PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Randy Knight, President Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation
Let’s Work Together to Grow Farm Bureau Fall is a great time of year. Hot summer days are finally giving way to cooler weather, and county fairs, college football games and harvest season are officially underway. But there’s something else that I enjoy about the fall. In late September and early October, quite a few of our family farmers begin offering corn mazes and pumpkin patches that bring school kids and their parents out to the country for a fun day of learning. Agritourism gives farmers an opportunity to teach consumers about their way of life while earning extra income with their farm. In Mississippi, in addition to corn mazes and pumpkin patches, you will find everything from U-pick gardens to seasonal festivals to country villages. A few of these businesses stay open year round. Realizing that agritourism is a growing segment of state agriculture, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation helped secure the passage of Senate Bill 2439 during the 2012 Regular Session of the Mississippi Legislature. This bill provides limited liability to farmers engaged in agritourism operations who register with the Department of Agriculture and Commerce. Hopefully, the new law will contribute to the future growth of a most promising industry. In this issue of our magazine, we feature several Mississippi agritourism operations. I hope you enjoy. Also, check out the next issue, which will explore other land use opportunities as we feature the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Land Program. Farm Bureau Bank In our continuing effort to remain responsive to your needs, the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors voted this past spring to move forward with adding Farm Bureau Bank as a new membership option. Already, Farm Bureau Bank supports the financial needs of more than 100,000 banking members across 42 states. As with any membership option that we offer, you can be assured that its strength and financial stability will be there for you and your
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family now and for generations to come. More information can be found on pages 2 and 3. You can also visit the Farm Bureau Bank Web site at www.farmbureaubank.com or call your county Farm Bureau office. Let’s Grow I want to talk to you for a moment about Farm Bureau. Each year, our volunteer leaders and staff work together to voice the concerns of Mississippi farmers. That’s our mission. But we are also not afraid to speak up – often against great odds – about issues that concern all Mississippians. Our eminent domain reform campaign is a perfect example. That campaign gave a larger audience a closer look at Farm Bureau, and people responded. We must not forget this important lesson. In addition to telling the farmer’s story and generating a strong support for Mississippi agriculture, let’s begin thinking about how we can better spread the word about Farm Bureau and the many programs we offer that are designed to help not only farmers but all Mississippians have a better life and make a better living. Farmers need us right now more than ever before, but the general public is also hungry for that sense of community and strength of purpose that we so uniquely offer. Farm Bureau volunteer leaders are a close-knit group of folks who are active in churches and communities across the state. We share the same conservative values as well as a desire to make a difference. All of us are convinced that Farm Bureau is the answer. As I complete my first term as your president, I am proud of all that we have accomplished, but I see so much more that needs to be done. As I visit with you, I am heartened to discover that you feel the same. Let’s put our thoughts together and come up with some dynamic new ways to grow this great organization of ours. I am open to your suggestions. Farm Bureau deserves nothing less than our very best effort.
MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER