Msfarmctry vol92 no5 issuu

VOLUME 92 NO. 5

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

A Passion for Agriculture

A PUBLICATION OF MISSISSIPPI FARM BUREAU FEDERATION • MSFB.ORG

C O N T E N T S

september /october 2016 Volume 92 Number 5 September/October 2016

FEATURES

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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.

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

IMPORTANT CATFISH MEASURE Farm Bureau and other ag organizations are working hard to ensure that a catfish measure championed and implemented

by U.S. Senator Thad Cochran in two consecutive farm bills remains in place. Please take a moment to read about this issue.

FARM FACTS Silent Shade Planting Company is a family-owned and family-operated farm in Belzoni. Learn all about it in our “Farm Facts: Straight from a Mississippi Farmer” column.

EDITOR — Glynda Phillips ADVERTISING Angela Ellis 1-800-227-8244 ext. 4242 aellis@msfb.org FARM BUREAU OFFICERS President — Mike McCormick Vice President — Donald Gant Vice President — Ted Kendall IV Vice President — Reggie Magee Treasurer — Billy Davis Corporate Secretary — Kent Bloodworth

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FARM BUREAU DIRECTORS Carla Taylor, Prentiss Matt Ormon, Benton Jeffrey (Jeff) Hollowell, Lafayette Bob Workman, Quitman Gabriela Brasher, Tallahatchie Dan L. Bishop, Lee Scott O’Brian, Clay Craig Canull, Lowndes David Hayward, Grenada Dott G. Arthur, Leake William Jones, Lauderdale Paul Myrick, Jasper James R. Ford, Smith James G. “Jimbo” Newman, Issaquena Tammy Layton, Simpson Earl Gay Edwards, Amite Everett A. “Pud” Stringer, Marion Dot Cole, Perry Clayton Lawrence Jr., George Tom Daniels, Harrison Betty Mills, Montgomery David Arant Jr., Leflore

FARM BUREAU ACTIVITIES

Photo coverage of summer Farm Bureau activities can be found throughout this issue.

12 RECIPES In each issue, we feature recipes from Country Cooking, Vol. V. The proceeds from the sale of this cookbook are used to strengthen the Ag in the Classroom program in Mississippi.

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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.

DEPARTMENTS

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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE MSU NEWS NATIONAL AFFAIRS REPORT ORGANIZATION & MEMBER

SERVICES UPDATE

ABOUT THE COVER State board member Gabriela Brasher is pictured on her farm. Brasher is also president of Tallahatchie County Farm Bureau.

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P R E S I D E N T’S M E S S A G E Mike McCormick –President, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation

A Bountiful Harvest Each year, our state board meets on the campus of Mississippi State University and tours the school’s agricultural research facilities. We are always impressed with what we discover. Dedicated scientists, Extension specialists and others are hard at work on projects designed to benefit all Mississippians, whether you farm for a living or are touched daily by what farmers produce. Research areas include animal production systems, food safety and quality, human health and wellbeing, plant production systems, sustainable communities and sustainable energy.

Through the years, our two land-grant institutions, Mississippi State University and Alcorn State University, have never failed to move Mississippi agriculture forward.

We couldn’t do what we do without them.

MARK KEENUM

I’m proud to announce that Mississippi State University President Mark Keenum has agreed to write a column for our membership publication. Beginning with this issue, Dr. Keenum will be giving us periodic updates on all of the promising things going on at his school.

If you aren’t familiar with Mississippi State, then you might not fully appreciate the caliber of its president. In 2009, Dr. Keenum became the university’s 19th president, following a distinguished career in public service. In the ensuing years, he has guided the university to unprecedented heights. Mis4

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sissippi State has experienced record enrollment growth, the campus has expanded and improved, and fundraising has reached alltime record levels. The school is ranked by the National Science Foundation as a “Top 100” research institution.

Dr. Keenum began his career at Mississippi State as a faculty member with the Extension Service and the Department of Agricultural Economics. He went on to serve as chief of staff to U.S. Senator Thad Cochran in Washington, D.C., then served as the under secretary of Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services for the U.S. Department of Agriculture before returning home to Mississippi State.

Dr. Mark Keenum is continuing a legacy of career excellence in his role as president of this outstanding school, and the farmers and other citizens of our great state are reaping the benefits.

ALSO INSIDE

Also in this issue, David Waide writes about life on his Clay County farm since his retirement six years ago as president of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation.

He talks about his successful battle with cancer and the joy he and Sandra are experiencing with their first grandchild, Meriwether Montgomery Waide. The Waides are beloved members of our Farm Bureau family, and I know you will appreciate the opportunity to visit with them. Enjoy.

This issue also takes a look at Mississippi’s

land and water resources through the Ag Mag children’s newsletter and an article about the Mississippi State University Master Naturalist Program, which gives adults an in-depth understanding of our plants, land, water and wildlife. If you are like me, you appreciate that our state is blessed with abundant and diverse natural resources.

With this in mind, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation offers a Land Program designed to address issues faced by state property owners. We also have an Environmental Program, which motivates and assists Farm Bureau leaders with their actions on and reactions to environmental issues confronting agriculture. We are proud of these two programs and all that they have accomplished for Mississippi farmers.

HARVEST SEASON

Just a few months ago, we were ringing in 2016, and now, here it is September already. Only four months remain until the beginning of yet another year. It seems there is never enough time to do all of the things that need to be done.

This time of year marks the official beginning of harvest season, when Mississippi farmers start gathering in their crops.

As I close my column, I want to encourage you to be careful with your harvesting efforts. Farming is one of the most dangerous occupations on earth, and this is never truer than right now. You are trying to get your crops in on schedule, a million different tasks are vying for your attention, and you are stressed.

In the midst of all of this activity, please take a moment to think about what is going on around you. Be careful out there, and have a blessed and bountiful harvest. FB SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

MSU News ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

BY DR. MARK E. KEENUM

Special to Mississippi Farm County

Mississippi’s Farm Families Work Hard to Feed the World At Mississippi State University (MSU), world’s farmers to match production to our focus as a major research university demand. Cereal production, for example, always includes the undeniable reality that will need to increase by 60 percent just to agriculture and forestry remain part of the keep pace. If world food production does not bedrock of Mississippi’s economy. grow substantially over the coming decades, In 2015 alone, the state’s estimated state the number of people living in poverty and agricultural production value (including chronic hunger will significantly increase. associated government payments) brought Mississippians understand the obvi$7.4 billion to the state’s economy. And that ous and compelling humanitarian plight was in a year in which yields were down from of the almost 1 billion hungry people on 2014 record yields and prices were either this planet. Mississippi routinely ranks per down or flat. Poultry, forestry and soybeans capita as the most generous state in the held the state’s top three crop spots in 2015, nation in terms of charitable donations to posting combined values of $5.29 billion. worthy causes. One of those worthy causes From a broader economic standpoint, is the battle against hunger. agriculture and forestry production and proBut even in the nation’s poorest state, it is cessing are a $45.2-billion Mississippi indus- difficult for Mississippians to appreciate fully try. Research from MSU’s Extension Service the scope of global hunger in comparison with verifies that these production and process- the same problem in our own communities. ing industries provide a major economic conA total of 20.5 million Americans live tribution to the state’s economy, accounting in extreme poverty with a cash household for 17.4 percent of all jobs, 15.3 percent of income of $10,000 or less for a family of four, the state’s wages and salaries, 18.6 percent according to research from the U.S. Dept. of all sales and 17.5 percent of value-added. of Commerce. Thankfully, hunger in the Clearly, agriculture and forestry are vital to U.S. is met with an array of assistance from the Mississippi economy. programs like the Supplemental Nutrition But in the final analysis, those produc- Assistance Program or food stamps, the WIC tion value numbers are just numbers. Those (Women, Infants and Children) Program, numbers don’t adequately and appropriately national school lunch programs and several define what it is that Mississippi’s farm fam- other federal government programs designed ilies — the bedrock of the Mississippi Farm to fight poverty and hunger in the U.S. Bureau — do each day and why they do it.

