided by Case IH or a Case IH dealership. A current Farm Bureau membership verification certificate* must be presented to the Case IH dealer in advance of product delivery to receive the incentive discount.

Farmall Compact tractors (A & B) – $300 per unit ■ Farmall Utilities - C, U, & J series – $500 per unit ■ Maxxum Series and Farmall 100A series – $500 per unit ■ Self-propelled windrowers – $500 per unit ■ Large square balers – $500 per unit ■ Round balers – $300 per unit ■ Small square balers – $300 per unit ■ Disc mower conditioners – $300 per unit ■ Sickle mower conditioners – $300 per unit ■ Case IH Scout – $300 per unit ■

*To print certificates, visit: www.fbverify.com/case.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

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“IT IS WHEN YOU GET TO SEE THE FRUITS OF YOUR LABOR — THE RESULTS OF A LONG, HOT GROWING SEASON — AND THAT MAKES IT ALL WORTHWHILE.” ROB FARMER

GRICULT A G UR N I L L E’S E T STORY B Y G LY N D A P H I L L I P S

Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) Farm Woman of the Year Carla Taylor, a Prentiss County dairy farmer, appreciates the many ways Farm Bureau supports our nation’s farmers, especially its efforts to carry the farmer’s story to the general public.

“The Farm Families of Mississippi campaign is doing a fantastic job of helping consumers across the state gain an understanding of the importance of farming,” she said. “The Women’s, Ag in the Classroom and Farm Woman of the Year programs are giving women farmers a voice and an avenue to teach schoolchildren and others about agriculture.”

Carla, who serves as women’s chair for Prentiss County Farm Bureau and has also served on the Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) State Committee and the MFBF Board of Directors, says she has taken advantage of every opportunity given her through her involvement with Farm Bureau to attend a class, a seminar or a workshop to learn how to make the public more aware of agriculture and how important it is to their lives. Most notably, she was selected from among farm women across the nation to attend the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Women’s Communications Boot Camp in Washington, D.C. “Most people today are so far removed from farming they aren’t aware of what farmers are doing to protect their food, their environment, their land and their water,” she said. “I try to let them know that they can’t go through a single day without the benefits of agriculture, whether it’s the food

they eat, the clothes on their back, even the roads they travel and the plastics used in their vehicles.”

A DAY IN THE LIFE

Carla and her husband, Bradley, make a point of working with agricultural organizations like Farm Bureau, despite their sometimes hectic schedule. The Taylors have three sons, Lee, 7, Carl, 5, and Holden, 4.

Along with Bradley’s parents, they operate Taylor Jersey Farm near Booneville. The dairy has one full-time employee.

“I get up at 4:30 every morning to help my husband with the milking, and we milk again at 4:30 in the afternoon,” she said. “We milk our cows, feed our cows and calves then wash up and get our boys up and fed. I take them to school then rush back home to finish any morning chores that need to be done. During the day, in addition to our usual chores, there are almost always other things that need our attention, whether it’s heifers that need vaccinating, manure that needs spreading or pastures that need planting.

“We volunteer with Farm Bureau, and we participate in school activities whenever possible,” she said. “We are very busy at times, but it’s also fun. Being able to work side by side with my husband, who is also my friend and business partner, is great. Having our children grow up on a farm is a wonderful opportunity to spend time with them, teach them responsibilities and give them experiences that a lot of children don’t have today.

“Our 7-year-old has his daily chores, and he knows they have to be done. He also

knows how to help keep the animals safe and happy, and the same holds true for our younger sons,” she said. “It is so gratifying to see that our sons enjoy the dairy. We don’t push, but we think they might want to work here when they are grown.”

Taylor Jersey Farm milks 110 registered Jerseys and has 150 calves and heifers. The Taylors also farm pasture/hay and timber.

Some of their land is in CRP and some is rented to a neighboring farmer for soybeans.

ALWAYS A FARMER

Carla says she absolutely sees herself in agriculture for the rest of her life.

“I grew up on a dairy farm, and whether or not my future keeps me in the dairy industry, I know I can never get away from agriculture because it has sort of been bred into me,” she said. “It was also instilled in me by my parents to be a voice for agriculture.

