Mississippi Farm Country

A PUBLICATION OF MISSISSIPPI FARM BUREAU FEDERATION VOL. 93, NO. 3 MAY/JUNE 2017 MSFB.ORG

TELLING AGRICULTURE’S

Story

F A C E S

K

O F

F A R M

A Devoted Conservationist

emper County cattle and timber farmer Dwight Jackson knew at an early age he was destined to be a cattleman.

“My grandfather gave me a heifer calf when I was six years old, and I have owned cattle since that day. I have always enjoyed being outdoors, whether working, playing, hunting or fishing. I have been able to transform my love of the outdoors into a dream come true,” he said.

Dwight has worked with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service for 35 years. His mission is to stay on the cutting edge of conservation and to encourage other farmers to do the same.

“One of my pet peeves is to see land being idle,” he said.

“My No. 1 goal is for every acre to be used to its maximum potential.”

Dwight owns a diversified operation in Preston in northern Kemper County. His farm consists of 1,300 acres of pasture and timberland that he has accumulated in the past 30 years, as well as an additional 300 acres he leases. He currently runs 250 commercial brood cows and implements a

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B U R E A U

variety of conservation practices, including modified intensive grazing, water troughs with heavy use areas and management of 90 acres of hybrid Bermuda grass.

He also manages his timberland as a crop. He is enrolled in the Conservation Riparian Buffer program, uses Quality Vegetative Management practices when timber is thinned and prescribed burning. He plants wildlife food plots each year so friends and family can enjoy the land for recreational purposes.

A member of the Kemper County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, Dwight values his Farm Bureau membership.

“Farm Bureau stays on top of issues that affect farmers and is in constant contact with lawmakers and other government officials,” he said. “The structure of the organization is also important. The policies that guide them begin on the grassroots level, and I think that is a very effective approach.”

Dwight is a 1984 graduate of Alcorn State University. He is active in the local cattlemen’s and forestry associations, a Neshoba County Gin Assn. board member and is on the advisory council for Kemper County Economic Development. FB MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

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C O N T E N T S VOLUME 93 NUMBER 3 MAY/JUNE 2017

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 EDITOR — Glynda Phillips ADVERTISING Angela Ellis 1-800-227-8244 ext. 4242 aellis@msfb.org FARM BUREAU OFFICERS President – Mike McCormick Vice President (North) – Donald Gant Vice President (Central) – Ted Kendall IV Vice President (South) – Reggie Magee Treasurer – Billy Davis Corporate Secretary – Kent Bloodworth FARM BUREAU DIRECTORS Carla Taylor, Prentiss Mike Graves, Tippah Jeff Hollowell, Lafayette Preston Arrington, Sunflower Gabriela Brasher, Tallahatchie Neal Huskison, Pontotoc Scott O’Brian, Clay Joe Huerkamp, Noxubee David Hayward, Grenada James Rasberry, Attala William Jones, Lauderdale Max Anderson, Newton James R. Ford, Smith Josh Miller, Sharkey Tammy Layton, Simpson Noble Guedon, Adams Pud Stringer, Marion Larry Jefcoat, Jones Clayton Lawrence Jr., George Perry Meyers, Jackson Betty Mills, Montgomery Luke Andrews, Bolivar

FARM FACTS On a chilly Wednesday morning on the last day of November 2016, Pud Stringer removed the milker from a Jersey, the last cow in the parlor that day. As he hung the milker onto its holder, he closed a tradition that had been in the Stringer family for 54 years. Read his story inside.

17 RECIPES Enjoy the recipes from “Country Cooking, Vol. V.” Sales of this cookbook generate funds for the Ag in the Classroom program. Cookbooks are available at most county offices.

FARM BUREAU AMBASSADOR Mississippi Farm Bureau Ambassador Beth Tillman of Yalobusha County is eager to tell agriculture’s story at events and meetings across the state. Read more about Beth and the Mississippi Farm Bureau Ambassador program inside.

14 FARM BUREAU ACTIVITIES Volunteer leaders and staff have been busy during the winter and spring months.

Coverage of our Farm Bureau activities can be found throughout the magazine.

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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 4 6 8 24

MEMBER SAVINGS APP PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE NATIONAL AFFAIRS REPORT

ABOUT THE COVER Mississippi Farm Bureau Ambassador Beth Tillman is pictured at the Bost Extension Center building on the campus of Mississippi State University.

NOTES FROM THE FIELD MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

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P R E S I D E N T’S

M E S S A G E

Our Family Is The Best

Mike McCormick

President, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation

In an earlier column, I talked about the many ways Farm Bureau makes me proud.

In this issue, I want to cast a special spotlight on our Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation family.

Because of your tireless efforts, we are already exceling in so many different arenas this year.

One of the most important areas is membership growth.

MEMBERSHIP QUOTA

I want to congratulate you on the work you did to help us reach our 2017 membership quota in early February. As of Feb. 9, we were 192,520 member families strong. This marks the first time since Hurricane Katrina ravaged our state and severely impacted our insurance operation in 2005 that we have had back-toback years of membership growth.

Reaching quota this year makes Mississippi Farm Bureau the 10th largest Farm Bureau among the 50 states and Puerto Rico that make up the membership of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

I’d like to thank all of the secretaries who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, the agency force who answered the call for help and the Federation staff members who assisted with our game plan. Without this team effort, we would not have been successful. Each and every one of you went above and beyond the call of duty.

I know without a doubt that a precedent has been set.

In the years to come, we will continue achieving our membership quota annually as we work together to further grow and strengthen our organization.

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

Farm Bureau family members also helped ensure that the 2017 legislative session was one of our best. Because of the way the magazine is printed, I can’t give you a report on all that we accomplished until the next issue. What I can do now is thank you for what you did to support the efforts of your Public Policy program.

I appreciate the calls you made to your lawmakers, the special events you organized to bring together legisla-

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tors and members, and, most importantly, the visits you made to the State Capitol. Your presence there filled me with a deep pride.

We couldn’t do what we do each session without your help.