But globally, hunger is a far more prevaOur complex, rapidly changing world lent problem with little or no safety net for is beset by hundreds of daunting challenges, those living in endemic poverty. According but none is bigger, more important or more to the estimate of the United Nations Food fundamental than the task of feeding all the and Agriculture Organization, some 925 inhabitants of our planet in years to come. million of the world’s 7 billion inhabitants By 2050, the world population is pro- are malnourished — with 817 million in jected to increase from 7 billion to 9.5 bil- sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia alone. lion people. These additional 2.5 billion Helping feed the hungry here at home people will put incredible pressure on the and abroad has been an essential element of SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

our American character. It’s who we’ve been as a people, and it is inarguably the morally right thing to do. However, in this season of global economic woes, and with our own American economy struggling, the nature of the assistance we bring to this fight bears examination.

MSU has a long history of international involvement. Throughout the second half of the 20th century, our Seed Technology Program trained thousands of individuals from dozens of countries and made a major contribution to food production efforts.

MSU also has expertise relevant to the world fight against hunger in areas such as crop production, post-harvest processing, livestock, aquaculture, food policy, water resources, geospatial technologies and biofuels.

There are no easy solutions to world hunger, but embracing the global battle against hunger furthers U.S. interests in international security, benefits the American farmer and offers developing nations a chance to become secure and independent. Just as important, the lessons learned in this battle can and will change American communities where poverty is endemic and knowledge is transformational — as universities like MSU teach hungry people to feed themselves more effectively. FB Dr. Mark E. Keenum, who holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics, is the 19th president of Mississippi State University. Prior to leading MSU, Dr. Keenum served as the nation’s third-highest-ranking agriculture official as the former under secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agriculture Services and is a former chief of staff to U.S. Senator Thad Cochran.

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National Affairs Report ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

BY JUSTIN FERGUSON, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation National Affairs Coordinator & Commodity Coordinator for Major Row Crops

Federal, State Officials Support Catfish Measure Background: In late May, industry officials Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS) tion. As a result, both agencies signed a were made aware of an effort in the United inspectors detained two shipments from Memorandum of Understanding to ensure States Senate to roll back the USDA catfish Vietnam that contained adulterated products there are no duplicative efforts between the inspection rule that took effect March 1, 2016. (known carcinogens that are banned here in two agencies.

U.S. Senator Thad Cochran has championed the U.S.). Two more shipments coming from and implemented this rule, which moves the People’s Republic of China were refused Abuse of the Congressional Review Act: catfish inspection from the Food and Drug entry because the shippers would not allow Beyond these obvious health concerns, we Administration (FDA) to the United States FSIS personnel to test the products for con- have real concerns about this legislative proDepartment of Agriculture (USDA) through taminants. Just recently, news broke of an cess and how this policy debate is being hanlegislation included in the 2008 and 2014 additional recall of over 25,000 pounds of dled. The CRA is one of the most important farm bills. The Congressional Review Act imported frozen swai fillet products that tools for congressional oversight, providing (CRA) of 1996 allows Congress to overrule were distributed into U.S. commerce with- Congress the ability to ensure that regulations a regulation issued by the executive branch out meeting these new federal require- coming out of executive agencies adhere to through a resolution of disapproval. Despite ments established by FSIS. That amounts to congressional intent. The CRA establishes strong joint efforts by Mississippi and Ala- three major food safety incidents that have an expedited process for Congress to use in bama Farms Bureaus and numerous other occurred since USDA began inspection pro- instances where a regulation goes beyond groups, a resolution of disapproval to roll tocols just three months ago. The USDA what Congress intended when passing legisback the USDA catfish inspection program inspection program is working. It provides lation. However, in the case of catfish inspecled by special interest groups was passed by for continuous inspection for domestic pro- tion, FSIS did not circumvent congressional the full Senate on a vote of 55 to 43 on May ducers and requires an equivalent food safety intent, but rather, implemented its charge 25. The U.S. House of Representatives will standard for countries that want to import from Congress to the word (through authohave to act as well on a similar resolution for product to the United States. rizing legislation in the 2008 and 2014 farm the CRA to be sent to the president. As of the bills). For Congress to use the CRA to nultime this article was written, House leader- USDA Inspections are neither Costly lify such a regulation is a misuse, if not an ship had not brought forward this resolution nor Duplicative: Opponents make the abuse, of the CRA. And such actions degrade for a vote, thanks to the strong efforts and claim that the program is wasteful and not only the CRA process, but also our entire hard work of our Mississippi House delega- duplicative, when in fact this program is system of checks and balances. tion members. neither costly nor duplicative. The opponents of USDA inspection continue to Special Thanks: Mississippi is the largest Food Safety Issue: First and foremost, this cite outdated program costs from a 2013 catfish-producing state, with roughly 40,000 is a food safety issue. Over 70 percent of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) water acres of farm-raised catfish. We feel the catfish or catfish-like products (Siluriformes) Report at $14 million annually. GAO’s catfish inspection should remain at USDA, eaten in this country are imported. The two report does not reflect USDA’s most recent following the full intent of Congress in the major countries exporting Siluriformes prod- estimate in the December 2015 final reg- 2008 and 2014 farm bills. Farm Bureau ucts to the U.S. are Vietnam and China. ulation at a cost of $2.5 million annually, would like to commend the hard work on The catfish inspection program at USDA is or a net increase of $1.44 million annually. this issue by the Catfish Farmers of America, more robust and rigorous than the program This net increase pays for a more effective our entire Mississippi Congressional Delegaat FDA. On average, FDA only inspected sampling program to identify contaminated tion and many others. These individuals are 2 percent of catfish. USDA inspects 100 imports from places such as China and working diligently to make sure that you as percent of all catfish consumed in the U.S. Myanmar. Moreover, the 2014 Farm Bill an American consumer have a safe product derived from both domestic and foreign mar- required interagency coordination between for you and your family to enjoy. Please take kets. Since catfish inspection began at USDA, USDA and FDA regarding catfish inspec- a moment to thank them. FB 6

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

Organization & Member Services Update ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

BY DOUG ERVIN

MFBF Organization Director

Added-Value Benefits of Your Membership Dues

Our Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) is stronger than ever before as we continue to be the “Voice of Agriculture®” and represent rural Mississippi. We work hard every day to make sure our members’ concerns are heard, whether it is at the State Capitol, in Washington, D.C., and regulatory meetings, or at general meetings throughout the state.