“Farmers must take every opportunity we are given to talk to consumers about agriculture, whether it’s an interview for a local paper, showing livestock at local fairs or just talking to someone at the grocery store. We must also express our opinions and have an influence on what is happening in the farming community. We must let our voices be heard.

“I don’t wait to be asked,” she added with a smile. “I speak right up.”

For more information about the MFBF Farm Woman of the Year Award, contact MFBF Women’s Programs and Ag in the Classroom Coordinator Clara Bilbo at (601) 977-4245. Or visit the Farm Bureau website at www.msfb.org. FB

Carla and Bradley served on the YF&R State Committee, where Bradley served as second vice chair.

Bradley was named a regional YF&R Achievement Award winner in 2003, and Carla was named a regional YF&R Achievement Award winner in 2013. The Taylors were recipients of the Young Jersey Breeder Award from the American Jersey Cattle Association in 2013. They market their milk through Dairy Farmers of America, where Bradley serves as a delegate as well as secretary for the Southeast Area Council.

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MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

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LAZY ACRES PLANTATION IS A MULTI-SEASONAL AGRITOURISM OPERATION WHICH OFFERS AN EASTER EGG HUNT, OCTOBER ACTIVITIES, A CHOOSE-AND-CUT CHRISTMAS TREE FARM AND A CHRISTMAS LIGHTS EVENT.

LAZY ACRES PLANTATION B Y G LY N D A P H I L L I P S

Michael May of Lazy Acres Plantation near Chunky wasn’t especially interested in farming until his parents decided to sell their farm. They were approaching retirement age and wanted to travel a bit.

Michael and his wife lived nearby, and he would often look at his parents’ property and wonder how he would feel if someone else owned it. He had grown up on the farm but had always had a job elsewhere.

The more he thought about it, the less he liked the idea of losing the farm, so he and his wife bought it in the year 2000.

And that’s how it all got started.

birthdays, reunions and so forth year round except during the busy months of October, November and December. Last year alone, 16 weddings were held there.

LAZY ACRES PLANTATION

bunnies; a Horsepital with one braying donkey; and a Chicken Chapel with lots of cackling chickens.

Other October activities include a gift shop, corn pool, playground, jumping pillow, Chunky Choo Choo (and some 20 other rides), plus face painting and stuffthe-critter crafts.

The corn maze this year was cut into the design of a hot air balloon with “We Love Kids” written on it. The 2014 maze honors the Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital and is dedicated to the doctors, nurses and staff as well as (and most of all) to the patients.

This year’s Hillbilly Run, an October 5K run through a fun obstacle course, benefitted the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

“In addition to the cows, which my parents sold to someone else, they had a little Christmas tree farm,” Michael said.

“We kept the Christmas trees and added pumpkins in 2002. I had accompanied my daughter’s kindergarten class on a field trip to a pumpkin patch near Brandon, and that farm had Christmas trees. I decided we could do that, too.”

Today, Lazy Acres Plantation is a multiseasonal agritourism operation which offers an Easter Egg Hunt, October activities, a choose-and-cut Christmas tree farm and a Christmas lights event. In addition, the farm is home to a 7,000-square-foot multipurpose facility built like an old-timey barn. You can rent the barn for weddings, JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

OCTOBER ACTIVITIES

October activities draw the biggest crowds. The farm has two pumpkin patches, a 4½-acre corn maze, pig races and Animal Acres, to name just a few. Animal Acres, a whimsical educational village, consists of a Moobil gas station with one Holstein dairy calf; a Goatel Six with several baby goats; a Bunnyville with a community of

FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED

“I love this,” Michael said on a mild October morning awash in brilliant sunlight. A cool breeze stirred the tops of the trees. “If you had asked me back when I worked off the farm if I would ever do something like this, I would have told you no.”

Now, it seems to have stolen his heart.

The first year Lazy Acres Plantation was in business, some 300 people visited, having heard about it mainly through word of mouth. The farm began to advertise, and last year, the farm had some 10,000 visitors for the October activities alone. Michael

would like to keep growing and adding more attractions. He says time will tell.

