A Job Well Done B Y G LY N D A P H I L L I P S
Ilene Sumrall retired in May as the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation’s (MFBF) Corporate Secretary and Chief Administrative Officer. Over the course of her 41 years of service to Farm Bureau, Ilene’s work ethic, leadership skills and dedication to all things Farm Bureau have helped to positively shape the course of our organization. She will be missed. “I have been a Farm Bureau member since the 1960s, and I have been employed by Farm Bureau since 1974, so Farm Bureau has been a part of my life for almost 50 years,” she said. “I believe in it deeply.” Ilene began her career as a secretary in the MFBF Commodity, Women, and Young Farmers & Ranchers Department. Through the years, she served as secretary to the Assistant to the President, Executive Secretary, Corporate Secretary and Chief Administrative Officer. She worked with numerous state boards and five state presidents, including Hugh Arant Sr., Don Waller, David Waide, Randy Knight and Mike McCormick. Here are their thoughts: Katherine Arant (wife of the late Hugh Arant Sr.): “Ilene always did a great job. My husband trusted and depended on her, and she always came through. She was also a good friend. Our family thinks a lot of her.”
Don Waller: “If I had any success as president of Farm Bureau, Ilene was one of the reasons why. She is someone whose depth of knowledge about Farm Bureau cannot be overstated. She will truly be missed.” David Waide: “Ilene was one of the most dedicated employees I knew. She never failed to complete every task assigned and in short order. Farm Bureau enjoyed its success because of Ilene and others as dedicated as she. My hope is that she will enjoy her retirement just as much as she enjoyed working on the Farm Bureau team.” Randy Knight: “Ilene is a very special lady who I had the privilege of getting to know as a friend and as a professional associate. She was the backbone of Farm Bureau, always working behind the scenes making sure things got done and not wanting the credit for it. She has set the bar very high for anyone taking her position or trying to fill her shoes. I would like to wish her the very best in her retirement. She is a real lady whom I will always have the pleasure of calling my friend.” Mike McCormick: “On behalf of the board of directors, volunteer leaders and staff of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, I want to express my appreciation to Ilene for her many years of outstanding service to Farm Bureau and wish for her a
very happy and blessed retirement.” Betty Mills (State Women’s Chair): “Being a loyal, noble steward of Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation who has served with five presidents, the echoes from many voices will say, ‘Job well done, you faithful servant.’ Thank you for your dedicated encouragement of the Mississippi Women’s Leadership Committee. It is an honor to have been asked to share a few sentiments to a fine leader and a great lady. Enjoy your tomorrows.” Ilene looks forward to her retirement years with the same enthusiasm that has benefited Farm Bureau. “I will truly miss interacting with our volunteer leaders and staff on a daily basis, but I am excited about the future,” she said. “I want to thank all of you for your support and encouragement through the years, and I wish for you the very best life has to offer. “I am blessed to count each of you as my friend.” FB Ilene has also served as secretary for Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, Mississippi Farm Bureau Service Company Inc., Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Balloted Measure Political Issue Committee Inc., Mississippi Farm Bureau Foundation and Relief Fund Inc., Mississippi Farm Bureau Holding Corporation and Mississippi Farm Bureau Investment Corporation.
Ilene is pictured with her grandson, Lochlan, 5. JULY/AUGUST 2015
MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY
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