By paying your annual membership dues, you are not only becoming a member of the state’s largest general farm organization, you are gaining access to a multitude of benefits, discounts and programs that are available.

These benefits help us accomplish our mission to create an environment in which Mississippi farmers, ranchers and Farm Bureau

members can have a better life and make a better living.

Our members and your membership dues are the lifeblood of our organization, and we are committed to helping you by offering many added-value benefits to your membership. It is our goal that every member becomes aware and understands the benefits that are available and how they can save you money.

Members are able to save money on travel, home, outdoor, entertainment and medical discounts. By using one or more of the benefits, a member can easily save the cost of the annual membership dues. For example, stay two nights at a Choice Hotel or Wyndham Hotel and easily save an average of $40, which

covers the cost of the annual membership dues.

Here are just a few of the other savings available with your Farm Bureau membership:

• $38 savings on car seats or $28 on a booster seat through the Child Saver Program • $500 savings on select Ford vehicles • $750 savings on select Lincoln vehicles • $900-$2,800 savings on zero-turn Grasshopper Mowers • $200-$300 savings on select Polaris vehicles • $250-$2,000 savings on select Caterpillar machines • $300-$500 savings on select Case IH tractors and equipment • And many more…

Start taking advantage of the savings available with your Farm Bureau membership.

For more information or to see a complete list of member benefits, visit www.msfb.org or email Angela Ellis at aellis@msfb.org.

We can also add you to the member benefits email list for updates and additions.

“I THINK THAT FARM BUREAU SHOULD BE A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF EVERY FARMER’S LIFE. IT IS OUR VOICE AND THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY WE HAVE OF INFLUENCING WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR INDUSTRY. IT’S ALSO A GREAT WAY TO MEET PEOPLE WHO DO THE SAME THING WE DO AND MAYBE HAVE SOME OF THE SAME CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE AS FARMERS. ” GABRIELA BRASHER

A PASSION AGRICULTURE B Y G LY N D A P H I L L I P S

Farmers usually know from an early age how they want to spend their lives. Gabriela Brasher of Tallahatchie County was no different. As a child growing up in Switzerland, she would often visit a neighbor’s dairy. She was friends with the seven children who lived there, but she was also smitten with the animals and lifestyle. Gabriela toyed with the idea of becoming a veterinarian but eventually decided that what she really wanted to do was farm.

After graduating from Mississippi State University with a bachelor’s degree in Soil Science and a master’s degree in Crop Composites, she worked for a time on her father’s row crop farm in the Mississippi Delta.

“In those early years, I took soil samples, measured modules and served as the GOSSYM/COMAX person for the farm,” she said. “I was also involved with writing checks and taking care of the books.”

Gabriela met her husband, Brent, at an MSU cotton short course. They met again at the Beltwide Cotton Conference in New Orleans and began dating. When they were married, they bought a farm near Charleston in Tallahatchie County, where they have row crops, including kenaf, along with pasture and timberland. In 1999, they bought a second small farm near Holcomb in Grenada County, where they run 17 head of grassfed Dexter cattle and four horses. They sell the cows by word of mouth and on the internet.

doing whatever needed to be done each day around the farm. She also kept books for the farm as well as for her father’s farms.

When her first child was born, she decided to concentrate more on office work so she could spend more time with her children. She and Brent have two daughters and one son. Danielle is 23, Alexandra is 21 and Ben is 17. Gabriela and Brent took over her father’s farms in 2004. Her father recently passed away at the age of 93.

“His vision in investing in farmland in the Mississippi Delta allowed me to pursue my dream, for which I am grateful,” Gabriela said.

Today, in addition to their farms, the Brashers run Kengro, a facility that further processes kenaf and manufactures oil absorbent/bioremediation products; other absorbent products, such as fiberglass replacement fibers for plastic molded products; and natural fiber mats for a wide range of applications.

The products are 100% all natural, chemical free and annually renewable.

“About 25 or so years ago, a cooperative of farmers in this area grew kenaf and marketed it to the paper manufacturing industry for pulp. Brent and I grew our largest kenaf crop around that time, about 500 acres,” she said. “The cooperative no longer exists, but Brent and I continue to grow kenaf, and we put in whatever acreage we need each year. This year, we are growing about 75 acres.”

HANDS-ON FARMING The kenaf plant, a native to east-central In those early years, Gabriela was a hands- Africa, consists of an outer bark-like fiber and on farmer, driving combines and tractors and an inner white core fiber. Both materials can

Bottom left, Dexter cattle; bottom right, kenaf.

be used to make products, but the core is used the most. Kenaf is related to cotton and okra and can be harvested with cotton equipment.

Visit the Kengro websites at www.kengro. com and www.kengropet.com for more information.

PASSION FOR AGRICULTURE

Throughout her life, with all of its challenges and opportunities, one thing has remained constant for Gabriela Brasher, and that is her passion for agriculture. When she isn’t working on the farm, she is volunteering her time with Farm Bureau.

Gabriela has served as president of Tallahatchie County Farm Bureau for many years.

In 2016, she began a two-year term on the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors. She is one of six women serving on the board, which is an historical first.

She and Brent were members of the Young Farmers & Ranchers program, serving one term in the early 1990s on the state committee, which he chaired.

“I think that Farm Bureau should be a very important part of every farmer’s life,” Gabriela said. “It is our voice and the most effective way we have of influencing what is going on in our industry. It’s also a great way to meet people who do the same thing we do and maybe have some of the same challenges and opportunities we have as farmers.

“It’s important that we keep organizations like Farm Bureau strong and growing,” she added. “Our industry depends on it.” FB MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

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Life after

FARM BUREAU B Y D AV I D WA I D E , M F B F P R E S I D E N T : 19 9 6 - 2 010

In December of 2010, I began my life after Farm Bureau. Upon my retirement, the voting delegates elected a new president on the final day of state convention, and I began my transition back to the farm fulltime. Farming has always been my passion, so the change has not been difficult at all.

As I got back to hard physical labor, I soon realized I was not in the physical condition to do the manual labor farming demanded. Instead of working 12-14 hours, I shortened my days to 10 hours.

The shorter days made a big difference, and I came to accept that I was 14 years older, and it would just take me longer to take care of the many responsibilities connected with farming. Slowing from a sprint to a walk has made a huge difference.

I got back to the farming way of life that I loved at the very best time ever. Commodity prices were better than I had ever known. The weather was very favorable in our area. I was so thankful God had allowed me to be back in His creation, tending this land, cattle and crops.

We had started our 2014 crop, and things had gone really well. We had finished planting and had the crop laid by. We had one cutting of hay up and were getting ample moisture to finish the crop. I had my annual checkup scheduled for August as I had done for years.

Everything had always been good at my past checkups, and I expected this one to be good as well. Gracious, did I have a rude awakening! My physical didn’t turn out as well this time. I had a malignant tumor in

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

my colon. The doctor ordered surgery, and two weeks after the tumor was found, it was removed.