Lazy Acres Plantation is family owned and operated, with Michael, his wife and daughter taking care of all business. In October, the staff swells to 25 or 30 part-time employees, plus plenty of good friends willing to pitch in and lend a helping hand when needed.

Tickets are sold online, but most schools usually either call or email. Lazy Acres draws schoolchildren and others from Laurel, Meridian, Philadelphia and, on occasion, even the Jackson area.

For more information, call Michael at (601) 655-8264 or visit the website at www. lazy-acres.com/. FB Michael May sits on the board of directors of Newton County Farm Bureau.

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“TEDDY ROOSEVELT WAS A GREAT CONSERVATIONIST WHO TOOK PART IN MANY HUNTING EXPEDITIONS THROUGH THE YEARS. THE ONWARD HUNTING STORY SEEMS TO BE THE ONE MOST PEOPLE REMEMBER. I HAVE BEEN AN AVID HUNTER FOR OVER 25 YEARS, AND I AM A DEDICATED CONSERVATIONIST. THE FACT THAT TEDDY ROOSEVELT WAS ATTACHED IN SOME WAY TO THE STORE APPEALED TO ME.” MOLLIE MAGEE VANDEVENDER

ONWARD STORE MARCHES ON B Y G LY N D A P H I L L I P S

When a Mississippi landmark near Rolling Fork seemed in danger of being lost, it was only fitting that a former Miss Mississippi (and former Miss Farm Bureau) should step in to purchase it. Mollie Magee VanDevender would often pass Onward Store as she drove to and from her family’s hunting camp in Fitler on the Mississippi River. She says the store had seemed in recent years to be in need of some tender loving care.

“The owners had been leasing the store, and when they got ready to lease it again, I thought, ‘I could lease it, but if I am going to put my heart and soul into this, I need to buy it,’” she said. “So I did.”

The store opened under her ownership in 2012.

TEDDY ROOSEVELT

Mollie was interested in preserving a familiar landmark, but its historical significance appealed to her, too.

O

nward Store is over 100 years old and stands near the site where President Teddy Roosevelt refused to kill a captive black bear in 1902.

The incident fired the imagination of our nation and gave birth to one of the most popular toys of the 20th century … the teddy bear.

“Teddy Roosevelt was a great conservationist who took part in many hunting expeditions through the years. The Onward hunting story seems to be the one most people remember,” Mollie said. “I have been an avid hunter for over 25 years, and I am a dedicated conservationist. The fact that Teddy Roosevelt was attached in some way to the store appealed to me.”

On the walls of the store hang pictures of Roosevelt and Holt Collier, a noted bear hunter and hunting guide of the day, along with some of Mollie’s own hunting photos and trophies.

POPULAR RESTAURANT

When she purchased the property, Mollie replaced some boards that had rotted with wood from an old red barn that had just fallen near Rolling Fork. She wanted to be sure the store would be structurally sound for many years to come, but she says she tried to keep her renovations to a minimum to preserve the historical integrity of the building. The store retains its original wood floors.

Two vintage gas pumps sit out front.

“I put a combination dining room and porch on the back and moved the restrooms to the back, but I tried to do it all in good taste. I kept the country store atmosphere — we sell convenience store items and 14

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Mississippi-made food and gift products — was president, and he encouraged me to but we also offer a great dining experience. I enter the contest. Through my involvement bought the store to make sure we didn’t lose with Farm Bureau, I met many wonderful it. Little did I know that I would soon have people, and I gained self-confidence because a full-fledged restaurant.”

I got to sing in front of different groups. It Onward Store serves breakfast and lunch was the beginning of my exposure to the Monday through Saturday. Dinner is served pageant experience.”

Thursday through Saturday. The lunch menu Mollie went on to win the Miss Missisoffers a variety of items, from hamburgers sippi crown in 1975-76. and tamales to po’boys and blue plate specials.

Upscale dining is offered at night.

FAMILY Onward Store is located on Highway Mollie has enjoyed a wonderful life filled 61, also known as the Great River Road with many interests. But above and beyond and The Blues Highway. The store all else, she is a devoted wife, is north of Vicksburg and just mother and grandmother. She “I KEPT THE COUNTRY south of Rolling Fork. and husband, Billy, have four STORE ATMOSPHERE — WE “We have tourists who eat here, SELL CONVENIENCE STORE children, and at the time of along with local farmers, hunt- ITEMS AND MISSISSIPPI-MADE the interview, she was eagerly ers and people who drive over FOOD AND GIFT PRODUCTS — awaiting the birth of their from Jackson, Greenville and BUT WE ALSO OFFER A GREAT fourth grandchild.

Vicksburg,” Mollie said. “We try “I am ready to take off for DINING EXPERIENCE.” to offer something for everyone.” MOLLIE MAGEE VANDEVENDER New Orleans at a moment’s Onward Store doesn’t serve notice,” she said, delight evifood on Sunday but is open so you can gas dent in her voice. “This will be our first up your vehicle. grandson, and we are so excited.”

For more information about Onward MISS FARM BUREAU Store, call (662) 873-6809 or visit the Mollie feels agriculture and Farm website at http://theonwardstore.com.The Bureau helped shape her love of the store also has a Facebook page. The photo outdoors, her interest in hunting and con- of Mollie Vandevender in front of Onward servation and her passion for old country Store is courtesy of Kristin Lee Allen and stores. Her father, the late Archie Magee, The Scout Guide. FB served for two decades as Simpson County Chancery Clerk. He also had a cattle farm Mollie and Billy’s children include Laura, who near Mendenhall and was a member of is married and lives in Jackson (three daughSimpson County Farm Bureau. ters); William, who is married and lives in “I won the state Miss Farm Bureau title Jackson; Anne, who is married and lives in when I was 16 years old, and it was the first New Orleans (one son); and Clinton, who crown I won,” Mollie said. “Hugh Arant attends Mississippi College School of Law. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014

OLLING R ST

Fields Like People It was a tradition in parts of the South for people to name their homes; that is, for the wealthy to name their mansions. This was also true in England and many European countries and has about it a certain charm. We still enjoy and venerate the historic homes of Natchez, Vicksburg, Holly Springs, Columbus and other historic sites in our state. Would Mt. Vernon, Monticello, Montpelier, The Hermitage, Hurst’s Castle and many others be the same without their names?

Perhaps not.

by Sam Scott In my little corner of the world growing up in the 1940s, people did not name their homes for several reasons. First, there were no great mansions and people were still trying to overcome the Great Depression and endure a war. Also, it would have been considered pompous, and that seems to be true decades later. There are many large, luxurious homes built today, and some are called mansions and others are called estates. But names for homes are rare.

Nor was the title “plantation” often used in my world, and farms were called “places” and often connected with the names of the owners or, more often, former owner. Once a place was named, it usually stayed the same. This is often true for houses. My house was built right after World War II by Dr. Zeller. I have lived in that house far longer than he did, but it is, and probably always will be, the Zeller House.

In that way, we can say that houses are like memories. The same was true in my youth for fields, which were usually named for people 16

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who had worked or lived there. Not famous people, not wealthy or powerful people, but people of the soil, the salt-of-the-earth people.

One example that stands out in my memory is the Murphy Cole field. I never knew him or anything about him. When I was very young and heard that name, I thought it had to do with coal and wondered how there could be any coal in the Mississippi Delta.

Some of my early farm memories are of hay being grown on that field. There being little modern machinery then, there was a machine that baled the hay called a standing press. The hay was piled up, and the machine was towed from haystack to haystack (in some areas called “ricks”) and fed by workers with pitchforks. The hay was compressed into square bales and fed out a ramp on the rear, where two people sat feeding wire around the bales and tying them. Soon they were picked up, loaded on a truck and stacked in a hay barn. Now, neither hay nor cotton is rushed to storage — hay, especially, in huge round bales with a protective covering.

We eventually graduated to moving a machine along windrows of hay, picking it up, spitting out round bales wrapped with twine.

It still had to be loaded and stored, and my job was to slowly drive the truck along the row of bales while two men on each side threw the bales up and one stacked it on the truck.

When we got to the barn, first we had to get rid of the huge wasp nests which threatened us, so we made a game out of “chunking” them and running. If that failed, we threw gasoline on them.

We wore long-sleeved shirts buttoned up to the neck while unloading, and it was so hot we sometimes took salt pills, strange as that

sounds. I still have memories of sore fingers from using hay hooks to unload that hay.

