VOLUME 91 NO. 6
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015
MISSISSIPPI
Peanuts
A PUBLICATION OF MISSISSIPPI FARM BUREAU FEDERATION • MSFB.ORG
TABLE
of
CONTENTS
november/december 2015 Volume 91 Number 6 November/December 2015
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
ADVERTISING Angela Thompson 1-800-227-8244 ext. 4242
FARM BUREAU DIRECTORS Dr. Jim Perkins, Iuka Matt Orman, Hickory Flat Tommy Swindoll, Hernando Bob Workman, Sledge Tripp Thomas, Batesville Dan Bishop, Baldwyn Herbert Word, Okolona Craig Canull, Caledonia Pepper Beard, McCarley Dott Arthur, Carthage Kenneth Thompson, Philadelphia Paul Myrick, Stringer Quinton Mills, Forest James Newman, Rolling Fork Robert Earl McGehee Jr., Brookhaven Earl Gay Edwards, Smithdale Bobby Selman, Monticello Dorothy Cole, Richton J. B. Brown, Perkinston Tom Daniels, Gulfport Betty Mills, Winona Kelly Davidson, Ruleville HONORARY VICE PRESIDENT Louis J. Breaux III
Material in this publication is based on what the editor believes to be reliable information. Neither Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation nor those individuals or organizations contributing to the MFBF publication assume any liability for errors that might go undetected in the publication — this includes statements in articles or advertisements that could lead to erroneous personal or business management decisions. FARM BUREAU®, FB®and all Farm Bureau logos used in this magazine are registered service marks owned by the American Farm Bureau Federation. They may not be used in any commercial manner without the prior written consent of the American Farm Bureau Federation.
In this issue, we visit peanut growers Alan and William Dean Atkins of Hamilton. Our Ag Mag children’s newsletter also focuses on peanuts. Come with us as we learn more.
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EDITOR — Glynda Phillips
FARM BUREAU OFFICERS President — Mike McCormick Vice President — Donald Gant Vice President — Ted Kendall IV Vice President — Reggie Magee Treasurer — Billy Davis Corporate Secretary — Kent Bloodworth
Mississippi Peanuts
Solve the Mystery
Read the Corinth feature article then solve the mystery. Name the foreign country which also boasts a city named Corinth. Our Corinth was named for this city.
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Scholarship Recipients
Scholarships have been awarded to a number of college students through the Berta White Scholarship and the Young Farmers & Ranchers Scholarship Foundation. Come with us as we meet these deserving young men and women.
DEPARTMENTS
About The Cover
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Monroe County peanut grower Alan Atkins is shown on the family farm near Hamilton.
President’s Message Commodity Update: Poultry Commodity Update: Peanuts Farm Facts Strolling: Sam Scott Member Benefit
MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY
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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 Better Way of Doing Things I can’t believe another year has come and gone. It seems like only yesterday we were involved in state convention activities, and now here it is time for us to meet in Jackson once again. It has been a busy year, but in the midst of all of our activities, we have found the time to undertake a careful and serious evaluation of our Farm Bureau programs. An important part of the process for me has been listening to our staff members. Many of these men and women have worked in their respective areas of responsibility for a long time, and their input is essential. I have also made a point of visiting with you, our volunteer leaders. You have told me what you envision for our organization, and you have expressed to me your encouragement and support. I can’t begin to tell you how much this has meant to me. Sometimes growth and change can be difficult and painful. I am just as guilty as anyone else of wanting to resist the new and unfamiliar in favor of my old tried and true routines. But in order to remain relevant to the needs of our membership in a rapidly changing world, it is important that we open our minds to new and better ways of doing things. I appreciate your willingness to help with this process. Your support and your patience are crucial as we begin shaping our organization into the very best Farm Bureau possible. Our farmers deserve it, 4
MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY
and production agriculture depends on it. WEATHER & FLOODING
And speaking of agriculture, I want to talk to you for a moment about this summer’s weather. While the 2015 growing season was marked by extremely hot temperatures and very little rain in many areas of the state, some areas experienced heavy rains and flooding along the Mississippi River and its tributaries. Farmers often contend with too much rain and flooding early in the season and have plenty of time to replant. But this late-season flooding represented a different, far more serious type of challenge. Greg Gibson and Mark Morris with our Public Relations/Multimedia Department shot a segment about the flooding for our
IN ORDER TO REMAIN RELEVANT TO THE NEEDS OF OUR MEMBERSHIP IN A RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE OPEN OUR MINDS TO NEW AND BETTER WAYS OF DOING THINGS. I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO HELP WITH THIS PROCESS. YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR PATIENCE ARE CRUCIAL AS WE BEGIN SHAPING OUR ORGANIZATION INTO THE VERY BEST FARM BUREAU POSSIBLE. Voices of Agriculture television program. Greg has also written a feature article for this issue of our membership magazine. I wanted something that would accurately reflect just exactly what our farmers were up against — many of them with acres upon
acres of three-foot-high soybeans completely submerged in water — and I think Greg’s article accomplishes all of that and more. I invite you to read about the historic late-season flooding inside this issue of our magazine. YOUR HARD WORK
An important part of my job involves taking your concerns to lawmakers in Washington, D.C. While I was attending the American Farm Bureau Federation Council of Presidents meeting in July, I made a point of visiting with newly elected First District Congressman Trent Kelly as well as Congressmen Gregg Harper (MS-3), Steven Palazzo (MS-4) and Mike Conaway (TX-11), who chairs the House Committee on Agriculture. These men seem to have the best interests of agriculture at heart, and that makes my job easier. What makes it even easier is the effort you make each year to reach out to our lawmakers and other public officials, familiarizing them with agriculture and the many issues that concern our farmers. I appreciate your hard work more than you will ever know. As I conclude my final column of the year, I want to say again that while it has been a busy year, it has also been a productive and rewarding year. I love my job, and I take very seriously my charge to ensure that the needs of our members are adequately addressed. I welcome your ideas. Don’t hesitate to come see me or call me. Thanks for all you do for Farm Bureau, and I look forward to talking with you again in 2016. FB NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015
COMMODITY UPDATE: Poultry
HPAI in Minnesota & Iowa has Growers on the Alert
Kirby Mauldin
MFBF Poultry Commodity Advisory Committee Chair