My cancer doctor decided that I needed 12 chemotherapy treatments. I knew chemo

was really hard on an individual because I had observed many other people experience that sort of treatment. The 12 treatments prescribed by the doctor were to take six months. Unfortunately, I had to extend my treatment time because my white blood cell count would drop too low to be able to take the treatments on schedule. As a result, my treatments took two months longer than expected.

While it took longer to complete the treatments, it was worth the wait. My

checkups have all been good since completing the treatments. In addition, God blessed Whit and Jane Anna with their first child and our first grandchild the day after I finished my chemotherapy. As you can see by the photographs with this article, Meriwether Montgomery Waide is the prettiest child in the state of Mississippi. She is also the smartest, in my biased opinion.

Sandra and I feel so blessed to have served in our role as president of the best organization in the world. In addition, God got us back home in time to enjoy our first grandchild. Meriwether comes to the farm every chance she gets, goes with me to check on the crops and the pastures, and seems to love farming just as much as her grandparents. Sandra and I have set as our personal goal to spoil her as much as we can as she grows up.

Needless to say, I look forward to the sunrise every day.

In closing, Sandra and I want you to know that while we may not see you as often as we once did, you are in our thoughts and prayers daily and ever close to our hearts. Don’t be surprised if one day soon you see an old tan pickup truck with over 400,000 miles on it pull into your driveway. I will be looking for a cup of hot coffee and some good conversation, with a heavy emphasis on the good old days.

Don’t forget to see your doctor each year for a physical exam and to schedule a colonoscopy screening beginning at age 50 then regularly as your doctor advises.

God bless each and every one of you. FB

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FarmFacts: S T R A I G H T F R O M A M I S S I S S I P P I FA R M E R

A Delta Row Crop Farm

by Jeremy Jack

My name is Jeremy Jack, and I am a coowner of Silent Shade Planting Company, a family-owned and family-operated farming business based in Belzoni. We farm approximately 11,000 acres of corn, soybeans, cotton, rice and peanuts in Humphreys, Leflore and Holmes counties. However, my family’s farming history first began in Ontario, Canada, where my father and mother both grew up on family farms. After marrying my mother, my father realized that urban sprawl near his farm in Ontario would prevent the expansion of his family farm. In 1979, my parents made the decision to move to Silent Shade Plantation in Tchula, Mississippi, where they started farming 1,000 acres of corn, soybeans and cotton.

Silent Shade Planting Company has evolved over the past 37 years, and what

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started as a husband-and-wife 1,000-acre row crop operation has flourished into a family business employing six family members: Willard Jack, Laura Lee Jack, Stacie Koger, Trey Koger, Elizabeth Jack and Jeremy Jack. Each of the family members is directly involved in the day-to-day operations of our farm and trucking business.

My mother, Laura Lee Jack, manages our trucking business, and she also leads our harvest combine crew each fall. My father, Willard Jack, manages our equipment hauling and trucking sales. My sister, Stacie Koger, who worked for seven years as a CPA at a local accounting firm, now serves as our CFO, and she also markets our crop. Her husband, Trey Koger, who has his Ph.D. from Mississippi State in Weed Science, is our senior agronomist, and my wife,

Elizabeth Jack, manages our human resources, public relations, safety and compliance. Lastly, I work in the role of CEO/COO at our operation.

As CEO of our business, it is my job to set our goals and create a culture for success. Part of our culture is making ourselves adaptable and open to change. Agriculture is an ever-changing industry. One of my mentors, Danny Klinefelter, who is a professor and Extension economist at Texas A&M, once told me, “If it ain’t broke, you haven’t looked hard enough.” If we have been doing something the same way for years, I try to look for ways to improve the process. To stay abreast of the latest innovations in agriculture, I participate in peer groups and continued education. In addition, my

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L to R: Elizabeth Jack, Jeremy Jack, Stacie Koger, Trey Koger

I feel privileged to be able to work each day with my family and to be able to raise my son on a family farm, where he can learn the same work ethic and values that my parents taught me.

— Jeremy Jack brother-in-law, Trey Koger, performs many research trials on our farm so that we can be better informed of products being tested for the marketplace.

During the past 10 years, one of the areas on our farm in which we have seen the most change is technology. For example, new cloud-based agriculture technology, such as Granular, has given us the opportunity to discover our cost per acre so that we can make better decisions about our crop mix and application of inputs. We also use cloudbased John Deere technology for variable rate planting and input application, which helps us to accurately put the right input in the right place and eliminate waste. The John Deere cloud technology also allows us to be able to watch our tractors progress through a job order, determine what part needs to be SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

fixed in the event of a breakdown or discover how often the tractor lays idle during the day. Lastly, moisture meters and flow meters are two tools we started to employ last year to help us eliminate waste in irrigation and study closely the impact that we are having on our aquifer. It is hard to believe that this technology that we now rely on so heavily to make our business more efficient and sustainable was not available just nine years ago when I came back to work on the farm.

While we may change technology, equipment, seed and inputs each year to remain competitive, one thing that doesn’t change is family. I feel privileged to be able to work each day with my family and to be able to raise my son on a family farm, where he can learn the same work ethic and values that my parents taught me. I also consider our

23 employees an extension of our immediate family as well. Several of those employees have been with us for 10 or more years, and they have been a very large part of our success as our business has evolved.

For that reason, every decision I make is with my family and our employees in mind, and my end goal is to make our farm sustainable — both environmentally and economically — so the next generation can have the amazing opportunity that I have been given. FB The Farm Families of Mississippi (FFM) Agriculture Promotion Campaign was created to educate the public about the agriculture industry. For more information, contact Greg Gibson at (601) 977-4154.

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A DEDICATED FARMER B Y G LY N D A P H I L L I P S

W

hen I visited Dee Dotson in early June, he was hard at work in his vegetable garden. It was nine o’clock in the morning, and the day was already hot and humid, but the 93-year-old Winston County farmer did not seem to notice. Dee’s usual workday begins at 5:30 a.m.

After his wife, Omerio, passed away in 2014, On the farm of his childhood, Dee’s Dee downsized his farm from five acres to family grew cotton, corn, sugarcane, peas, his present one-acre operation. Daily, he sweet potatoes and peanuts. They raised pours his attention and energy into his cows, chickens and hogs, and always cultigarden, especially at this time of the year. vated a large vegetable garden.

According to a family member, Dee’s Many years ago, when Dee married dedication and hard work are key factors Omerio, he moved to the Greensboro Comwhy his garden seems to grow faster and munity north of Louisville and began workmore profusely than ing on her family’s the other gardens in farm, which he later his community. Upon expanded. Although harvesting his crop, he worked an off-theDee sells a portion, farm job during the cans and freezes a porday, he would come tion, and gives the rest home and toil on the away to his neighbors. farm from late after“Dee is a very resilnoon until daylight ient individual who faded into night. possesses a strong comDee’s method mitment to farming of production is and a deep and abiding mostly all natural. love of the life that God For tools, he uses a has given him,” said his hoe, a shovel and a nephew, Frank Taylor. “DEE IS A VERY RESILIENT INDIVID- push plow. He uses UAL WHO POSSESSES A STRONG “He would work in his the knowledge he COMMITMENT TO FARMING AND A garden year round if gleaned from oldDEEP AND ABIDING LOVE OF THE he could, and in some timers back when he LIFE THAT GOD HAS GIVEN HIM. respects he does. He was just a kid, along grows turnip greens with what he has HE WOULD WORK IN HIS GARDEN almost ten months out YEAR ROUND IF HE COULD, AND IN learned in his many of the year and collard years of farming as SOME RESPECTS HE DOES. ” greens year round, even an adult. He trusts FRANK TAYLOR in the summer.” his instincts and You won’t find a single weed in Dee’s does not go by signs or use the “Farmer’s garden. What you will find on this hot day Almanac.” Dee often starts planting in Januin June are large heads of cabbage, tall tas- ary, when the weather first begins to warm. seled corn, and vines heavy with squash and “Sometimes, I have to plant twice, but snap beans. Seasonally, Dee also grows peas, I don’t mind, because I have never had a okra, tomatoes, collards, turnip greens and garden that wasn’t successful,” he said with several hills of watermelons. a smile.