Murphy Cole may have done and probably did do that same kind of work. Of course, I don’t know, but I think about him and wonder about him and his family. It was a great blessing in my life to know, work with, learn from and befriend the Murphy Coles of my time, and though I didn’t appreciate it at the time, now I wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything. They are truly priceless.

Just about every field had a name like “Ginny’s Forty,” owned by Ms. Virginia Starr, and we still call the land we own “The Hill Place” because that is what Daddy called it when he bought it 65 years ago. And there is Davey Bayou, which meandered through and gave a name to our row crop, oats and hay land. It no longer exists as such since the Corps of Engineers cleared it and made it into a drainage ditch, and though I understand the need (I think), I still bemoan the change.

Fields remind me of good people and also of Thomas Gray’s “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard,” published in 1751. It includes: “Let not ambition mock their useful toil, their homely joys, and destiny obscure; nor Grandeur hear with a disdainful smile, the short and simple annals of the poor.”

So I say, “Thank you, Murphy Cole!”

FB

Retired attorney Sam Scott worked with Farm Bureau for many years and continues writing for Mississippi Farm Country. You may contact him by emailing kdroge@msfb.org.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

History of State Capitol

BY SAMANTHA NE WMAN , MFB F PUB LI C P O LI CY D I REC TO R

The Mississippi State Capitol has been the the governor, lieutenant governor and speaker seat of our state’s government since 1903. The of the house. There are committee rooms and building is located on the site of the old state viewing galleries located on the fourth floor. penitentiary and is the third Capitol building constructed in Jackson. The first was a simple DID YOU KNOW? two-story building completed in 1822 on the The Mississippi House of Representatives is corner of Capitol and President streets and is the lower house of the Mississippi Legislature, no longer standing. The second building was and according to the Mississippi Constitution completed in 1839 and served as the Capitol of 1890, it is to be comprised of no more than until 1903. Today it is a museum.

122 members elected for Construction for the current Capitol cost four-year terms. To qualify more than $1 million, which was funded by as a member of the House, back taxes from a lawsuit settlement with the candidates must be at least 21 Illinois Central Railroad and took 28 months years old, a resident of Misto complete. A four-year, $19-million restora- sissippi for at least four years tion completed in 1983 helped to preserve and and a resident in the district maintain the original features of the building. in which he or she is running The Capitol is currently undergoing a multi-year for at least two years. $7.4-million renovation to repair exterior issues.

The Senate is run by the The building was designed to house all lieutenant governor, who branches of Mississippi state government. serves as the president of the Currently, only the Legislature, the ceremo- Senate but only casts a legisnial office of the governor and an office of the lative vote to break a tie. In secretary of state operate in the Capitol. The his or her absence, the presCapitol has a width of 402 feet, and the dome ident pro tempore presides has a height of 180 feet. The interior rotunda over the Senate. The presidome contains 750 lights, which illuminate the dent pro tempore is elected blindfolded lady representing “Blind Justice” by the majority party caucus and four figures who played a role in Missis- followed by confirmation of sippi history: two Native Americans, a Euro- the entire Senate through a pean explorer and a Confederate soldier. An Senate resolution. The Seneagle adorns the top of the central dome and is ate is comprised of no more made of copper coated with gold leaf. The eagle than 52 members elected to is eight feet high and 15 feet wide. four-year terms.

The Hall of Governors is located on the first Article 4, Section 36, of floor. Portraits of the state’s governors since the the Mississippi Constitution creation of the Mississippi Territory in 1798 are specifies that the state Leghanging in the hall. The former State Library islature must meet for 125 and the former Supreme Court chambers, now days in the year the goverboth committee meeting rooms, are located on nor is elected and 90 days opposite ends of the second floor. The Legis- in other years. The House lature is housed on the third floor, along with of Representatives and the

Senate have the authority to determine their own rules, punish their members for disorderly behavior and expel a member with a two-thirds vote of the membership. Both houses adopt rules to govern procedures, and then together, they adopt joint rules which govern the legislative session.