The poultry industries in Minnesota and Iowa are still recovering from the worst animal health disaster in the history of the United States. After 213 outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and the deaths of 48 million chickens and turkeys in 21 states, farmers are starting to be able to restock their farms with birds. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has spent over $700 million to control the disease, with over a billion dollars’ worth of loss to the poultry industries in Iowa and Minnesota. Animal Health officials and poultry producers alike anxiously await the migratory waterfowl season to find out whether or not the disease will reoccur and in which states. HPAI virus is carried by migratory waterfowl, primarily ducks. Because of this, poultry-producing states are making preparations for the possible reemergence of this disease as waterfowl migrate along the major flyways. The Mississippi flyway, which runs over the Mississippi River, puts Mississippi poultry at risk during the southern as well as northern migrations of waterfowl. The disease in domestic poultry primarily affects the respiratory system, causing depression, difficulty breathing, swollen,
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watery eyelids, blueish-colored comb and wattle, progressing to death. It is not uncommon to have a drop in egg production, and some birds may also show neurological signs. The disease typically runs its course in 5-7 days, with nearly 100% mortality. Quail, turkeys, chickens, geese, falcons and eagles are all affected. There is no treatment for the disease, and currently, there is no vaccine approved for use, although research is being conducted. Poultry growers are being asked to practice good biosecurity to prevent infection in their birds should the virus appear in our state. When possible, backyard flocks should be kept indoors under roof to prevent exposure to migratory waterfowl. Commercial poultry growers are encouraged to make sure their poultry houses are bird proof to prevent entry of birds or other wildlife that might track the virus into a poultry house. Backyard growers should keep new birds isolated for a minimum of two weeks before allowing them to mingle with the rest of the flock. The most important biosecurity measure any poultry grower can take is to
Jon Kilgore
MFBF Commodity Coordinator for Poultry
make sure that they don’t carry virus on their clothes or equipment into the flock. This is accomplished by washing hands and changing clothes and shoes before having contact with their chickens. It is also important to wash and clean all equipment that may have been on another poultry farm prior to bringing it back to your farm. Because ducks carry the virus, anytime you are in an environment where ducks are present it is especially important to take precautions to prevent bringing the virus back to your farm. If you are experiencing higher than usual mortality, call your serviceman if you are a commercial poultry grower, or call the Board of Animal Health (888-6468731) or the Poultry Diagnostic Laboratory (601-420-4700). The Board of Animal Health has worked with Mississippi State University Extension to develop educational material regarding HPAI. For more information, go to http://msucares.com/avianflu2015/. FB A special thanks to Dr. Jim Watson, State Veterinarian, Board of Animal Health, Mississippi Department of Animal Health, for this article.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015
COMMODITY UPDATE: Peanuts
Peanuts: A Beloved Healthy Food
Josh Miller
MFBF Peanut Commodity Advisory Committee Chair
Peanuts are one of the most beloved foods in the United States and in many other parts of the world. It’s estimated that peanut butter is consumed in 94 percent of U.S. households, that the average American will eat six pounds of peanuts and peanut products this year, and that an American child will eat over 1,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches by the time he or she graduates from high school! While peanuts are at times maligned when compared to tree nuts, recent research has shown that peanuts are either as healthy as or healthier than more gourmet nuts, usually at a fraction of the cost. Peanuts contain more protein than any nut. They contain over 30 essential nutrients, and they are naturally cholesterol free. Additionally, research has shown that peanut consumption reduces the risk of death by coronary heart disease by 8.3 percent per weekly serving and that the death rate from all causes is reduced by 20 percent in those people who consume at least seven weekly servings of nuts when compared to those who do not consume nuts. The southeastern United States is doing its part to provide the country with this healthy, energy-rich product. This production region, which includes Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi, accounts for approximately 70 percent of U.S. production on a yearly basis. In Mississippi, peanut-producing areas cover much of the state. Holmes County led the way in acreage in 2014, with approximately 4,400 acres in production. Next were George NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015
(2,900 acres), Leflore (2,600 acres), Tate (2,100) and Panola (1,900) counties. Monroe, Coahoma, Stone, Jackson and Carroll counties rounded out the top 10. Mississippi-grown peanuts and peanut products are exported all over the world, with Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Russia representing the five largest current export markets for raw, shelled U.S.-grown peanuts. While Americans’ love for peanuts and the associated health benefits are undeniable, the crop can be both rewarding and challenging to grow. Growers must ward off challenges from weeds, insects and disease pathogens throughout the year. Because peanut plants set pods below ground, the harvest procedure is also unlike any other row crop. A peanut harvest is a two-step process. First, a digger-shaker-inverter (often called a digger, or inverter, for short) is pulled across the field. As the name suggests, this piece of equipment digs the plants out of the ground, shakes soil and other foreign material away from the pods and inverts the plants so that they are sitting in the field with leaves and stems down and pods pointing up toward the sky. The plants remain in the field to dry for three to10 days, depending on weather conditions, before a peanut combine goes through the field and separates pods from the remaining plant material. Pods are typically sent to a basket on top of the combine, while the remaining plant material is returned to the field. After harvest, pods
Samantha Laird
MFBF Commodity Coordinator for Peanuts
are trucked to a buying point that grades, dries, stores and ultimately pays the grower for the harvest. Growers in the state now have four buying points where they can deliver peanuts, Clarksdale, Greenwood, Prairie and Tchula, while some peanuts are sold out of state. While harvest is often challenging everywhere peanuts are grown, it can be especially challenging in the northern half of Mississippi, as wet and cool conditions are more common in the fall in that part of the state than in south Mississippi and in other parts of the southeastern growing region. Frost and freeze, which are harmful to the crop, typically come earlier in this part of the state as well, making a timely harvest vital. While these challenges can be frustrating for growers, they are ultimately rewarded by knowing that they produced a safe, nutritious, protein-packed, Mississippi-grown food source that will go on to be enjoyed by people all over the state, the country and the world. FB This article was written by Dr. Jason Sarver, Extension peanut specialist with Mississippi State University.