“I grew up on a farm in the Mill Springs In 1985, Dee, Omerio and several other Community off Highway 407 in northwest farmers in their community, decided they Choctaw County, so I have always loved needed a vehicle to help them maintain growing things, and I also like to keep busy,” their farms. With help from the Mississippi Dee said.

Association and Federation of Southern

Cooperatives, they founded the Winston County Self Help Cooperative (WCSHC), which was chartered in 1988. It is important to note that Dee and other founding members of the WCSHC, including Mary Hannah, Bobby Hardin and Columbus McReynolds (who served as the first president), continue to support WCSHC to this day. Frank Taylor came aboard in 1989 and has served as president ever since.

“The Winston County Self Help Cooperative has helped us buy and sell products in bulk. It has helped us with our cows and our trees/timber, and it has increased our understanding about which organizations to contact for help. We have learned that networking is the key to successful farming,” Dee said.

Members of the Winston County Self Help Cooperative have also learned how to develop a farm management plan. This has proved to be of assistance to everyone; however, farm management planning has especially assisted widows who want to carry on the farm operation they helped their husbands build.

The Winston County Self Help Cooperative has grown and thrived as it has worked tirelessly to accomplish its goal of “Saving Rural America.” Now, the next generation is getting involved in agriculture, and the older members are passing down their farmland and timber to these upcoming farmers.

But don’t think they are quitting entirely.

Many of these older men and women will continue some aspect of their farming endeavors well into the future.

“I will be farming as long as I am able,” Dee said as he leaned on his hoe and surveyed his garden. “I love seeing things grow.”

For more information about the Winston County Self Help Cooperative, email Frank Taylor at fltaylor@bellsouth.net or call him at (601) 291-2704. The website is www.wcshc.com. FB

Dee Dotson has been a Farm Bureau member for over 40 years. In addition, he is a member of Union Chapel M. B. Church, where he serves on the usher board and sings with the male chorus.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

15

Recipese

Slow-Cooker Fresh Veggie Lasagna

Onion Pie

1½ c. mozzarella cheese, shredded ⅓ c. Parmesan cheese, grated 1 tsp. dried oregano 1¼ c. marinara or spaghetti sauce 4 whole wheat lasagna noodles 1 c. mushrooms, thinly sliced ½ c. part-skim ricotta cheese 1 lg. egg, beaten ¼ tsp. garlic powder 1 med. zucchini, sliced thin 1 bag fresh baby spinach Fresh basil leaves

1 c. Ritz cracker crumbs ¼ c. margarine, melted 4 c. thinly sliced onions 2 T. oleo 2 lg. eggs, well beaten ¾ c. sweet milk Salt and pepper to taste 2 c. cheddar cheese, grated

Spray crockpot with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside. In a small bowl, mix together mozzarella, ricotta, Parmesan, egg, oregano and garlic power. Spread two tablespoons of pasta sauce in bottom of pot. Sprinkle ½ of zucchini over sauce and top with ⅓ of the cheese mixture. Break two noodles into pieces and cover the cheese mixture. Spread two tablespoons of sauce and then layer ½ of the spinach and ½ of the mushrooms. Repeat layering, ending with cheese and remaining sauce.

Firmly press ingredients into pot. Cover and cook over low heat for 4-5 hours.

Allow lasagna to rest 20 minutes before cutting into wedges to serve. Spoon a little extra sauce over each serving and top with basil leaf. Serves six.

Peggy McKey Hinds County 16

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

Combine Ritz crackers and melted oleo.

Pat in bottom of deep dish. Cook onions in two tablespoons oleo until translucent.

Place onions in pie shell. Combine eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Mix and pour over onions. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Remove and top with cheese. Put back in oven to melt cheese.

Sandra Waide Clay County Chicken Pecan Quiche

1 c. all-purpose flour ½ tsp. salt 1 c. sharp cheddar, shredded

¾ c. pecans, chopped ¼ tsp. paprika ⅓ c. oil 3 eggs, beaten 1 (8-oz.) sour cream ¼ c. mayonnaise ½ c. chicken broth 2 c. chicken, cooked and chopped 3 drops hot sauce ½ c. sharp cheddar, shredded ¼ c. minced onion or flakes ¼ c. pecan halves Combine flour, cheese, pecans, salt and paprika. Stir in oil. Set aside ¼ of mixture.

Press remaining mixture in bottom and up the sides of a 9- to 10-inch quiche pan. Prick bottom and sides with fork. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Combine eggs, sour cream, mayonnaise and chicken broth. Stir in chicken, cheddar cheese, onions and hot sauce. Pour into crust and sprinkle reserved crumbs over top. Place pecan halves on top.

Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes.

Pam Jones Hinds County

COUNTRY COOKING, VOLUME V: These recipes are from “Country Cooking, Volume V,” now available at most county offices. The cost is $20. If you order a cookbook from the state office, you will pay $20 plus postage. For more information, contact Pam Jones at (601) 977-4854.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

Women’s Ag Tour The Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) Women’s Ag Tour will be held Oct. 13 and 14 in Hinds, Madison, Claiborne, Copiah and Adams counties.

Stops on the first day of the tour will include Salad Days Produce and Two Dog Produce, Flora; Providence Hill (with lunch at Providence Hill), Jackson; First Presbyterian Church, Port Gibson; Stanton Hall, Natchez; and dinner at the Carriage House, Natchez.

Stops the next day will include St. Mary’s Basilica, Natchez; lunch at Porches, Wesson; and the Flower and Garden Show, Crystal Springs.

If you would like to participate, contact your county Farm Bureau or Dedra Luke at (601) 977-4169. FB

Haven Sims Serves as Summer Intern Haven Sims of Laurel served as our 2016 Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Summer Intern. Haven spent time with Farm Bureau staff and volunteer leaders, learning about Farm Bureau and what it does for our farmers and other members.

Haven is a junior at Mississippi State University, where she is an Animal and Dairy Sciences major who is minoring in Agricultural Business. She plans to attend vet school and hopes to one day practice large animal medicine. FB SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

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“I HAVE SEEN KIDS REALLY BLOSSOM WHEN THEY WORK OUTDOORS WITH SOME OF THE PROJECTS AROUND CAMPUS, SO I TRY TO BALANCE CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES WITH AS MUCH HANDS-ON AS I CAN. KIDS FIND THEIR NICHE HERE. I SEE THEM SUCCEEDING AS THEY LEARN SKILLS, AND THAT IS GREAT. IT MAKES MY JOB SO FULFILLING. ” MARY HELEN LETT

TE

AR

F THE YE O R E H AC

ississippi Farm Bureau Federation M Teacher of the Year Mary Helen Lett of For-

rest County is passionate about teaching kids about agriculture. The Mississippi State University graduate teaches “Introduction to Agriscience” to ninth- and tenth-graders at Forrest County Agricultural High School in Brooklyn. She also serves as the advisor for the school’s FFA program and assists in the management of the campus farm.

In addition to her Farm Bureau honor, Mary Helen was recently named Teacher of the Year by her fellow high school teachers. She has been teaching at Forrest County Agricultural High School for two years.

SCHOOL FARM

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

great. It makes my job so fulfilling.”

Forrest County Agricultural High School offers one of the largest and most active FFA programs in the state. Students have an opportunity to gain leadership skills through FFA and participate in a variety of career development events.

Mary Helen says she hopes through her work to encourage Mississippi’s next generation of farmers and decision-makers.

“Agriculture is the backbone of society and the economy,” she said. “I feel strongly about its importance in our lives. I teach my kids about how agriculture works and how it affects their lives daily. I’ve noticed that students are not only more informed about the agriculture industry when they leave my class, they also seem to appreciate the hard work of the American farmer because they know a small part of the struggle that our farmers face every day.”

Forrest County Agricultural High School, established in 1911, sits on a 320-acre campus near Hattiesburg. Its annual enrollment is approximately 600 students. The school sends buses to South Hattiesburg, but anyone in Forrest County who can find transportation to the school is welcome to attend.

Forrest County Agricultural High School prepares students for college but also teaches them skills they can use to make a living without a college degree. In addition to the agriculture program, the high school has a career and technical education program and a strong athletics program.

As a part of its agriculture program, Forrest County Agricultural High School has a large farm that consists of a commercial cowcalf operation, meat goats, hair sheep, horses, a hog barn, a mechanic shop, two greenhouses and a high-tunnel house for growing ornamentals and vegetables crops. Mary Helen says her students are very involved in the farm’s day-to-day operations and play an important role in its success. They help with everything from vaccinating, shearing and ear tagging livestock to helping out with the horticulture program and the campus greenhouses.

Mary Helen is proud that her students get to see production agriculture at its core.

“I love this school,” she said. “I appreciate the fact that it allows kids to do more than other schools because of its resources.

I have seen kids really blossom when they work outdoors with some of the projects TEACHER OF THE YEAR around campus, so I try to balance classAs Farm Bureau’s Teacher of the Year, room activities with as much hands-on as I Mary Helen will speak at next year’s State can. Kids find their niche here. I see them Women’s Conference and will help out with succeeding as they learn skills, and that is the Ag in the Classroom Workshops in 2017.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

The Teacher of the Year also receives an expense-paid trip to the national Ag in the Classroom convention.

Mary Helen says she appreciates Farm Bureau and the work that it does for farmers.

“Farm Bureau is a great organization,” she said. “The legislation it gets passed on behalf of agriculture is so important. Farm Bureau has a great mission, and it is fulfilling its mission. I am the women’s chair for Forrest County Farm Bureau, and I hope this experience serves as a catalyst for me to become even more involved in the organization.

“I plan to be a Farm Bureau volunteer leader for many years to come.” FB

While attending Mississippi State University (MSU), where she majored in Agricultural Information Science, Mary Helen served as president of the Collegiate Chapter of FFA and was a member of the MSU Collegiate Cattlemen’s Association. She also sat on the advisory council for the School of Human Sciences. In high school, she was state vice president for the Alabama FFA. Her husband, John, serves as the Forrest County service forester and manages timberland for Forrest County Agricultural High School.

Mississippi Master Naturalist B Y G LY N D A P H I L L I P S

If you are interested in learning more about Mississippi’s abundant natural resources, and if you are passionate about giving back to your community, check out Mississippi State University’s (MSU) Mississippi Master Naturalist program.

Administered through the MSU Extension Service, this program offers a scientific, research-based look at our state’s plants, land, water and wildlife. It also gives volunteers an opportunity to share their knowledge with others.

Participants in the Mississippi Master Naturalist program learn about maintaining, managing and preserving wildlife and habitats for birds, fish, insects, mammals, estuaries, forests, coastlines and soils. They learn about ecology, environmental stewardship, human impacts and natural resources.

The program is open to anyone 18 years old or older. You don’t need a degree or years of experience, just a love of the natural world and a passion for sharing what you learn.

There are currently two Mississippi Master Naturalist chapters, one on the Gulf Coast and one in Central Mississippi. Program leader Eric Sparks, with the Coastal Research and Extension Center in Biloxi, coordinates the coastal chapter, while Adam Rohnke, an Extension associate at the Butch Withers Central Mississippi Research and

Photo by Adam Rohnke

Extension Center in Raymond, is responsible for the central chapter.

“We offer great classroom instruction and interesting field trips,” Adam said. “The coastal chapter visits the Crosby Arboretum, the barrier islands and a longleaf pine plantation. The central chapter visits the Natural Science Museum in Jackson, the Mississippi River, Panther Swamp, the Mississippi River Museum in Vicksburg and the Ross Barnett Reservoir. We also learn about animals at our Newton facility, which has a great classroom. That area of the state has a diverse ecosystem, with everything from longleaf pines to swamps.”

If you want to become a certified Master Naturalist, you are required to take what you have learned and give back 40 hours to your community. You can do this by volunteering in the following ways:

CITIZEN SCIENCE – Working with a pro-

gram or an agency that feeds into a larger research project. For example, if you participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count, you might count the different species of birds in your backyard over the course of two hours then enter the info into the website so professional scientists can use the data to inform bird conservation.

STEWARDSHIP PROJECT – Helping to clean up streams, rid areas of invasive species or litter, or helping to maintain a butterfly garden.

Many natural resource agencies and organizations have needs for assistance in maintaining wildlife gardens and restoring habitat.

Adam is taking a year off from offering the Central Mississippi Master Naturalist Program to put together an advanced program with Eric for people who are already involved EDUCATION – Working with local groups in the program. Although the central chapter and agencies like the Natural Science entry programs won’t be offered this year, the Museum and the Extension Service, teach- coastal program will take place one day per ing youths and adults about nature through week from September 2 to October 21. educational events, writing articles or genThe Mississippi Master Naturalist proerating educational materials; gram consists of eight sessions and includes formal classroom instruction and field trips.

PROVIDING ASSISTANCE – Helping It is open to 20-25 participants. The cost is organizations with data entry and surveys, $200, and that includes materials, a hat, a or helping with special events.

T-shirt and field trips. FB

Photo by Kevin Hudson

Photo by Adam Rohnke

For more information, visit the website at http://masternaturalist.extension.msstate.edu/.

Or call Adam at (601) 857-2284 or Eric at (228) 546-1025.

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

2016 County Annual Meetings ADAMS COUNTY FARM BUREAU Thursday, Nov. 3, at 9 a.m.

Farm Bureau Office Natchez ALCORN COUNTY FARM BUREAU Tuesday, Sept. 13, at 6 p.m.