The salary for each state representative and senator is $10,000 per year. FB

Calendar of Events JAN. 6

Mississippi Legislature Convenes at Noon

JAN. 11-14 AFBF Annual Meeting — San Diego, CA JAN. 23-25 MFBF YF&R Leadership Conference — MSU, Starkville JAN. 26-27 Winter Commodity Conference — Jackson JAN. 26

Legislative Reception

FEB. 23-25 Washington D.C. Fly-In Visit JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

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SOLVE

Mystery

Which Newton County town sits in the bend of a 27-mile-long river with the same name? Read the clues and make your guess.

Our mystery town takes its name from a Native American gaming ground called Chanki Chitto, where Choctaws played games and held fall festivals. The town began to form where the A&V (Alabama and Vicksburg) railroad was being built. The railroad was completed around 1850-1852.

In the 1890s, the lumber industry moved into the area, bringing with it large mills and related businesses. Our mystery town was incorporated in 1901. At its largest, the town had some 450 to 550 residents.

History reflects that the Jackson Military Road passed through our mystery town in 1816. During the Civil War, there were several skirmishes in the area, and a local unit was organized to fight on behalf of the Confederates. In 1900, the town experienced a damaging flood.

Today, the town boasts a population of approximately 320 residents. Home Infusion operates a billing service here, and you will find a post office, town hall and volunteer fire department. The town is served by the Newton County School District. There are Baptist and Methodist churches.

The Kansas City Southern Railroad passes through our mystery town many

times a week, crossing the river west of town on a trestle known locally as “break down.”

It was on this site in 1863 that the trestle collapsed under a trainload of Confederate soldiers. The First Choctaw Battalion, stationed nearby, helped with rescue efforts.

A portion of the river near our mystery town was designated a scenic river by the Mississippi Legislature in 2003. The river is part of a statewide program for protection of

the most scenic and least-altered waterways in Mississippi.

Located on the river are a 60-year-old fish house and a recreational park and trading post. The restaurant is open Thursday through Sunday and serves U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish, Gulf oysters and shrimp and other locally grown foods. Each year, the restaurant hosts a river raft race and festival in June. For more information, visit the Facebook page or call (601) 655-8311.

The recreational park/trading post rents 25 campsites and a pavilion on the river. No primitive sites are available. You will find a bathhouse as well as a small store that sells bait and snack foods. For more information, call (601) 480-3045 or visit the website or Facebook page. The trading post is also home to the Signs of Faith woodshop and offers other handmade items, sewing and monogramming.

A canoe and kayak rental business, operated by Steve and Tanya Purvis, offers float trips seven days a week, from May 1 through Oct. 31. For more information, call (601) 616-1616.

One mile north of town, you will find Lazy Acres Plantation, a multi-seasonal agritourism business. See the related article inside this issue of our magazine.

Name our mystery town. FB

CORRECT GUESSES Mail guesses to Solve the Mystery, Mississippi Farm Country, P. O. Box 1972, Jackson, MS 39215. You may also email your guesses to FarmCountry@MSFB.org. Please remember to include your name and address on the entry. • Visit our Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation website at www.msfb.org. • When all correct guesses have been received, we will randomly draw 20 names. These 20 names will receive a prize and will be placed in the hat twice. At the end of the year, a winner will be drawn from all correct submissions. The winner will receive a Weekend Bed and Breakfast Trip, courtesy of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation. • Families may submit only one entry. Federation staff members and their families are ineligible to participate in this contest. THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING YOUR ENTRY IS JANUARY 31.

A special thanks to Terry Lange, Rick Lewis and Dwayne and Joyce Reynolds for their help with this article.

BED AND BREAKFAST WINNER — OUR BED AND BREAKFAST WINNER FOR 2014 IS CLYDE GOUSSET OF ADAMS COUNTY JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

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STO

EAL

D N U C O O R RNM G EN B Y G LY N D A P H I L L I P S

J

ames Holcomb of Fulton grinds cornmeal for the public using a 1930s gasoline-powered gristmill he has lovingly restored. The retired truck driver for Ferguson Enterprises has operated his business, The Old Mill, for eight years, and he says he enjoys interacting with his customers from around the state, the nation and the world.

“When I retired, I was growing about 10 acres of corn and taking it to a water mill in Alabama to be processed,” he said. “One day, I decided I wanted to grind my own corn, so I began looking for a gristmill.”

After a few fruitless stops along the way, James found a suitable mill in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. He took it to Meadows Mills, a mill manufacturer in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, and they fixed anything that needed fixing.

“I brought the gristmill home and set it up,” he said. “When I operated it for the first time, I was hooked.”

GREAT HOBBY

James grinds about 20,000 pounds of cornmeal each year. He has customers in Mississippi and other states across the Southeast plus several foreign countries such as Holland and India. He sells more medium-ground than coarse-ground cornmeal and grinds yellow and white corn. He

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

says he takes out the chaff and only grinds clean corn. He fills recycled five-gallon plastic containers, which he stores in a walk-in cooler.

James sells plain and self-rising cornmeal, but self-rising is the most popular. He uses a top-secret recipe for it that he has perfected through the years.

“The self-rising cornmeal is as good as you will find,” he said. “I supply four restaurants, two in Marietta and two in Belmont, and they love it.”

When he decided to sell the stone-ground cornmeal, James tried growing enough corn to meet the demand but soon found he was fighting a losing battle with critters like deer, birds, raccoons and squirrels.

“I discovered a place where I could buy food-grade corn in Kentucky, and I purchased about 5,000 to 6,000 pounds of it each trip. I would make two or three trips a year. When the cost of corn got so high, I found a farmer in Fulton growing white corn, and I began buying some of my corn from him.”

James says he has customers in Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi who bring in their own corn to be ground.

“Not many people run mills nowadays,” he said. “You can’t make a living with stone-ground cornmeal unless chain grocers want to sell it. It’s just a hobby for

me, but it’s something I really enjoy. It is so satisfying to be able to offer a good product that my customers enjoy.”

RESTORING MILLS

James also restores and sells gasolinepowered mills built in the 1930s, although he has worked on some older models. He takes them apart, cleans and repairs them, then builds a case for them out of pine lumber, which he paints a bright red. The sizes he rebuilds have the 16-inch and 20-inch stones because he says nobody wants big mills to play around with nowadays.

“I sold the first one I restored to a fellow in Lucedale,” he said. “I plan to visit him one day soon to see how it’s doing.”

James demonstrates a gasoline-powered gristmill at shows, farmers markets and museums around the state and the Southeast. In Mississippi, his venues have included the Mississippi Farmers Market in Jackson, the Oren Dunn Museum in Tupelo, Holley Farm near Fulton and Burton’s Sugar Farm in Michigan City.

For more information, call James at (662) 231-1400 or his son, Steve, at (662) 640-8211. You may also email him at the oldmill01@gmail.com. FB

James Holcomb is a longtime Itawamba County Farm Bureau member.

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Hushpuppies Southern-Style

Recipese

1 c. cornmeal 1 heaping T. sugar 2 tsp. baking powder ¾ c. buttermilk ½ c. flour 1 tsp. salt 1 egg 1 med. chopped onion Mix dry ingredients. Add milk. Mixture will be thick. Add onion and egg. Beat. Refrigerate overnight before cooking. Yield: 3 dozen.

Feeds 10-12.

Debbie Rhodes Rankin County

Okra Cornbread

Cornbread Hoecake Lace

1 c. Aunt Jemima self-rising white cornmeal mix ¼ tsp. table salt ½ c. fat-free milk 2 T. fat-free milk 1 egg 4 tsp. canola oil ½ tsp. Worcestershire ¼ tsp. hot pepper sauce 1 c. okra, fresh or frozen 2 T. onion

2 c. plain enriched white cornmeal, sifted 2½ c. water 1 tsp. salt Oil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Slice okra and set aside. Combine first three ingredients in a medium bowl. Combine milk and the next four ingredients. Add to dry ingredients, stirring until moistened. Fold in okra and onions. Spray pan with non-stick cooking spray and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Serves 12.

Mix cornmeal, water and salt. Let it sit for a few minutes. Spray a skillet with nonstick cooking spray and drizzle with about 1½ tablespoons oil. Preheat skillet over medium heat. Pour about three (2-ounce) ladles of batter on the skillet. The batter will sizzle and have a lacy appearance. If it looks too thick, add a little water. When the edges are slightly brown, carefully flip the hoecake over and cook until brown.