SALE OF JUNIOR CHAMPIONS

Finally, so many of our dedicated Mississippi Farm Bureau family members participated in the Sale of Junior Champions in Jackson this year. The caliber of livestock auctioned off at this annual showcase for 4-H and FFA youths is always outstanding. These animals never fail to reflect the close attention and care that farm families shower on their livestock each and every day. The proceeds from the sale of the animals are used to fund scholarships for many deserving students.

This year, one of our family members, Carson Keene of Forrest County, made me especially proud. Carson informed the auctioneer that the proceeds from the sale of one of his champion Duroc hogs would go into a medical fund for a classmate who is battling cancer. When the crowd learned of Carson’s intentions, the bidding escalated.

Carson’s hog was sold, but the bidding didn’t stop there. At last count, the figure totaled close to $20,000.

It is Carson’s special brand of kindness that is a hallmark of our organization. Since our beginnings almost 100 years ago, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation has endeavored to give back to local communities, the state and the nation.

Our members instill in their kids the importance of honoring God, family and country, and they emphasize a caring attitude in the form of an involvement in their churches, schools and local civic organizations.

Photos of the animals Farm Bureau purchased at the 2017 Sale of Junior Champions can be found inside this issue. Please note the names of all of the sponsors who helped to make these purchases possible.

You will also find an article about Carson inside.

I want to commend our Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation volunteer leaders and staff on all they have accomplished in the early months of 2017. I look forward to reaching even more goals in the year ahead as we continue our efforts to help Mississippi’s farmers and rural communities succeed. I appreciate your loyalty and dedication more than you will ever know.

You are the best. FB

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NATIONAL AFFAIRS REPORT ★

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

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

Significant Regulatory Relief Anticipated by Ag Industry As this article goes to print, President Trump is delivering his cide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), the Food Safety Modernization first State of the Union address to the American public. One of the Act (FSMA) and interpretation of the Federal Land Policy and Manmost prominent commitments that President Trump made during agement Act (FLPMA), to name just a few. The Administrative Prothe campaign related to the reform of and relief from burdensome cedure Act (APA) is the principal federal statute that governs how federal regulations on most of our major industries here in the U.S. regulations are promulgated. Enacted in 1946, the law has not subThe agricultural industry is no stranger to the topic of regulation, stantially changed in the 70 years it has been on the books — even or in the eyes of many, “overregulation.” Our farms and ranches while the federal government has expanded enormously. In Januproduce their commodities here in the U.S. under one of the most ary, the U.S. House passed Farm Bureau-supported legislation that robust regulatory environments in the world, would ensure transparency and accountabilyet compete to sell their products on a world ity by regulatory agencies, reaffirm congresmarket with competitors that have nowhere sional intent in rulemaking and strengthen near the amount of regulatory oversight as the public’s right to know. As approved by we do. Several specific items of regulatory lawmakers, the Regulatory Accountabilpolicy that Farm Bureau is monitoring are ity Act of 2017 (H.R. 5) also included an highlighted below. amendment offered by Rep. Collin Peterson Waters of the U.S.: The Waters of the U.S. (D-Minn.) that would limit a federal agency (referred to as WOTUS) is a prime example of from lobbying for its own rulemaking. Farm one of the most egregious regulatory actions Bureau fully supports H.R. 5, as regulatory of the federal government in history. The U.S. reform is a top priority for our industry.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Administrator of EPA: The U.S. Senate U.S. Army Corps of Engineers finalized this FARM BUREAU STRONGLY BELIEVES voted to confirm Scott Pruitt as administrarule, which significantly expanded the defini- THAT ALL AMERICANS, INCLUDING tor of the Environmental Protection Agency tion of “waters of the United States” under the FARMERS AND RANCHERS, NEED A on Friday, February 17. The vote was 52 to Clean Water Act on August 28, 2015. This REGULATORY SYSTEM THAT IS FAIR, 46, with two senators (Donnelly - IN and regulation expands federal authority beyond McCain - AZ) not voting. North Dakota TRANSPARENT, ADHERES TO THE the limits approved by Congress and affirmed WILL OF CONGRESS, RESPECTS OUR Democrat Heidi Heitkamp voted for the by the U.S. Supreme Court. If implemented, confirmation, while Maine Republican FREEDOMS AND DOES NOT DETER the negative impacts on farmers and private Susan Collins voted no. Farm Bureau fully OR HINDER ECONOMIC GROWTH. landowners will be enormous. This rule cresupported Scott Pruitt’s confirmation as the ates confusion and risk by granting the agencies almost unlimited administrator of EPA. Scott Pruitt’s confirmation to lead the Enviauthority to regulate, at their discretion, any low spot where rainwa- ronmental Protection Agency will bring a breath of fresh air to the ter collects, including common farm ditches, agricultural ponds and post. America’s farmers and ranchers look forward to working with isolated wetlands found in and near farms. The U.S. Court of Appeals Administrator Pruitt as he leads the EPA with a welcome level of issued a nationwide stay of the rule, but the rule is nonetheless final. common sense in the important job of protecting the environment.

Repeal of the WOTUS rule is the top regulatory priority for Farm Farm Bureau strongly believes that all Americans, including farmBureau for this new administration. ers and ranchers, need a regulatory system that is fair, transparent, Regulatory Reform: Federal regulations have a direct impact on adheres to the will of Congress, respects our freedoms and does farmers and ranchers. Over the years, the breadth and extent of that not deter or hinder economic growth. Knowing that rural Amerregulatory landscape have increased. Today, agricultural producers ica supported President Trump, hopefully his administration will are faced with a flurry of requirements through the Clean Water Act, bring much-needed regulatory relief to most industries, including the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Federal Insecticide, Fungi- U.S. agriculture. FB 8

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“I have always had a place in my heart for the special needs community. When I prayed about it, God said I should work with special needs kids,” she said. “That will be great because I can teach, and I can farm. I plan to incorporate Ag in the Classroom into my teaching efforts. I want to teach kids how to grow a garden and provide for themselves. I also hope I can bring them to the farm on field trips and show them how beef is grown.”

Telling Agriculture’s Story B Y G LY N D A P H I L L I P S

Beth Tillman of Yalobusha County took a moment recently from her studies at Mississippi State University to talk about her role as 2017 Mississippi Farm Bureau Ambassador. Beth won the title at state convention in December, competing with outstanding college students from around the state. She says she is eager to tell agriculture’s story in the year ahead.