Alcorn County Extension Office Corinth Meal will be provided.

Please bring your favorite dessert.

AMITE COUNTY FARM BUREAU Thursday, Oct. 13, at 6 p.m.

Harrison Building Liberty ATTALA COUNTY FARM BUREAU Thursday, Nov. 3, at 5:30 p.m.

Redbud Springs Golf Clubhouse Kosciusko CHICKASAW COUNTY FARM BUREAU Thursday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office Houston CLAIBORNE COUNTY FARM BUREAU Thursday, Sept. 22, at 6 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office Port Gibson CLARKE COUNTY FARM BUREAU Thursday, Oct. 27, at 6:30 p.m.

Multipurpose Building Quitman We must know the number attending.

Please RSVP at (601) 776-6977.

NO CARRYOUTS/DINE IN ONLY. CLAY COUNTY FARM BUREAU Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 6 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office West Point COVINGTON COUNTY FARM BUREAU Thursday, Sept. 29, at 6:30 p.m.

Multipurpose Building Collins 22

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

FORREST COUNTY FARM BUREAU Tuesday, Sept. 13, at 6 p.m.

Forrest County Extension Office 952 Sullivan Drive Hattiesburg

JEFFERSON DAVIS COUNTY FARM BUREAU Tuesday, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office Prentiss

GEORGE COUNTY FARM BUREAU Monday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office Lucedale

JONES COUNTY FARM BUREAU Tuesday, Oct. 4, at 6:30 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office Laurel Officers and directors will be elected.

Refreshments will be served.

GRENADA COUNTY FARM BUREAU Tuesday, Sept. 13, at 7:30 a.m.

Farm Bureau Office Grenada HANCOCK COUNTY FARM BUREAU Tuesday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m.

McLeod Park Kiln Food-Drinks-Prizes HARRISON COUNTY FARM BUREAU Saturday, Oct. 1, at 6 p.m.

West Harrison High School Gulfport HINDS COUNTY FARM BUREAU Monday, Sept. 26, at 1 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office Raymond ITAWAMBA COUNTY FARM BUREAU Tuesday, Sept. 27, at 6:30 p.m.

Itawamba Community College Student Services Building Fulton JACKSON COUNTY FARM BUREAU Saturday, Sept. 24, at 4 p.m.

East Central Community Center 4300 Highway 614 Hurley JEFFERSON COUNTY FARM BUREAU Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office Fayette

KEMPER COUNTY FARM BUREAU Tuesday, Sept. 20, at 6 p.m.

County Farmers Market DeKalb LAMAR COUNTY FARM BUREAU Monday, Sept. 26, at 6 p.m.

Lamar County Community Center Purvis RSVP with Dorothy at (601) 794-2773.

LAUDERDALE COUNTY FARM BUREAU Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 6 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office Meridian MADISON COUNTY FARM BUREAU Tuesday, Sept. 13, at 10 a.m.

Farm Bureau Office Canton MARION COUNTY FARM BUREAU Thursday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m.

Columbia Exposition Center Columbia Meal — Fish, Fries & Coleslaw MONROE COUNTY FARM BUREAU Tuesday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office Aberdeen MONTGOMERY COUNTY FARM BUREAU Tuesday, Nov. 8, at 6:30 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office Winona

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

NESHOBA COUNTY FARM BUREAU Tuesday, Oct. 11, at 6:30 p.m.

Neshoba County Coliseum Philadelphia

RANKIN COUNTY FARM BUREAU Monday, Sept. 26, at 6 p.m.

MS State Extension Building Brandon Ribeye steak sandwiches will be served.

RSVP at (601) 825-5056.

TISHOMINGO COUNTY FARM BUREAU Thursday, Sept. 15, at 6:30 p.m.

Tishomingo County High School Cafeteria Iuka Bring a dessert.

NOXUBEE COUNTY FARM BUREAU Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 7 p.m.

County Civic Center Macon

SCOTT COUNTY FARM BUREAU Thursday, Sept. 8, at 6:30 p.m.

Alfreda Lodge Roosevelt State Park Morton Tickets are $4 per member.

UNION COUNTY FARM BUREAU Thursday, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m.

Union County Fairgrounds Ladies Building Union

OKTIBBEHA COUNTY FARM BUREAU Thursday, Sept. 15, at 6:30 p.m.

MAFES Conference Center — Bull Barn Starkville

SIMPSON COUNTY FARM BUREAU Tuesday Sept. 6, at 6:30 p.m.

County Junior Livestock Building Mendenhall

PANOLA COUNTY FARM BUREAU Monday, Sept. 19, at 6:30 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office Batesville Light refreshments will be served.

SMITH COUNTY FARM BUREAU Tuesday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office Raleigh

NEWTON COUNTY FARM BUREAU Thursday, Oct. 20, at 6:30 p.m.

Clarke-Venable Baptist Church Decatur

PEARL RIVER COUNTY FARM BUREAU Tuesday, Oct. 4, at 6 p.m.

Jack’s Fish House McNeill PONTOTOC COUNTY FARM BUREAU Thursday, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m.

Pontotoc Community House Meal will be provided.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

TALLAHATCHIE COUNTY FARM BUREAU Thursday, Oct. 13, at 7:45 a.m.

Farm Bureau Office Charleston TIPPAH COUNTY FARM BUREAU Monday, Sept. 12, at 6 p.m.

Industrial Building at county fairgrounds Ripley

WALTHALL COUNTY FARM BUREAU Thursday, Sept. 15, at 6:30 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office Tylertown WASHINGTON COUNTY FARM BUREAU Thursday, Oct. 13, at 6 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office Greenville WAYNE COUNTY FARM BUREAU Thursday, Oct. 20, at 6 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office Waynesboro WINSTON COUNTY FARM BUREAU Thursday, Sept. 15, at 7 p.m.

Winston County Shrine Club Louisville YAZOO COUNTY FARM BUREAU Thursday, Nov. 17, at 10 a.m.

Farm Bureau Office Yazoo City

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

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2016 Gary Langley Memorial Clay Shoot The Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Committee hosted the 2016 Gary Langley Memorial Clay Shoot on June 25 at Kearney Park Farms in Flora. This yearly event is held in memory of Gary Langley, a previous YF&R State Committee member who lost his life in a tragic tractor accident. All of the proceeds from the event are donated to the YF&R Scholarship Foundation.

This year’s event enjoyed a great turnout,

with 67 shooters competing for a variety of prizes. First-place team members received $150 each; second-place team members received $100 each and third-place team members received $50 each. The course consists of 100 shots at 12 different stations, creating a challenging and fun course.

The committee would like to thank all of the sponsors, donors and participants for making the event a success. They would like to extend a very special thank you to MFBF

President Mike McCormick, MFBF North Mississippi Vice President Donald Gant, MFBF Central Mississippi Vice President Ted Kendall IV and MFBF South Mississippi Vice President Reggie Magee for their generous donation of a Browning Silver Hunter 12-Gauge Shotgun that was awarded to the top shooter of the day.