Sources: National Peanut Board — www.nationalpeanutboard.org Dr. Stanley Fletch — National Center for Peanut Competitiveness MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY
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GROWING MISSISSIPPI
PEANUTS A
lan Atkins and his father, William Dean, grow 901 acres of peanuts on their farm near Hamilton in Monroe County. The Atkins plant the Georgia 06G runner-type variety. According to the National Peanut Board, the runner peanut accounts for 80 percent of the peanuts grown in the United States. It is most commonly used for making peanut butter. The Atkins say the variety they grow is suited for their area because it does well in dry weather, has few insect problems and has better disease resistance. They say this variety also produces well and is a good crop to rotate with corn. They grow for Birdsong, which has a buying station in Aberdeen. GROWING PEANUTS
Up until the late 1990s, the Atkins family grew dryland cotton exclusively. As they began diversifying because of low cotton prices, they introduced corn then soybeans and, finally, peanuts. They made the hard decision to stop growing cotton altogether in 2006. “That year, we put in 350 acres of peanuts,” William Dean said. “My son, Brian, was instrumental in convincing us to try them. At the time, he was an Extension agent. He now manages the Birdsong buying point in Aberdeen.” “Our first year with peanuts was our worst,” Alan said. “It never rained during the growing season, then began raining in October when we were trying to get the crop out of the field. We wondered what we had gotten ourselves into, but we
decided to give peanuts another shot the next year. We made a great crop.” In 2008, the Atkins planted close to 700 acres of peanuts. But harvest season that year was rainy. “We got most all of the peanuts out,” William Dean said. “We left some in the field, but that year we finally made some money on our peanuts.” The Atkins grew cotton again in 2011 because the price was good, but they haven’t grown it since. They say the price is back down, and current Farm Bill provisions don’t support cotton production. They’ve sold all of their cotton machinery. “I’d like to grow cotton again one day,” Alan said. “But for now, we will stay with what we have.” “The cotton tradition in our family goes all the way back to Jeanette’s father, Leon Pickle,” said William Dean. “My father-in-law began growing cotton 66 years ago. When Jeanette and I married, I became a cotton farmer, too.” The Atkins say their future plans will include planting about 40 acres of milo, 600 acres of peanuts, 1,000 acres of soybeans and 1,000 acres of corn. This year, because of the early season rain and cool weather, they ended up with only 11 acres of corn. They say it was pretty close getting the peanuts planted, but they did get them planted. “One more rain is all we need for the peanuts,” Alan said, as we talked in early August. “For the soybeans, we need a little more.” The Atkins normally plant peanuts from mid-April to the first of May. They typically harvest from mid-September to the first of October. They have one full-time employee
and several part-time employees, but mainly it is just Alan, William Dean and Jeanette, who helps out as needed. Alan’s 14-yearold son, Jamie Dean, also helps on the farm around his school and other activities. FARM BUREAU
Alan is vice president of Monroe County Farm Bureau, in line to be the next county president. He is the 1999 Mississippi Young Farmer of the Year. “We had a great group of young farmers back when I was active in the program,” Alan said. “The Young Farmers & Ranchers Program molded us into the involved and caring Farm Bureau leaders we have become today. Farm Bureau has been good to us insurance-wise and also through the many other programs the federation offers on our behalf. Farm Bureau is a strong voice for agriculture in a time when there aren’t that many voices left for agriculture out there.” The Atkins say the farming life is the best life. “No two years are ever the same,” William Dean said. “There is always something different. But we love it, and it’s been pretty good to us. We have a roof over our heads and food on our table. We also have the freedom to make our own decisions, and you can’t put a price on that.” Alan says he expects his son, Jamie Dean, will one day carry on the Atkins farming legacy. FB The Atkins estimate Monroe County had eight or nine farmers growing about 4,000-plus acres of peanuts in 2015.
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FB
“THE 4-H PROGRAM IS GREAT. IT HAS HELPED ME A LOT, BUT MY GRANDFATHER IS THE MAIN ONE WHO HAS HELPED ME WITH FARMING. HE HAS TAUGHT ME HOW TO WORK AROUND THE FARM, AND HE HAS TAUGHT ME ABOUT EVERYDAY LIFE.” DAVIAN “BUG” POWELL
Bug is pictured with Gladys, one of his cows.