“I am honored to represent an organization that represents the interests of farmers,” she said. “Farm Bureau not only addresses issues that affect agriculture, it teaches children and adults to appreciate what farmers do for all of us every single day.”

FARM LIFE

“I have always had a place in my heart for the special needs community. When I prayed about it, God said I should work with special needs kids,” she said. “That will be great because I can teach, and I can farm. I plan to incorporate Ag in the Classroom into my teaching efforts. I want to teach kids how to grow a garden and provide for themselves. I also hope I can bring them to the farm on field trips and show them how beef is grown.”

In addition to her school and farm work, Beth is the youth director at Tillatoba Baptist Church. She is also a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She received a $4,000 Mississippi Farm Bureau Ambassador Scholarship. She has also received several scholarships through the College of Education at Mississippi State University and a scholarship from “FARMING TAUGHT ME Yalobusha County Farm Bureau.

PATIENCE, AND IT HAS

Farming has always been an important part of Beth’s life. She grew up on her grandparents’ farm in Tillatoba, where John and Margaret Ann Tillman built a successful 2,000-acre commercial cattle operaSTRENGTHENED MY tion from nothing.

STATE WOMEN’S COMMITTEE FAITH IN GOD. I “Every day, I would watch my grandfather go to Beth would like to thank the members of the WOULD WATCH MY work before the sun came up, and I would watch him GRANDFATHER WAIT TO State Women’s Leadership Committee for their help work until the sun went down,” she said. “I was right as she has begun carrying out her Mississippi Farm CUT HAY UNTIL WE there with him, learning how to farm and developing WOULD HAVE A RAIN. Bureau Ambassador responsibilities this year. a strong work ethic.

“The State Women’s Leadership Committee has HE WOULD SAY, ‘WE’LL “Farming taught me patience, and it has strength- JUST PUT THIS IN GOD’S made me feel so comfortable,” she said. “They are ened my faith in God,” she said. “I would watch warm and encouraging. I have especially enjoyed HANDS.’ ANY CATTLE my grandfather wait to cut hay until we would have FARMER WILL TELL YOU working with Betty Mills, Clara Bilbo and Jody a rain. He would say, ‘We’ll just put this in God’s THAT YOU HAVE TO BE Bailey, as well as with all of the other staff members PATIENT WHEN YOU hands.’ Any cattle farmer will tell you that you have and volunteer leaders I have met across the state.”

WORK WITH COWS. I to be patient when you work with cows. I think Beth says the events she has participated in so THINK PATIENCE IS AN patience is an important part of any type of farming.” far have provided her with a great way to promote IMPORTANT PART OF Beth’s grandfather passed away several years ago at agriculture, and she can’t wait to be a part of the the age of 87. Now, she and her father, who works for ANY TYPE OF FARMING.” summer and fall activities. She participated in the the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Dixie National Rodeo Parade in February and the — BETH TILLMAN carry on the farming operation together.

State Women’s Leadership Conference in April. She “I mix feed and fix fences,” she said. “In the summer, I help is looking forward to the Ag in the Classroom workshops in June. cut hay in the hayfield. But my main responsibility is vaccinating “I want to encourage other students to participate in this procows and giving them the proper medicine to survive. I love that. gram,” she said. “It is a good opportunity to tell the farmer’s story, I wanted to become a vet, but when my grandfather passed away, I and it is a wonderful chance to learn something new about yourself.” also wanted to help keep the family farm going. I knew that I didn’t For more information about the Mississippi Farm Bureau Ambashave the time for vet school, so I cast about for something I could sador program, contact Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Womdo along with farming. en’s Programs Coordinator Clara Bilbo at (601) 977-4245. FB MAY/JUNE 2017

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“I NEVER EXPECTED SUCH A GREAT HONOR. IT AMAZES ME THAT MY PORTRAIT NOW HANGS WITH PEOPLE I LOOKED UP TO THROUGH THE YEARS. WHEN I LOOK AT THOSE MEN, I FEEL UNDESERVING, BUT I ALSO FEEL PROUD.” — DANNY THORNTON

i p P p i oul s s i t s ry s i M kHall of Famel B Y G LY N D A P H I L L I P S

Danny Thornton of Carthage has spent his life important issues in the poultry industry,” he said. serving Mississippi’s poultry industry as an educator, “We really appreciate that.” an advocate, a grower, a technician and an epide Danny is active in other agricultural organizamiologist. In recognition of his dedication, accomtions and serves as a deacon at Sunrise Baptist Church. plishments and hard work, he was inducted in 2016 Danny also enjoys visiting his neighbors. He into the Mississippi Poultry Hall of Fame. Danny is has a special place in his heart for one neighbor in the first grower to be so recognized, and his portrait particular. Dott Arthur is a former Mississippi Farm now hangs in the Hill Poultry Science Building on Bureau Federation (MFBF) Women’s Chair and a the campus of Mississippi State University. former member of the MFBF Board of Directors.

“It was a surprise, to say the least,” he said. “I Dott serves as president of Leake County Farm never expected such a great honor. It amazes me that Bureau.

IN RECOGNITION OF my portrait now hangs with people I looked up to “Growing up, Dott was sort of a second mother HIS DEDICATION, through the years. Tal Ramsey owned R&R Milling to me,” he said. “Our families farmed land that Company, which became Choctaw Maid then Tyson. ACCOMPLISHMENTS adjoined, lived in the same community and went AND HARD WORK, Van Ray Bowman was my first supervisor at R&R to the same church. She influenced me a lot, guided Milling. When I look at those men, I feel undeserving, DANNY WAS INDUCTED me and always gave me good advice.

IN 2016 INTO THE but I also feel proud. I think it’s pretty great that five “I’d also like to mention Red Hill as someone MISSISSIPPI POULTRY people from Leake County are in this hall of fame.” who helped shape my life,” Danny said. “He served HALL OF FAME. HE IS Through the years, in addition to R&R Milling as head of the Poultry Science Department at MisCompany, Danny worked for the Board of Animal THE FIRST GROWER TO sissippi State when I was a student there. I worked BE SO RECOGNIZED, Health and for Mississippi State University. He has my way through college, and he had a farm where I AND HIS PORTRAIT NOW also served as chair of the Grower Advisory Comworked with his cattle and cut grass. He helped me HANGS IN THE HILL mittee for the Mississippi Poultry Association (MPA) a great deal.