Stir batter, add oil to pan and continue cooking hoecakes.

Kay Perkins Tishomingo County

Jo Still Rankin County

COUNTRY COOKING VOLUME IV These recipes are from “Country Cooking Volume IV,” available at most county Farm Bureau offices. The cost is $15. If you order from the state office, you will pay $15 plus postage. • For more information, contact Women’s Program Coordinator Clara Bilbo at (601) 977-4245.

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MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

2014 Women’s Ag Tour: Delta

The 120-foot-tall Christ’s Cross at the Crossroads in The B. B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola honors a Winona was an awesome and inspiring way to begin renowned Mississippi blues musician while celebrating the Delta’s blues music the tour. heritage and local culture.

Tour participants enjoyed lunch at Wister Gardens in Belzoni.

The women toured Indianola Pecan House, a Mississippi family business.

Staplcotn in Greenwood is the largest producer-owned and oldest Cotesworth in Carrollton was home to the late U.S. Senator James Zachacotton-marketing cooperative in the country. riah George and is where most of the Mississippi Constitution was written.

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MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

Friends of Farm Bureau

U.S. Senator Thad Cochran and Congressman Gregg Harper, District 3, were each presented the Friend of Farm Bureau Award for their outstanding work in the 113th Congress. “We are pleased to recognize these men with our Friend of Farm Bureau Award and are grateful for the many things they do for Mississippi agriculture,� said Mississippi

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

Farm Bureau Federation President Randy Knight. The Friend of Farm Bureau Award is given at the end of each Congress to members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate who were nominated by their respective state Farm Bureaus and approved by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Board of Directors.

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

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Farm Bureau Events

The Farm Families of Mississippi (FFM) ag promotion campaign held its annual fundraising dinner in October at Table 100 in Flowood. The event also serves to spotlight local foods and the farmers who grow them. Shown at the FFM information booth are Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Southern Region Vice President Reggie Magee and Mary Knight. Pictured in the group photo are, from left, Eat Here Brands Chair Michael J. Stack, Congressman Gregg Harper, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation President Randy Knight, Eat Here Brands President Bill Latham, Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner Cindy Hyde-Smith and Eat Here Brands Executive Vice President Culinary Al Roberts.

SEN. WICKER ADDRESSES BOARD — U. S. Senator Roger Wicker addressed the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors during their August meeting at the Delta Research and Extension Center (DREC) in Stoneville. Board members also toured DREC research facilities.

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MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

Friend of Farm Bureau

U.S. Senator Roger Wicker was presented the Friend of Farm Bureau Award for his outstanding work in the 113th Congress. “We are pleased to recognize Sen. Wicker with our Friend of Farm Bureau Award and are grateful for the many things he does for Mississippi agriculture,� said Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation President Randy Knight. The Friend of Farm Bureau Award is given at the

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MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

end of each Congress to members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate who were nominated by their respective state Farm Bureaus and approved by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Board of Directors. Congressman Steven Palazzo, District 4, not pictured, also received the award.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

PAID ADVERTISEMENT

Ag Mag Issues Available

Farm Bureau offers a children’s

Farm Bureau offers a children’s agri- agricultural newsletter called Ag cultural newsletter called Ag Mag. Each issue features one Mississippi commodity through facts, activities, games and more.

Mag. Each issue features one Mississippi commodity through facts, activities, games and more. You can order copies of the newsletter for your local classroom or ag promotion events from our Ag in the Classroom Program.

Dairy, corn, poultry, cotton and horticulture editions are now available for purchase. The cost is $5 for 20 copies.

To order, contact Pam Jones at pjones@msfb.org or (601) 977-4854.

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MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

New Cookbook A new cookbook, “Country Cooking, Volume V,” a compilation of the “Angel’s Food” cookbooks, volumes I-XIV, will be available at the General Store at state convention and in most county offices after convention. The cost is $20. If you order a cookbook from the state office, you will pay $20 plus postage. For more information, contact Women’s Program Coordinator Clara Bilbo at (601)977-4245.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

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