A BORN FARMER B Y G LY N D A P H I L L I P S
Davian “Bug” Powell, 12, knew at an early age that he wanted to farm. It could be said that his grandfather, Herman Williams, is the reason why. “I bought a toy tractor and hay baler and took them with me to the hospital when he was born,” Herman said with a twinkle in his eye. “I showed them to him, and he seemed to understand.” Bug has been a quick study ever since. “When he was five, he would follow his cousin, Tyler, and me around the farm. Even then, he was interested in cows,” Herman said. “When he was old enough to participate in 4-H, he said he wanted to show cows.” Holmes County Extension Director Betsy Padgett said she tried to talk him into showing goats like his cousin showed. “I like to start kids off with small animals so they can gain some experience handling them,” she said. “Plus, Bug was only six years old. But he insisted on cows.” Bug started out with a cow named Sally from his grandfather’s commercial Limousine/Angus herd. Sally was stubborn. One time, she sat down in the middle of the road and refused to budge. Bug’s cousin had to direct traffic around her until she finally decided to get back on her feet. Sally placed last in the Dixie National Livestock Show in Jackson, but Bug just smiled. He said he had only one place to go, and that was up. Betsy and Herman were impressed. They decided to find an animal worthy of someone with such a positive attitude. “I convinced Herman he needed a Hereford bull to go with his Limousine/Angus cattle. I have two very good friends in DeSoto County, Mack and Serita Johnson, who own registered Hereford cattle and help local kids with their 4-H livestock,” Betsy said. “I caught up with Serita at one of the shows and told her we needed a special calf for next year. “Herman and I trusted Serita to pick out a good bull, and she did not let us down,” NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015
Betsy said. “When Bug saw the calf, he fell in love. He named the calf Scooter, and there was no turning back.” Bug and his mother, Stephanie, began making trips every two weeks to visit Serita, who taught him how to feed the calf, groom it and show it. She emphasized the impor-
Davian “Bug” Powell and his grandfather, Herman Williams tance of placing the animal’s feet properly when showing it and making eye contact with the judges. Bug filled a notebook with her suggestions, brought the bull home and took meticulous care of him. Scooter grew … and grew … and grew. At his largest, he was around 1,500 pounds. Scooter won locally and at district. He placed second in the 2014 Dixie National Livestock Show. He came in third this year. “I was very happy,” said Bug. With a Farm Service Agency (FSA) Youth Loan, Bug bought himself four heifers. Now, he has his own fledgling herd of cows. Scooter has since sired 28 calves, which belong to Herman since he bought the bull (just don’t tell Bug). Bug and his grandfather visited Serita again in July 2015, and Herman purchased another bull, which they named Crisco. Bug phones Serita often and lets her know what is going on with his animals. He also regularly sends her photos. He plans to show Crisco in the 4-H livestock shows just like Scooter. “The 4-H program is great,” Bug said. “It has helped me a lot, but my grandfather is the main one who has helped me with
farming. He has taught me how to work around the farm, and he has taught me about everyday life.” “I try to give him life lessons on how to be a good farmer and a good person,” Herman said. “I teach him the value of hard work and responsibility, but he is already a responsible person. He takes care of what needs to be done, and he goes that extra mile with the cows. He is constantly reading about different breeds of cattle and learning. I hope he keeps on. Right now, it looks like he will be a farmer, and I am proud of him.” “Bug doesn’t back away from a challenge,” Betsy said. “He plows right in, and he catches on pretty fast.” Bug says his parents have been very supportive of his efforts. They have accompanied him to livestock shows to help out as needed. His mother works for the U.S. Postal Service, and his father, David, works for FedEx. “In the beginning, we didn’t know what we were doing,” Stephanie said. “I took a pink tote bag and a stick to the first show, but I didn’t take a show halter. Someone asked me, ‘Where is your show halter?’ That’s how little we knew. We also didn’t know how to properly tie up the cow, and it got loose. But we learned. The first cow, Sally, was a learning experience.” Bug says Betsy has been there for him, too. “Betsy got me in touch with Miss Serita,” he said. “She also helps me with other 4-H programs like the Horse Bowl, Robotics, Dairy Products and Livestock Judging. She takes me places when my family can’t go. 4-H is a lot of work, but it is a whole lot of fun.” It has also, with the help of his family and lots of hard work on his part, set Davian “Bug” Powell on the path to becoming a successful Mississippi farmer. FB Herman and Ann Williams are longtime members of Holmes County Farm Bureau. Herman sits on the board of directors of the Holmes County Cattlemen’s Association. MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY
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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
Dreams of Farm Life by Shannon Rogers As a young girl, I used to daydream of growing up on a farm. I would beg my father, who is a suit-and-tie man, to buy us cattle or chickens or pigs — anything that my brother and I could raise. A resounding “no” was always his answer. Fast-forward 18 years, and as God would have it, I met and eventually married a true-blue cattle farmer! What I did not know when I met and married into this family was how hard and yet how rewarding it is to be a farmer. My husband, Levi, and his brother, Blake, are fourth-generation cattle farmers. They come from a long line of hardworking and successful men and women in the cattle business. Their father, Bernie Rogers, is the son of the late Dr. Harlan Rogers and
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Mrs. Dorotheann Rogers of Rogers Bar HR Charolais Farm in Collins. When I first met Bernie, he told me the story about the first set of calves that he saved up for and the valuable lesson he learned. As a 13-year-old boy, Bernie worked and saved all of his earnings to buy three steers. He had to beg his father to let him go to a local cattle trader to buy the calves, and boy, was he proud of them! He loaded a 16-foot trailer with two steers on the front and one steer on the back. When he made it home, the steer on the back of the trailer was dead. Thinking he did a sorry job of loading the cattle, he hung his head and went inside. The next morning, he went to the field to check on his other two steers, only to find
those dead as well… a 100 percent death loss was absolutely devastating. Many years later, Bernie told this story to an older order buyer, who responded by saying, “That fellow did you a favor … he taught you there are some sorry rascals in this world.” Twenty years down the road, he traveled to Oklahoma to try to get his first big bank loan. The banker leaned back in the chair and said, “So tell me about your first set of cattle.” Bernie was panicking, wondering how this man could possibly know about his 100 percent death loss. After telling the banker the story, the banker laughed, and Bernie ended up getting the loan. He
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Pictured on the back row are Bernie’s oldest children, Blake, Amanda and Levi. In the middle row are Erin, Bernie, his wife, Jaclyn, and Shannon. And in the front row are Madlyn, Bernie’s daughter, and Jaylen, Bernie’s granddaughter. Not pictured is Bernie’s youngest daughter, Caroline.
explained that he learned early in life that people will take advantage of you if you let them, and that was one of the best lessons he could’ve ever learned. Starting with those three steers, Bernie, along with his two sons, has grown this stocker cattle business named BR Cattle Company into one of the largest cattle operations in Mississippi, currently grazing 30,000 head annually. Levi, his oldest son, manages the health of the cattle, while also running a buying yard, Simpson County Cattle Buyers, in Magee every Monday. Blake, Bernie’s youngest son, manages the shipping, receiving, dispatching and processing of all cattle that are bought and sold through the company. Blake’s wife, Erin, manages the cattle office while working alongside Bernie’s wife, Jaclyn. As for myself, I finally got what I always
dreamed of… farm life! After much encouragement from my family, I opened StockPro Animal Health in the fall of 2010. StockPro is a volume distributor of animal health supplies located in Collins and selling antibiotics, vaccines, dewormers and farm supplies for cattle, horses and poultry. StockPro employs two office personnel and has a veterinarian, Dr. Anna Ketchum, on staff to meet customer needs. When we’re not busy with StockPro or BR Cattle, Jaclyn and I operate Honestly Beef, where we sell free-range beef that is USDA certified. These cattle are grown with no antibiotics and get to live their life as God intended… roaming grass pastures and eating at their leisure. We sell our beef to butcher shops, restaurants, individuals and farmers markets around the state. Fulfilling
our dream of feeding our family home-grown beef has been a great experience. As you can see, God always knows the best plan for our life. I would have never imagined that I’d be living my dream life as a farmer and also be fortunate enough to work with family. Levi and I, as well as Blake and Erin, are expecting our first children. Oh how blessed they will be to grow up on a farm and experience a way of life that I always dreamt of as a child. 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.
As you can see, God always knows the best plan for our life. I would have never imagined that I’d be living my dream life as a farmer and also be fortunate enough to work with family. — Shannon Rogers NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015
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Farm to School Program B Y G LY N D A P H I L L I P S
Each year, the Mississippi Farm to School program provides schools across the state with fresh locally grown produce. Farm to School programs can be found in other states, but Mississippi has one of the most unique in the nation due to statewide purchasing and distribution.
field and greenhouse cucumbers. This year, MDAC and MDE are hoping to include cantaloupes and broccoli. “We also want parents to know what their kids are eating and where the food is grown,” Aaron added. “We want to develop a partnership between school kids, parents and farmers. This is especially important as our society moves away from farms. It is imperative that we educate students on where their food comes from and how it arrives on their plate three times a day.”
ANOTHER MARKET
“We buy large quantities of produce from Mississippi growers in order to distribute to school districts statewide,” said Aaron Rodgers, Agribusiness Programs Coordinator, Market Development Division, Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC). “Schools fill out surveys in the spring and tell us what they want the following fall. We try to find farmers who can supply the products. Because of the large quantities needed to supply the schools across the entire state, we don’t have as many farmers who are large enough to participate. The smaller farmers prefer to sell at farmers markets.” Among the growers now participating in the program are Louis Guedon, who supplies beans and peas grown in southwestern Mississippi; Allen Eubanks, a produce grower in the southeastern corner of the state; Randle Wright, who grows sweet potatoes in the Vardaman area; and Glynn Holmes, a Holmes County produce grower. The program has three distribution centers, the Merchants Foodservice and Jackson Public Schools warehouses in Jackson and Briggs Inc. in Corinth. The produce and other products are delivered in clean, sanitary and appropriately temperature-controlled vehicles. They are kept cool, clean and fresh until they are delivered to schools. “The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE), Office of Child Nutrition, supplies about 600,000 school meals a
CONSIDER PARTICIPATING
week, or 100 million meals a year. We are proud that Mississippi farmers can be a part of that,” Aaron said. A PARTNERSHIP
Farm to School is a Department of Defense program in partnership with MDAC, MDE and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). “This program has been around since 2002, but it seems to be getting more attention in recent years as people become more interested in locally grown food and meeting the people who grow their food,” Aaron said. “We want to become better communicators. “We want to get the word out to farmers about this program so they will know that the school system is a good marketplace,” he said. “It is one of the many options they have for selling what they grow on their farms. Our Farm to School Program represented about $800,000 in produce sales to Mississippi farmers last year. The program provided 32,800 cases of produce to our schools.” This included blueberries, tomatoes, squash, zucchini squash, eggplant, collards, turnips, strawberries, green beans, butterbeans, corn, sweet potatoes and both
Aaron says the Farm to School program needs more mid to large produce farmers willing to participate. The program especially needs high tunnel growers who can supply bell peppers and tomatoes in the late fall and spring months. Aaron says the folks at MDAC and MDE are uniquely suited to working with farmers through this program because they understand about weather-related or other events that might lead to a reduced supply some years. “We are willing to work with farmers to overcome challenges as they try to feed our state, our nation and the world,” he said. October is Farm to School Month. The first full week in October has been designated by the Mississippi Legislature as Mississippi Farm to School Week. Each year, schools across the state participate in a variety of farm to school activities and strive to serve produce from local farmers. “Some of our schools will serve over 10 different Mississippi fruits and vegetables during October, and they do an excellent job preparing the local food,” Aaron said. “We are proud of our program, and we hope to see it continue to grow in importance as a source of fresh locally grown food for our schools and as a dependable marketplace for our Mississippi farmers.” FB
For more information, contact Chaille Clements at (601) 359-1140 or chaille@mdac.ms.gov. 14
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Guedon and his workers fought the lateseason flood with manmade levees, stacking sandbags around their fields.
These soybeans were damaged by floodwater.
MING IS R A A F
RISKY BUSINESS BY GREG GIBSON
Each year, the row crop and livestock farmers of this state use nearly 11 million acres of land to produce the crops that provide us with the food and fiber we use every day. It’s a great lifestyle that most of them wouldn’t trade for anything. But there are some hazards to being a farmer that aren’t associated with other professions. Dealing with Mother Nature would have to be at the top of the list. Colin Collins of Union County has been farming full-time since 1973, when he got out of college. “We grow soybeans exclusively,” said Collins. “We used to grow cotton and corn, but we found that we do better just growing soybeans.” This year, he planted 1,457 acres of beans, and they were doing fine until Mother Nature stepped in. “We got an 8.4-inch rain on July 2 and July 3, and where we’re standing was probably under five feet of water,” Collins said. “It got over these beans, and it stunted them real bad, and water stayed on them about three days. I’m surprised that some of them are alive. They’re not going to make much. We got a rain that washed most of the mud off, but they are still damaged a lot in the low ground.” Nearby New Albany got 12 inches of rain at the same time, and all of that water came down the Tallahatchie River and flooded all of the lowlands beside it. Rains like this in the spring are a nuisance, but farmers can usually replant and still make a crop. But this late in the year, a rain like this is going to cost Collins two-thirds of his crop. “This farm has been in the family over 100 years,” Collins said. “It’s tough, but we’ve got to come out of it, and maybe next year it will be better.” The one thing that is going to help save
Collins is the fact that he purchased crop insurance this year. That will help take the bite out of losing more than half his crop. The same can’t be said for Southwest Mississippi farmer Louis Guedon. The Guedon family farms all up and down the Mississippi River primarily in Jefferson County. Guedon’s great-great-grandfather came from France in 1861, settled on the river just north of Natchez in 1866 and started farming.
THESE THREE-FOOT-HIGH SOYBEANS ON THE GUEDON FARM ARE SHOWN WITH A FOOT AND A HALF OF WATER ABOVE THEM.
“So here we are 149 years later, and we have made 148 consecutive crops, and we’re going to lose this one because of this flood,” Guedon said. “We settled here in 1866, and in the 1920s, they built this levee system. We’ve been here 50 or 60 years, and when they finally completed the levee system, they built a levee on the western side of the river from, I don’t know, somewhere up in Missouri or farther, all the way to the Gulf Coast. They built one on the eastern side of the river from way up there above Memphis somewhere all the way to Vicksburg, and they picked it up right below Natchez and took it to the Gulf Coast. So they excluded us from the levee system. We didn’t get a levee.”
But Guedon says what really hurts him and his family is that he can’t get affordable crop insurance from the government. “That doesn’t seem fair to me, you know. We’ve been here 149 years. We were here before all of that got here, and we’re getting flooded, and they won’t sell us affordable crop insurance,” Guedon said. “And they tell us the reason why they won’t sell us affordable crop insurance is because we’re in a high-flood-risk area. Well, yes sir, we are because your levee system works. So the United States government built the levee system, and the United States government won’t sell us cheap crop insurance.” So Guedon and his workers are fighting this late-season flood with manmade levees. They’re stacking sandbags around their fields, trying to save part of their 14,000-acre crop. But even if those levees hold, he’s going to lose between three and four thousand acres of soybeans that were three feet tall when the flood came and got them. What many people don’t realize is that all of the water from the eastern slope of the Rockies to the western slope of the Appalachians that doesn’t soak in or evaporate flows right down the Mississippi River, past the Guedons’ farm to the Gulf of Mexico. When the river comes up this late in the year, farmers not protected by the levee don’t stand a chance. “I think it’s 35 states and a couple of Canadian provinces that go under that bridge at Natchez about ten miles south of here. It goes by right out there,” said Guedon, pointing to the west. “And, you know, it was designed that way. When they built the levee system, they designed it to where between Vicksburg and Natchez they have a flood plain, but we were farming here 60 years before they designed that. “That’s my point.” FB
Photos by Greg Gibson NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015
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OLLING R ST
An Angel Named Miss Elsie It has been my great good fortune to know an angel and experience her good works. I do not speak of someone with wings and a halo as we read about in the Bible and see in early religious paintings. Actually, not all such theological angels by Sam Scott were portrayed with wings and halos, but that theme from early paintings caught on and has continued for centuries. No, the angel I write about is Elsie Rhodes of Reidsville, North Carolina, now 92 years of age and still vital and active. Properly called Miss Elsie by her legions of friends, Elsie Rhodes’ deeds of goodness and kindness are innumerable. Formerly, she and her beloved husband, Walter, lived in Tupelo, where my daughter, Leigh McGregor, and her family live. When you think of angels, you think of good, sweet things, loving care and kindness. Just think of angel food cake, the songs, “Kiss an Angel Good Morning” and “Angel Eyes,” and you will get what I mean. I met Miss Elsie because of a near disaster. My youngest granddaughter, Madeline Scott, was born to my youngest son, Christopher, and his wife, Tina, in New Orleans in late 2004. When she was only a few days old, she developed an infant respiratory problem, had difficulty breathing and was 18
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admitted to the hospital. Then she went into emergency care, then onto life support, and our family was devastated and feared for “the baby” as we called her. I went to the hospital, and there was the tiny baby on a respirator and at the end of needles, tubes and wires. When I think back, I remember this quote from Horace’s “Ode:” Behind the horseman sat black care. We knew black care. Chris and Tina went into the room each time allowed and talked to the baby, patted her and rubbed her, believing she would sense them. In the next day or so, Leigh met Miss Elsie at their regular prayer group and told her a baby in the family was sick, and she suggested they go to the chapel and pray for her. That afternoon, Miss Elsie copied, in her own hand, 45 verses from scripture about children and healing. I have them before me as I write, and they are a treasure. That night, she got down on her knees and prayed every one of those verses far into the night. She did not know anyone else in our family at the time, and demonstrated her angelic nature. Her prayers were heard. The next day or so, the baby began to squirm, then to fuss, then to cry, then to be hungry. We rejoiced. She had great medical care, yet was there something else at work? Call it what you will, to me it was a miracle. She recovered, and Maddie, as we call her, is now 10
— strong, healthy, beautiful and talented. (As Dizzy Dean once said, “If it’s true, it ain’t bragging.”) Miss Elsie and Maddie stay in touch. Recently, they were talking on the phone, ages 92 and 10, like old friends, with her mother, Tina, listening, tears running down her face, so thankful for the blessing. My grandson, John Carter, asked if she would pray for him, too. She was deeply touched. Of course, she would pray as she has for so many. This is just one of the multitudes of good things Miss Elsie has done for others. Hundreds of notes, cards, etc. sent to people of all ages. Consisting of uncountable prayers for others, her life is a spiritual legacy, and so many are the better for it. She is living proof that goodness has little to do with wealth and power, but resides in the human heart and thrives on simplicity. As Churchill once said, “All the great things are simple and may be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope.” Miss Elsie Rhodes is an angel, and the world is a better place because of her. The multitudes she has served stand as one and say: “Miss Elsie, we love you!” FB Retired attorney Sam Scott worked with Farm Bureau for many years and continues writing for Mississippi Farm Country. You may contact him by emailing kdroge@msfb.org. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015
YF&R Washington Trip
Retiring Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) State Committee members Jim and Mallory Sayle of DeSoto County and Chelsea and Lee Skinner of Noxubee County visited with U.S. Senators Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker during the annual YF&R Washington D.C. Trip in July. The YF&R Program prepares members, ages 18-35, to one day assume leadership roles within the organization. These young men and women learn about the purpose and function of Farm Bureau and receive opportunities to participate in the program structure of the organization. For more information about the YF&R Program, contact Samantha Laird at (601) 573-7913. Not pictured are other members of the congressional delegation with whom these young farmers also met.