POULTRY SCIENCE and sits on the MPA Board of Directors.

“I went into poultry science when I was a stuBUILDING ON THE Upon retiring, Danny came home to farm. He CAMPUS OF MISSISSIPPI dent at Mississippi State because I knew a little bit grows pullets for Peco and has had broiler houses in about it, having grown up on my father’s poultry STATE UNIVERSITY. the past. For the first three months of his retirement, and cattle farm. Through the years, I grew to love he was content to just farm, but when Process Management Con- the industry, and I’m overwhelmed and humbled to be inducted sulting in Nashville called and asked if he would help with animal into the Mississippi Poultry Hall of Fame,” he said. “Poultry and welfare audits on a part-time basis, he agreed. Now, six months eggs are the biggest industry in the state, and the industry just keeps out of the year, he visits farms, hatcheries and processing plants in growing. I am proud to have had a small part in helping it grow.” states across the Southeast, excluding Mississippi.

Danny and his wife, Sherry, have two daughters and five grand “So far, I enjoy it,” he said. “Working part-time allows me time children. His daughters and their husbands operate broiler farms. to go trout fishing in east Tennessee. My wife and I enjoy that part According to MPA figures, poultry generates a $20 billion ecoof the country a whole lot. She’s an amateur wildlife photographer, nomic impact annually in Mississippi. The state is home to Cal-Maine and we both like to hunt.”

Foods, Inc., the largest egg processor in the world, and was ranked Danny sits on the Leake County Farm Bureau Board of Direc- the fourth-largest broiler-producing state in the U.S. in 2010. FB tors. He says he is thankful for all that Farm Bureau does for Mississippi agriculture.

Danny holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Mississippi State “Down through the years, Farm Bureau has helped with many University. He served in the National Guard for 12 years.

Photo of Danny with chicks is by Sherry Thornton.

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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

Reflections on a Life Spent Dairying

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n a chilly Wednesday morning on the last day of November 2016, I removed the milker from a Jersey, the last cow in the parlor that day. As I hung the milker onto its holder, I closed a tradition that had been in the Stringer family for 54 years. She was not only the last cow of the day, she was the last cow that would ever be milked at Stringer Dairy.

It was hard to imagine that something I had enjoyed my whole life while complaining about it … something I

by Pud Stringer had loved while hating the uncertainties of it… something I had championed while struggling hard against its obstacles was coming to an end. Surely someone would jump at the chance to get up long before daylight, work 12- to 15-hour days, 365 days a year, in the sun, the rain, the heat and the sleet and suffer the losses of drought, hurricanes and inflation to continue the dairy farm as I had so eagerly done in 1972.

My name is Everett Alan Stringer, but I am better known by the nickname “Pud.” (Maybe you remember the beanie-

wearing, pudgycheeked Double Bubble gum-popping cartoon character of the 1950s!) I own Stringer Dairy, LLC, in the New Hope community 15 miles southwest of Columbia. There, my wife, Peggy, and I raised two children, April and Dustin. Peggy, who had also been raised working on a dairy and was active in Farm Bureau, passed in 2010. Two years later, I met Lucy from Vicksburg on a mission trip in Honduras. When we married, my

Pud and Lucy Stringer 14

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Lucy and Pud are pictured with his mother, Linda.

“It was hard to imagine that something I had enjoyed my whole life while complaining about it … something I had loved while hating the uncertainties of it … something I had championed while struggling hard against its obstacles was coming to an end.”

— Pud Stringer family expanded by the addition of her two children, Brooke and Drew. Together, we have 10 grandchildren.

For as long as I can remember, the activities of my life have revolved around dairy farming. My father, Everett Stringer, started dairying in the early 1950s, and as soon as I could feed a calf or drive a tractor using only the hand clutch (since I was too small to touch the pedals), I began working daily on the dairy. I became a partner with him in 1972 when I bought my first 30 dairy cows through an order buyer with Farm Bureau.

We remained partners until his MAY/JUNE 2017

passing in 2001, and I continued operating the family farm.

At the beginning of our partnership, Marion County had over 100 dairies supporting families and producing quality milk for Mississippi. Today, milk has to be brought into Mississippi from across the United States, for fewer than 100 dairies remain in the entire state.

With the closing of Stringer Dairy, the number shrank by one more. Yet farming will always be a part of my life. I still have some cattle and timber, and with those, there is always fence to fix, hay to bale, pastures to plant and repairs to be

done. But at 64, I realize that one day that, too, will pass.

The future of farming is in the strong hands of our younger farmers. I am proud to be a part of the Farm Bureau family because it promotes young farmers. They face many challenges, one of which is the consumer’s perception of farming and farmers. Very few consumers understand what farm life is really about.

Farmers love the land, we desire to improve what the Lord has blessed us with, and we strive to produce the safest, highest-quality foods in the world at an affordable price. However, those who MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

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have not been raised on or worked on farms are unaware of the work and the expense required of farmers to accomplish these goals. When consumers put a $3.83 gallon of milk into their refrigerator, most envision a cow placidly grazing a pasture that turns green (and remains green all winter) thanks to the sun and the rain. All the farmer has to do is inherit the land. Repairing tractors, disking, purchasing seed, planting seed, repairing tractors, irrigating, fertilizing, fencing, repairing fence, buying feed, cutting hay, raking hay, baling hay, repairing tractors, making balage, wrapping bales, transporting bales, repairing tractors, washing lots, cleaning equipment, passing inspection, paying land taxes, leasing pasture… these daily realities for the farmer are, for the most part, unknown to many consumers. Nor do they realize that less than half of that $3.83 they paid goes to the farmer and

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that from his share he has to deduct all of these costs of production.

“Farmers love the land, we desire to improve what the Lord has blessed us with, and we strive to produce the safest, highest quality foods in the world at an affordable price. However, those who have not been raised on or worked on farms are unaware of the work and the expense required of farmers to accomplish these goals.”