For more information about the YF&R Program, call YF&R Coordinator Samantha Laird at (601) 573-7913. FB

HIGH SHOOTER – Skyler Burks, pictured with Central Mississippi Vice President Ted Kendall IV; YF&R State Committee Chair David Arant; South Mississippi Vice President Reggie Magee; North Mississippi Vice President Donald Gant; and MFBF President Mike McCormick.

1ST PLACE TEAM – A non-corporate team comprised of individuals from Madison and Leake counties, including Chuck Boyer, Steve Grantham and Skyler Burks. They are pictured with YF&R State Committee Chair David Arant and MFBF President Mike McCormick.

2ND PLACE TEAM – A team sponsored by Clay County Farm Bureau, including William Elliott, Gus Elliott, Daniel Elliott and Elton Dean. They are pictured with YF&R State Committee Chair David Arant and MFBF President Mike McCormick.

3RD PLACE TEAM – A team sponsored by Simpson County Farm Bureau, including Leon Brown, Skyler Magee, Patrick Mullins and Mark Hubbard. They are pictured with YF&R State Committee Chair David Arant and MFBF President Mike McCormick.

YF&R CLAY SHOOT SPONSORS/DONORS TOP SHOOTER — Browning Silver Hunter 12-gauge Shotgun — Mike McCormick, Donald Gant, Ted Kendell and Reggie Magee

GOLD-LEVEL SPONSOR DuPont/Pioneer Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company

SILVER-LEVEL SPONSORS Cont’d.

Simpson County Farm Bureau StockPro Animal Heath

DOOR PRIZES — TSC — Two umbrellas and two folding chairs

SILVER-LEVEL SPONSORS Bayer CropScience

BRONZE-LEVEL SPONSOR Yazoo County Farm Bureau

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MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

State Board Tours MSU Research

Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation board members and their spouses toured Mississippi State University (MSU) campus research facilities in May. The group visited the Bearden Dairy Research Center (DRC), where they learned about new grazing research and viewed the irrigation system, fencing and crossbred cattle associated with the project. They also met at the Herzer Building to learn about emerging technologies for herbicide-resistant weeds, the dairy processing operation and the MAFES Sales Store, where MSU dairy products are sold. Land-grant research is critical to helping our nation’s farmers remain efficient and productive in an ever-growing, ever-changing world. FB

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

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AG ORGANIZATION POLICY FORUM: Representatives from nearly every segment of agriculture met in Jackson on June 21 to discuss current issues affecting agriculture and how commodity groups can work with each other on common issues impacting their respective industries. More than 40 ag organizations were represented at this first Ag Organization Policy Forum, which was organized by Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, Delta Council, Mississippi Forestry Association and the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce. Sara Wyant, editor and publisher of the syndicated ag news source, Agri-Pulse, was the keynote speaker. FB

SUMMER COMMODITY MEETING: Over 70 participants attended the 2016 Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) Beef, Dairy and Swine Summer Commodity Meeting held in June in Jackson. All recognized MFBF agricultural commodities hold meetings during the summer months to benefit from excellent ag industry speakers and to share issues of interest and concern in their respective segments of agriculture. FB SEE PAGE 7 FOR A LIST OF OUR FARM BUREAU MEMBER BENEFITS.

AITC Workshops

Teachers from across the state participated in Ag in the Classroom Teacher/Volunteer Workshops held in June in Hattiesburg, Jackson and Hernando. The workshops, coordinated by the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Women’s Programs, are designed to give teachers ideas about how to incorporate agriculture into their classroom activities. Teachers are pictured making a pig nose (snout). Modeling the finished product is 2016 Farm Bureau Ambassador Jessica Smith. FB 26

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

David Waide Veterinary Scholarship

Recipients of the David Waide Veterinary Scholarship for 2016 are Bayard Grillis of Wesson and Kayla Williams of Quitman. The $5,000 scholarship, established in 2015, is presented annually to two fourth-year students who are enrolled full-time in the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine and who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, good moral character and a desire to practice production animal medicine in the state of Mississippi. Scholarship recipients are pictured with Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation President Mike McCormick and Dr. Kent Hoblet, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University. (Photo by Tom Thompson) FB

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

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National YF&R Prize Package The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) competitions will offer great prizes in 2017.

Winners of the AFBF Achievement Award, Discussion Meet and Excellence in Agriculture contests will have a choice of either a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado or a 2017 GMC Sierra pickup truck, sponsored by Chevrolet and valued at approximately $35,000. In addition, they will receive a paid registration to attend the 2017 AFBF FUSION Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 10-13.

Three finalists in the national Achievement Award, Discussion Meet and Excel­lence in Agriculture contests will receive a Case IH Farmall 50A, sponsored

by Case IH and valued at approximately $24,300, along with a $2,500 cash prize and $500 in merchandise, courtesy of STIHL. Winners will be determined at AFBF Annual Convention Jan. 8-11, 2017, in Phoenix, Arizona. For more information, contact MFBF YF&R Coordinator Samantha Laird at (601) 573-7913. Missis­sippi’s state competition also offers a fantastic prize package. (In the event any of the national event awards are unavailable, AFBF reserves the right to substitute a prize of comparable or greater value at its sole discretion. Winners and finalists will be expected to 1) accept the awarded prize and 2) consent to the use of their name, likeness and hometown in promotional material, and must be legally eligible to do both.) FB

28

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

CALENDAR of EVENTS

SEPT. 16 Delta Rice Tasting Luncheon

Walter Sillers Building Delta State University Cleveland OCT. 5 - 16 Mississippi State Fair

Mississippi Fairgrounds Jackson OCT. 13 - 14 Women’s Ag Tour

NOV. 5 YF&R Tailgate

MSU

NOV. 10 State Resolutions Meeting

Jackson NOV. 13-16 YF&R Washington D.C. Fly-In

DEC. 3-5 MFBF Annual Meeting

Jackson

JAN. 8-11 AFBF Annual Convention

Phoenix, Arizona

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

Ag Mags Available

This issue of our Ag Mag children’s newsletter features land and water. You can order Ag Mags for your local classroom or ag promotion events from our Ag in the Classroom program.

Dairy, corn, poultry, horticulture, cotton, peanut, honey bee, soil, beef and soybean editions are also available. Contact Pam Jones at pjones@msfb.org or (601) 977-4854. FB

FB

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

2016 Photo Contest

The Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Women’s Programs is again sponsoring a photo contest, with entries to be received

by September 15, 2016. You may submit a photo (s) in one or all three of these categories: At Home on the Farm, My Scenic Farm, and At Work on the Farm. Prizes will be awarded to the top-three photos in each category. The contest is open to all Mississippi Farm Bureau members and employees over the age of 18 at the time of entry. Amateur photographers only. All photos must be taken in Mississippi.

A 2016 Photo Contest Entry and Release Form must be filled out for each photo.

All photos and forms must be submitted electronically to pjones@msfb.org. Forms can be found on the MFBF website at www.msfb.org. FB

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

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Lap Throws Afghan lap throws with the Ag in the Classroom artwork (the same as the T-shirts) are now available for $40 from the state office. The throws are maroon and are 51 inches by 38 inches in size. • For more information, contact Pam Jones at pjones@msfb.org or (601) 977-4854. FB

AITC T-Shirts for Sale Contact Pam Jones at pjones@msfb.org or (601) 977-4854 FB BACK

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MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

FRONT SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016