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Borroum’s Drug Store
Fillmore Street Church
Verandah-Curlee House
Alcorn County Courthouse
Historic Corinth Depot and Crossroads Museum
Corinth
A Progressive, Historic City B Y G LY N D A P H I L L I P S
Corinth was once known as Cross City because of its proximity to where the tracks of the Memphis & Charleston and Mobile & Ohio railroads crossed. The many passenger and freight trains that visited the city in its early years helped it become a major manufacturing area. It was also of major military importance during the Civil War for six months in 1862. Over 160 years have come and gone since Corinth was established, but it remains today a vital, growing city. It is often called Mississippi’s Gateway City due to its location in the northeast corner of the state. Corinth’s citizens make a point of honoring the city’s past even as they keep a steady eye on its future. Major employers today include Magnolia Regional Health Center, Caterpillar and Kimberly Clark. The city is home to 15,000 citizens. Corinth is proud of its architecture and history as well its retail, recreational and dining establishments. ARCHITECTURE
Corinth boasts many well-preserved churches, homes and buildings. One notable church is Fillmore Street Church, which was constructed in 1872 in the Gothic Revival architectural style with lancet windows and beautiful stained glass. In 1898, a two-tower vestibule topped with a highpitched gabled dormer was added, along with stained-glass windows. First Methodist Church of Corinth now owns this building. One of Corinth’s many beautiful, historic homes is the Verandah-Curlee House. Built in 1857 for Hamilton Mask, one of the city’s two founders, the house served as headquarters for both Confederate and Union generals during the Civil War. It was in this house that Order Number 8 was finalized, resulting in the Battle of Shiloh. A significant example of the Greek Revival architectural style with Italianate influences, the Verandah-Curlee House is a designated NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015
National Historic Landmark and an informative museum. Among the many well-preserved buildings in the Historic Downtown District is Borroum’s Drug Store. Built in 1865 in the Italianate style, the business is still owned by the Borroum family and is the oldest operating drugstore and soda fountain in the state of Mississippi. Another notable downtown building is Bigger’s Hardware, operated by the fourth generation of the Biggers family. The building was constructed in 1900-1904 with a Romanesque Revival influence. The Alcorn County Courthouse was built in 1918 in the Beaux-Arts and Prairie School design. Coca-Cola once operated a large bottling plant in this city. That building now serves as a Coca-Cola distribution center. A huge former cotton warehouse now serves as a party and wedding venue. HISTORY
The city’s Civil War Interpretive Center is one of Corinth’s newest additions. A part of the Shiloh Military Park and operated by the National Park Service, the center takes an in-depth look at the Civil War years in this area of the state. The 15,000-square-foot facility also boasts a 75-seat auditorium, public research library and Civil War bookstore. The Corinth Contraband Camp, which back in the day had a church, commissary, hospital, homes, streets and school, was an area where African-Americans found protection and a home after fleeing plantations and farms during the Civil War. Today, a portion of this camp has been set aside to commemorate that time. Bronze figures surround the trail through the camp depicting the lives of these long-ago people. Corinth is home to the Historic Corinth Depot and Crossroads Museum, which has permanent exhibits on the Civil War and on the railroad, aviation, business/industry and pre-history/archeology. The museum
also offers an extensive Coca-Cola collection (donated by the Weaver-Williams family), a gift shop and the Margaret Green Rogers Research Library. The Corinth National Cemetery is the final resting place for 1,793 known and 3,895 unknown soldiers, representing 273 regiments from 15 states. Pristine Civil War earthworks, constructed by Union forces in the summer of 1862 to surround Corinth from the southeast to the northwest, still stand. RETAIL, RESTAURANTS, RECREATION
The Historic Downtown District, the new SoCo District (South Corinth) and other areas of the city offer lots of retail shops, businesses and specialty shops. In addition, Corinth is home to many diverse restaurants, including familiar chains as well as locally owned establishments. Corinth and the surrounding area offer farmers markets and agritourism businesses. J. P. Coleman State Park, Pickwick Lake, the Natchez Trace Parkway and Tishomingo State Park are located nearby. Corinth hosts special events each year, including the Hog Wild and Slugburger festivals. On any given week, you may find bluegrass Pickin’ on the Square (on Thursdays) and Corinth Theatre Arts productions. For more information about Corinth, visit the website at www.cityofcorinthms.com. Or call the tourism office at (662) 287-8300. All of the photos with this article are courtesy of the Corinth Area Convention & Visitors Bureau and Visit Corinth.
What is a Slugburger? A slugburger
is a local burger that consists of deep-fried beef and soybean meal dressed with onions, pickles and mustard. Slugburgers once sold for a nickel — then called a slug — and thus the name. You can find slugburgers at Borroum’s Drug Store, White Trolley Café and Slugburger Café. FB MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY
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Mystery
SOLVE THE
HOW DID THIS CITY GET ITS NAME?
IN ITS EARLY YEARS, the city of Corinth the citizens not like it they could change it was a major manufacturing area that also back in a year. The name stuck. played a significant role in the Civil War. We already know the name of the city An important reason why was its location for which Corinth was named. Name the where the tracks of the Memphis & Charles- country where the city is located. ton and Mobile & Ohio railroads crossed. Mail your guess to Solve the Mystery, Founded in 1854 as Cross City, Corinth Mississippi Farm Country, P. O. Box 1972, was eventually given its present name. His- Jackson, MS 39215. You may also email torians say the town’s early newspaper edi- your guess to FarmCountry@MSFB.org. tor suggested that Corinth be named for a Please remember to include your name and city in a European country that also served address on the entry. as an important crossroads town. The name Visit our Mississippi Farm Bureau Fedwas changed with the stipulation that should eration website at www.msfb.org.
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When all correct guesses have been received, we will randomly draw 20 names. These 20 names will receive a prize and will be placed in the hat twice. At the end of the year, a winner will be drawn from all correct submissions. The winner will receive a Weekend Bed and Breakfast Trip, courtesy of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation. Families may submit only one entry. Federation staff members and their families are ineligible to participate in this contest. The deadline for submitting your entry is Nov. 30.