— Pud Stringer

I am proud of the Farm Families of Mississippi image campaign and the message it is providing for our state, but we farmers must also educate consumers locally on what it takes to get food to their table. At some point, consumers must realize that farmers must be able to make a living from their valuable service.

We must encourage more young adults to pursue a career in the world’s most crucial industry. Together, we can keep Mississippi’s farms productive and viable. I thank God for giving me a part in His original occupation for mankind: agriculture. 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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Our Food Link

Members of the State Women’s Leadership Committee, along with other volunteer leaders and staff, took a cash donation and supplies to Ronald McDonald House of Jackson as part of the Our Food Link program, which seeks to reach out to consumers of all ages and backgrounds with information about today’s agriculture. The women are pictured with Ruth Ann Allen (far left), executive director of Ronald McDonald House of Jackson. Making the presentation is State Women’s Chair Betty Mills and Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation President Mike McCormick. The donation is the result of efforts by volunteer leaders across the state.

Also pictured is Mississippi Farm Bureau Ambassador Beth Tillman. FB

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Pictured, from left, are Greg Lott, Libby and Jim Rowell, and Christy Eaves.

“We offer beef that is born and raised on our farm, from conception to consumption. When you buy our beef, you know who grew it, how it was raised and where it was raised. You know everything about it.”

— Jim Rowell

LO

EF

R O G W Y N L L BE CA

.• FROM FARM TO TABLE. B Y G LY N D A P H I L L I P S

he owners of Remington-Lott Farms in Canton saw a demand in the marketplace for locally grown grassfed-grain finished beef and decided to fill that need. Stepping outside the box to target a niche market, no matter how quickly it is growing, is never easy.

“We started our business in 2011, but it took us two years of research and a long process of trial and error before we came up with a plan that worked for us,” said Jim Rowell, the idea man behind the operation. “We raise our cows on our own pasture grass and finish them on a grain mixture put together by a nutritionist, while still free range. They are fed a healthy, balanced diet. No hormones are used.

“Our cows are raised in a tranquil, peaceful setting, and as a result, the meat is tender,” he added. “We offer beef that is born and raised on our farm, from conception to consumption. When you buy our beef, you know who grew it, how it was raised and where it was raised. You know everything about it.”

Remington-Lott raises show calves that are sold to kids who participate in 4-H (one recent calf, when shown, went on to win the 2015 Reserve Grand Champion and 2015 Grand Champion Mississippi Bred Steer categories in Dixie National Livestock Show competition in Jackson). The remaining heifers are retained in the herd for replacements or sold during the Bred Heifer Sale, which is conducted through the Mississippi State University Extension Service. The steers are then processed at Attala Frozen Foods in Kosciusko. The beef is MDAC-inspected during processing.

“Most beef you purchase in the grocery store is wet-aged, which means it is processed quickly then taken to the marketplace,” said Jim. “That flavor can’t match our beef, which is dry-aged for 14-21 days. We are able to offer you a premium beef product for less money because we eliminate the middle man. We sell everything from the tail to the tongue to the bones.”

Their formula seems to be working. The owners of RemingtonLott say they had a very successful year in 2016, with demand for their products steadily growing. Currently, the beef products are

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sold at Remington-Lott stores in Madison and Flowood, as well as at the Mississippi Farmers Market in Jackson (on Saturdays) and the Madison Farmers Market (in season.) You will also find the beef at Parlor Market restaurant in Jackson, County Seat restaurant in Livingston, and The Farmers Table restaurant on High Street in Jackson.

Jim and Libby Rowell and their partners, Greg and Doris Ann Lott, as well as Jim’s stepdaughter, Christy Eaves, continually tweak their business plan. Jim’s granddaughters, Kelsey and Kadey, are also involved in the business.

Greg, who is in charge of growing the beef, says he has dedicated his life to beef production. Greg’s son, Will, helps run the day-today operations on the farm.

“This is something I really love,” said Greg, a longtime Madison County Farm Bureau member. “I not only enjoy growing cattle, I enjoy showing others our operation. It gives me a great deal of satisfaction to be able to explain to them what we are doing here.”

Remington-Lott Farms hosted a recent Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Legislative Tour, where lawmakers from around the state learned about Mississippi agriculture and this type of farming operation in particular. They listened as Greg explained to them how the beef is grown, processed and sold.

“We are a local farm that believes our customers truly desire to know where their beef is coming from,” Greg said “Our customers want to step back to a time when food was grown, processed and sold locally. We help them do that.”

As for the future?

“As long as people want our beef, we will continue offering a premium product to our many customers,” Jim said. “If that means increasing in size, then we will continue to grow bigger to meet the demand.”

If you are wondering about the farm’s name, Remington is a moniker that means a lot to Jim, and Lott is, of course, Greg’s last name.

“I’ve used the name Remington before, and it has always been lucky for me,” Jim said. “I think it is serving me well now.” FB

...

For more information about Remington-Lott Farms, visit the website at www.remingtonlottfarms.com or call (601) 940-1108.

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“SOME PEOPLE GRUMBLE THAT ROSES HAVE THORNS; I AM GRATEFUL THAT THORNS HAVE ROSES.” — Alphonse Karr, A Tour Round My Garden

Home Gardeners Can Enjoy Garden Roses —

I had an opportunity to attend the Gulf District American Rose Society MidWinter Workshop in Gonzales, Louisiana, in early February. It was a fantastic event that allowed me to meet lots of new people and catch up with a few old garden friends.

I also learned that I have had the same experiences and developed the same misperceptions that many home gardeners have with garden roses.

Gary R. Bachman As young homeowners — just for perMSU Extension Service spective, this story occurred 40 years ago — my wife and I started growing hybrid tea roses in South Carolina.

We loved having the fresh-cut stems, but we did not love the maintenance and pest management. So, we stopped growing garden roses.

This attitude persisted even after I became the Southern Gardener.

But then Knockout roses came along, and I started to come back around.

After spending a couple of days with genuine rose enthusiasts, I’m thinking about adding a few roses to my Ocean Springs’ landscape. Just choosing the selections to add to my landscape will be a daunting task, as the number of selections on the market is quite broad.

I’m not going to make specific recommendations today, but I do want to give you some information about groups of roses for the home gardener to consider.

One group the rosarians were raving about is the David Austin

English rose. I was amazed at how lush the blooms are and how each one was packed with what seemed like over 100 petals per flower.

Each flower also had an incredible fragrance.

David Austin roses are a result of an intensive breeding program that crossed fantastic old garden roses with more modern selections.

The result is a group of roses that display great growth characteristics with more reliable repeat flowering and a wider range of colors more commonly found in modern roses. I will have at least one David Austin rose in my landscape this year.

I also learned at the workshop that efforts to breed disease resistance into beautiful garden roses come with a tradeoff. This breeding often causes the rose to lose its fragrance.

At Kordes Roses, the breeders’ top priorities are disease resistance and fragrance. I was fascinated seeing all the complex flower styles and gorgeous colors they offer. I will have at least one Kordes rose in my landscape this year.

If you are a gardening novice unsure about planting garden roses, the easiest way to enjoy them is to plant Knockout roses. Knockouts are shrub-type roses that are highly disease resistant. They produce flower clusters nonstop in huge numbers. Flower colors range from red to pink and yellow, but I like the red best.

This plant has multiseason interest. Its foliage in the spring and summer is a dark, glossy green, and fall brings on a deep, maroonpurple show. Always plant in a location that receives at least five hours of full sun a day, with morning sun being the most beneficial.

Once you have a little success growing Knockouts, I’m sure you’ll have garden roses in your landscape next year. FB

Dr. Gary Bachman is an Extension and research professor of horticulture at the Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center in Biloxi. He is also the host of the popular Southern Gardening television and radio programs. Contact him at southerngardening@msstate.edu. Locate Southern Gardening products online at http://extension.msstate.edu/shows/southern-gardening.

(Photo of Knockout roses, bottom, far left, by MSU Extension/Gary Bachman.)

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Buttermilk Breakfast Cake

1 (18-oz.) pkg. white cake mix 1 c. buttermilk ½ c. melted butter 5 lg. eggs 3 T. light brown sugar 2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1 T. granulated sugar Shortening

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix cake mix, buttermilk, and butter together until thoroughly blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir together brown sugar and cinnamon in small bowl. Grease a 12-cup Bundt pan; sprinkle with sugar. Spoon 1/3 of butter into pan; sprinkle brown sugar mixture evenly over batter. Top with remaining batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Cool cake in pan for 15 minutes. Remove to wire rack for 20 minutes. Drizzle buttermilk-vanilla glaze over cake (recipe follows).

Millionaire Pie

1 can sweetened condensed milk 1 (9-oz.) box Cool Whip 1 sm. can crushed pineapple, drained 1 sm. can orange slices Juice of 3 lemons 1 c. pecans, chopped 2 (9-inch) vanilla wafer pie crusts Mix lemon juice, Cool Whip and milk; add pineapple and orange slices and pecans to mixture and mix well. This makes enough for two 9-inch pies.

Margaret Davis Grenada County Sweet Potato Cobbler

1 c self-rising flour 1 c. milk

1 c. sugar 1 stick margarine Melt margarine in a large 9x12-inch ovenproof dish. Mix flour, sugar and milk and pour into center of melted margarine. Do not stir. Then mix the following ingredients and pour into the center. Do not stir.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until light brown.

2 c. cooked but firm, peeled and sliced sweet potatoes 1 ½ c. water 1 tsp. cinnamon 1 c. sugar ½ c. light brown sugar 1 tsp vanilla Jody Bailey Yalobusha County

Buttermilk-Vanilla Glaze

1 c. powdered sugar 1 T. melted butter 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1-2 T. buttermilk

Stir together first three ingredients and 1 tablespoon buttermilk until smooth, adding additional buttermilk if necessary.

Drizzle over cake.

Betty Edwards Amite County 22

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COUNTRY COOKING, VOLUME V: These recipes are from “Country Cooking, Volume V,” 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.

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MFBF Summer Commodity Conference & Washington Fly-In American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall will participate in the 2017 Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) Summer Commodity Conference on June 22. The meeting will be held Wednesday and Thursday, June 21-22, on the campus of Mississippi State University.

Activities will begin Wednesday afternoon with research program tours on campus, followed by entertainment and dinner later that evening. Thursday morning, the conference general session kicks off at 9 a.m., followed by commodity breakout meetings, lunch and policy review subcommittee meetings.

Additionally, we are pleased to announce the dates for the annual MFBF Washington D.C. Member Fly-In, which is set for November 13-15. Members will arrive on Monday, November 13, and will participate in meetings on Tuesday, November 14. We will conduct Capitol Hill visits on Wednesday, November 15.

We look forward to a great series of meetings and the opportunity to visit with the members of our Mississippi Congressional Delegation on key issues important to state agriculture.

More information on both of these events will be coming in the weeks ahead. FB

CALENDAR of EVENTS

MAY 15 Deadline for Teacher/Volunteer AITC Workshops

JUNE 1 Scholarships Deadline

JUNE 12-13 Teacher/Volunteer AITC Workshop

Hattiesburg JUNE 14-15 Teacher/Volunteer AITC Workshop

Hernando JUNE 21-22 Summer Commodity Conference

Starkville JULY 17-20 Youth Safety Camp Gray Center, Canton

NOTES FROM THE FIELD ★

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

BY ANDY BROWN

Region 1 Regional Manager

Strength in Numbers Think back to grade school, high school or your college “U.S. given year. The hopes of this legislation would be to benefit both Government 101” course. Throughout my different levels of Mis- landowners and tax-based programs by giving both sides of the sissippi education, I was required to learn the history of the gov- equation a less volatile budget from year to year, beginning in ernment of this great nation and the intent of our forefathers. 2019. MFBF’s tax committee did not take the decision to supLessons were told of men and women representing their local port this bill lightly or without the consultation of other interested or trade interests to reach a consensus as a nation or territory parties. Research was done, questions were asked and numbers for the betterment of the people. Over time, as adults, it seems crunched over the course of the year, all for these leaders to make many lose faith in this system, no matter the best choice possible on behalf of those if you’re speaking of national government they were representing. or all the way down to local interests. As a Agricultural land value is a key issue for grassroots organization, Mississippi Farm many Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Bureau Federation (MFBF) still strives to members. All members face the concern achieve the structural intent of a democracy of understanding the rate at which they’re and allow leaders to voice the concerns of being taxed. Regardless of the issue or the the county membership and of the agriculoutcome of a particular bill, I hope you can tural industry. see the time, consideration and dedication A recent example of MFBF working on that Farm Bureau leaders give on behalf behalf of our members’ concerns relates to of their members. Numbers and tax code an issue that’s been debated as far back as are not always pleasurable for any leader to those previously mentioned forefathers: land analyze, but Farm Bureau leaders volunteer taxes. Farm Bureau members on the county their time to do just that. This is just one level began to raise concern in 2016 about “AS A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION, of many examples that could be used to MISSISSIPPI FARM BUREAU FEDthe rate at which their agricultural land value show why Mississippi Farm Bureau Fedwas being assessed on their tax bill, which ERATION STILL STRIVES TO ACHIEVE eration serves as the largest general farm was not necessarily parallel to the true value policy organization in Mississippi and why THE STRUCTURAL INTENT OF A they were seeing from that agricultural land’s DEMOCRACY AND ALLOW LEADERS it is referred to as a strong grassroots orgaproduction. In our grassroots fashion, MFBF nization nationwide.

TO VOICE THE CONCERNS OF THE members came together to form a commit- COUNTY MEMBERSHIP AND OF THE Political figures or elected officials draw tee, or taskforce, of leaders from across the the headlines of many news outlets today; AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.” state to investigate land taxes on agricultural however, the policy process of our governlands, the formulas used to evaluate property value, and policy that ment and of this organization still remains grassroots in nature. To could potentially affect members statewide. join us as The Voice of Agriculture® in Mississippi, get involved in As this committee was being formed, House Bill 1340 was the policy process and let your voice be heard as a member leader. brought forward in the Mississippi House of Representatives by To learn how to become more involved in the policy process, conRep. Robert Foster (District 28). Described by the state as a bill tact Kevin Brown or Lee Thorne in our Public Policy program, or to “revise certain provisions regarding determination of true values contact your regional manager. of land used for agricultural purposes,” this bill addressed the very Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, through its volunteer issue the tax committee was reviewing. To accomplish that goal, leaders and staff, hopes you can see that we are striving to create H.B. 1340 proposed to change the cap on capitalization rate on an environment in which all of our members can have a better agricultural land from the current 10% limit to a cap of 2% in a life and make a better living. FB 24

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2017 YF&R Leadership Conference The 2017 Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Leadership Conference was held in Natchez and was the biggest to date, with approximately 215 participants registered. The theme of this year’s event was “Cultivating Leadership – Committing to the Future.” Conference attendees gained knowledge about Farm Bureau and learned leadership skills they can use both now and in the future. Congressman Steven Palazzo, representing Mississippi’s 4th Congressional District, is pictured (at left) delivering the opening keynote address on Saturday morning. Also pictured are conference attendees and the 2017 YF&R award winners.

Delta row crop farmers David and Rebekkah Arant received the state Achievement Award, and Austin Smith of Petal (far left) received the state Excellence in Agriculture award. The Arants farm rice, soybeans and corn with his family in Leflore and Sunflower counties. David served as chair of the 2016 State YF&R Committee. Austin teaches at Jones County Junior College and is a beekeeper. Pictured with the Arants and Smith is row crop farmer Luke Andrews of Bolivar County, who chairs the 2017 State YF&R Committee. FB

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Sale of Junior Champions

Along with action shots, these pages showcase livestock purchased

by Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation and other sponsors at the 2017 Dixie National Sale of Junior Champions. A special thanks to Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company, Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company, Tico’s Steakhouse, Hilton

Jackson, Mississippi Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company, Southern Cross, Matthews, Cutrer & Lindsay, Attala Frozen Foods, Ogletree Deakins, Farm Bureau Bank, N & W Construction Co. Inc., Cabot, First Financial Bank, TeleSouth Communications, and Dr. Greg Bohach. FB

MFBF President Mike McCormick, Central Mississippi Vice President Ted Governor Phil Bryant was on hand to support this annual showcase for live- Kendall IV and other Farm Bureau leaders and staff always support this sale, stock raised by Mississippi 4-H and FFA youth. which helps fund scholarships for deserving youth.

Grand Champion MS Bred Steer – Triston and Kylie Roberts of Smith County Reserve Champion Lightweight Goat – Anna Wagner, Lauderdale County

Champion Duroc Hog – Carson Keene, Forrest County 26

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Reserve Champion Cross and Other Breeds Hog – Gracie and Ashley Marie White, Jasper County MAY/JUNE 2017

Sale of Junior Champions

“Many of our dedicated Mississippi Farm Bureau family members participated in the Sale of Junior Champions in Jackson this year. The caliber of livestock auctioned off at this annual showcase for 4-H and FFA youths is always outstanding. These animals never fail to reflect the close attention and care that farm families shower on their livestock each and every day. The proceeds from the sale of the

Reserve Champion Duroc Hog – Sidney and Tripp McGee, Newton County

animals are used to fund scholarships for many deserving students.”

— Mike McCormick MFBF President

Champion Division 1 Lamb – Tessa and Hailey Mullins, Montgomery County

Reserve Champion Chester Hog – Kaley and Sarah Harden, Leflore County MAY/JUNE 2017

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Bidders Show Generosity at Sale of Champions B Y N AT H A N G R E G O R Y — M S U E X T E N S I O N S E R V I C E

(Photo courtesy of Jeff L. Homan)

Before Carson Keene sold his grand champion Duroc hog Dean Jousan, Mississippi State University Extension Service 4-H at the Dixie National Sale of Junior Champions, he had a conversa- livestock specialist, said the experiences participants had preparing tion with his family about where the proceeds should go. for the show and sale would serve them well as adults.

The 12-year-old 4-H’er and sixth-grader at Presbyterian Chris“The young people who have champion market animals at this tian School in Petal had known for several months that his 6-year- show began the process of raising them many months ago,” he said. old schoolmate Noelle Carter was awaiting treatment at Batson “This event is a culmination of the countless hours of hard work they Children’s Hospital for liver cancer. He decided to donate the auc- have put in and the life skills they have learned during that time.” tion proceeds to Carter’s family.

The Dixie National Sale of Junior Champions Committee raised “Our school was raising money, and I wanted to try to do some- money to award scholarships to the sale participants. The comthing, too,” Keene said. mittee awarded 25 $1,500 scholarships to high school seniors, six His generosity set the tone for buyers, who continued to add $2,000 scholarships to premier exhibitors and six $1,500 scholarmoney to the winning total until the donation reached almost ships to exhibitors of supreme champion livestock. $20,000.

Since the scholarship program began in 1993, committee memKeene’s stepsister, Alexandra Pittman, had similarly raised funds bers have awarded $774,200 in scholarship money to 4-H and FFA for a spina bifida patient at a previous sale. members.

“We saw what a blessing that was for him, and Alexandra One of this year’s recipients was Calhoun County 4-H’er C.J. explained to Carson that he was going to get more of a blessing Weddle, who said she plans to attend MSU this fall and major in out of this than any win or sale in his life,” said Allen Keene, Car- agricultural education, communications and leadership. She earned son’s father. “I’m proud of my son for using the blessings we have a scholarship for having a premier meat goat featured at the sale to bless others, and that’s what this program is about.” in 2014.

Bidders rewarded Keene and fellow exhibitors of 43 champion “My 4-H and FFA projects have not only taught me to compete market animals at the annual sale Feb. 9. During the weeklong 2017 to the best of my ability, but to win humbly and lose graciously,” she Dixie National Livestock Show in Jackson, judges selected 14 hogs, said. “The final stretch of my dream is to be sitting in this crowd 10 10 goats, 10 lambs and nine steers for the sale. The preliminary sale years from now as an MSU Extension agent, hopefully watching total is $325,875. one of my county’s 4-H’ers deliver a speech or receive a scholarship The preliminary total proceeds for these animals were; hogs, from the Sale of Champions.” $122,425; goats, $61,150; lambs, $59,600; and steers, $82,700.

Having just completed its 48th event, the sale has generated more The show included 1,628 4-H and FFA members and 2,406 than $6.5 million through livestock sales. The sale began in 1970 as head of livestock. a way to encourage young people to pursue livestock projects. FB 28

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Women’s Day at the Capitol

Members of the State Women’s Leadership Committee, along with other volunteer leaders and staff, served refreshments in the Mississippi State Capitol Rotunda and visited with members of the House and Senate agriculture committees during their annual Women’s Day at the Capitol. Pictured with the women are Senate Ag Committee Vice Chair Russell Jolly, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation President Mike McCormick, House Ag Committee Chair Bill Pigott, and Lee Thorne, MFBF Deputy General Counsel and Public Policy Coordinator. Also participating in the event, but not pictured, were Sen. Charles Younger, Senate Ag Committee member; Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner Cindy Hyde-Smith; and Mississippi Farm Bureau Ambassador Beth Tillman. FB

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AFBF Convention

2017 Women Voting Delegates represented Farm Bureau and agriculture well. State Excellence in Agriculture recipient Jessica Graves of Starkville made Mississippi proud in national competition.

AFBF President Zippy Duvall gave an inspirational speech during conven- State Discussion Meet winner Strider McCrory of Sunflower County made it tion activities. into the Sweet Sixteen semifinals nationally.

MFBF President Mike McCormick participated in the Parade of Flags cer- State Achievement Award recipients Levi and Shannon Rogers of Collins were emony. McCormick was reelected to serve another term on the AFBF Board among the Top 10 national YF&R Achievement Award finalists. of Directors.

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MAY/JUNE 2017

Winter Commodity Conference

-

Make Plans to Attend the 2017 MFBF Summer Commodity Conference to be held June 21-22 on the campus of Mississippi State University.

+

Excellent speakers and attendance marked the 2017 Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Winter Commodity Conference in Jackson. The two-day event held in January featured programs for forestry, land, livestock and row crops. Among the many informative speakers was American Farm Bureau Federation Public Policy Executive Director Dale Moore, who talked about the new administration, Congress and 2018 Farm Bill issues. FB

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Ag Day at the Capitol

This year’s Ag Day at the Capitol was a great success, with volunteer leaders from across the state gathering in Jackson to visit the Capitol and have lunch with their legislators at Galloway Memorial United Methodist Church. Among the many legislators attending the event were the chair and vice chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Sen. Billy Hudson and Sen. Russell Jolly, respectively, as well as the chair and vice chair of the House Agriculture Committee, Rep. Bill Pigott and Rep. Vince Mangold, respectively. Special guests included Speaker of the House Philip Gunn and Mississippi Agriculture Commissioner Cindy Hyde-Smith. FB

A large group of Farm Bureau volunteer leaders and staff, pictured in the Capi- State board members Tammy Layton and Max Anderson visit with Lincoln tol Rotunda, ensured this year’s Ag Day at the Capitol was a great success. County Farm Bureau President Robert Earl McGehee. Also pictured is Joanie Word, Monroe County Farm Bureau.

District 8 Women’s Chair and Humphreys County Farm Bureau President State board members James Ford and Mike Graves are pictured in the Wanda Hill is pictured with 2016 Catfish Queen Mary Morgan Mohamed of Capitol Rotunda.

Humphreys County.

Volunteer leaders and staff enjoyed lunch with their legislators at Galloway House Speaker Philip Gunn addressed luncheon attendees.

Memorial United Methodist Church.

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Sen. Billy Hudson, chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and his wife, Barbara, visit with Sen. Dennis DeBar Jr.

Sen. Russell Jolly, vice chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, visits with Monroe County Farm Bureau President Herbert Word and his wife, Joanie, as well as state board member Scott O’Brian of Clay County and his wife, Kay.

Rep. Preston Sullivan and Rep. Steve Holland visit during the luncheon at Galloway Memorial United Methodist Church. Both men are past chairs of the House Agriculture Committee.

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Ag Mags Available

The most recent 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.

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See Page 4 for Details on the New Member Savings App. MAY/JUNE 2017

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