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O D A ABOUT H C U M
B Y G LY N D A P H I L L I P S
Kara Courtney’s love of art is only exceeded by her love of nature and the outdoors. Courtney owns MS Mud Apparel, and her products include bits of nature and bits of herself. “Living on 75 acres of land out in the country near Booneville teaches me something new every single day,” she said. “I see all kinds of animals, birds, plants and trees. Country life also allows my children to play outdoors. They are constantly bringing home jars of bugs and dirty clothes. My business is designed to remind people that it is important to enjoy the outdoors, but it is equally important to encourage kids to get outside and play.” To that end and to celebrate her own memories of making mud pies and collecting critters as a kid, Kara’s clothing line is dyed with genuine Mississippi mud. She uses red, brown and black mud and a unique hand-dyeing technique that ensures the clothing remains color-fast. “I use cotton for my products because it is really soft against babies’ and kids’ skin, she said. “My girls love the softness of our cotton dresses, and of course, it is great for dyeing. The products are also 100 percent handmade by Southern craftsmen and artists. I wash the fabric many times to ensure that it is clean and looks good. Dyeing with mud is as old as many of our ancient cultures. It has been around a long time.” The mud factor is interesting enough, but once the fabric is dyed, the real magic begins. With a degree in art from Delta State University, along with her background in printmaking and fiber arts, Kara draws then makes stencils of bunnies, hawks, crawNOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015
fish, owls, turkey tracks and more, which she prints onto her products. She says she started out using a screen-printing technique but found that screen prints tended to break and crack on clothing over time “I discovered that vinyl is not only faster and cheaper to use, it stretches as you move,” she said. “So my art is made with vinyl.”
Kara’s clothing mainly targets “little mudbugs” but also offers some adult clothing. The line includes everything from baby onesies, hats, bloomers, leggings and blankets to T-shirts for both children and adults, tote bags and scarves, which she dyes bright colors on top of the mud-dyed fabric. She sells on Etsy, Facebook, Instagram and at festivals and shows both locally and in Jackson (like the Mississippi Craft Show). Her biggest season is Christmas. She started out selling wholesale, but has
recently gotten more into retail sales. In July, Kara started a Mudbug of the Month feature. “The Mudbug of the Month is a Mississippi baby or child who is going through medical issues or has special needs, and we give them 10 percent of the profit made that month,” she said. “Now, when people buy our products at shows or online, they receive a Mudbug card that tells that baby’s/ child’s story.” Kara says she would eventually like to work with her business full-time. For now, she balances it with her family and her job as a high school and junior high school art teacher. Her husband is a police officer. The Courtneys have four children, three daughters and one son. “I love my family. It is very fulfilling to be a wife and a mother,” she said. “I also enjoy my job as an art teacher. It is a source of inspiration to me every single day. But one day, I hope to be able to expand my business and incorporate all of my passions into MS Mud Apparel. “It would be great to spend my life producing a product that encourages people to enjoy the outdoors and make sure their kids get outside and play. I truly believe I am being led by God to do this.” Kara also presents programs to groups. For more information, you may contact her at (662) 587-2362 or MS MUD apparel on Etsy, the MS MUD Facebook page or Twitter @msmudapparel. Her internet page is www.msmudapparel.com. FB Kara is a member of Prentiss County Farm Bureau. MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY
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Peanut Brittle
Recipese paraffin. Melt over low heat. Dip each ball in chocolate. Set balls on wax paper and let cool. Makes four dozen.
1 ½ c. sugar ⅓ c. Karo 1 tsp. soda ¼ tsp. salt ¼ c. water 1 c. raw peanuts
Carolyn Turner Jones County
Combine sugar, Karo and water and bring to a boil. Stir in peanuts slowly so you do not lose your boil. Boil until peanuts pop and turn light brown. Remove from heat. Immediately add soda and salt. Stir well. Pour onto buttered cookie sheet. Dott Arthur Leake County Peanut Butter Balls
Peanut Butter Crunchies 1 (20 oz.) pkg. white almond bark 2 c. Cap’n Crunch peanut butter cereal 2 c. Rice Krispies 16 oz. roasted salted peanuts Melt bark in microwave. Mix all ingredients together. Drop by spoonsful onto wax paper and let harden. You have to move fast after mixing ingredients together, or the mixture will start to harden in the bowl. Clara Bilbo Madison County
1 box confectioners’ sugar 1 (18-oz.) jar creamy peanut butter Chocolate bark 2 sticks butter, melted 1¼ cup graham cracker crumbs Paraffin Combine ingredients and mix well. Roll in small balls and freeze. Combine chocolate bark and a few shavings off a block of
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.
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MFBF Annual Meeting The annual membership meeting of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation is set for Dec. 5-7 at the Hilton Jackson hotel in Jackson. The General Store and Young Farmers & Ranchers live and silent auctions will be held throughout convention. At presstime, here’s a schedule of the other highlights. SATURDAY, DEC. 5 1:00 p.m.
General Session — Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Ambassador Competition and YF&R Discussion Meet Finals
3:00 p.m.
Grain Bin Safety Meeting Land Program
4:00 p.m.
Farm-to-Table Cooking
6:00 p.m.
Farm Families of Mississippi Benefit Dinner
8:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m. YF&R Alumni Reception SUNDAY, DEC. 6 7 a.m.
Women’s Recognition Breakfast
9 a.m.
Women’s Business Session
9 a.m.
Commodity Market Update Conference
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. County Ag Display Contest Tables Staffed 10:30 a.m.
County Ag Display Voting Ceases
10:45 a.m.
Worship Service
1:30 p.m.
General Session — Keynote Speaker is Gov. Phil Bryant Presentations will be made to Missisippi Pennies and to the Farm Woman of the Year, Friend of Agriculture, Excellence in Leadership and Distinguished Service award recipients. County Recognition Program
6:00 p.m.
General Session — Presentations will be made to the YF&R Discussion Meet winner and to the Excellence in Agriculture and YF&R Achievement Award recipients.
MONDAY, DEC. 7 8:00 a.m.
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Business Session
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2015 Berta White Scholarship
See Page 34 for Member Benefit: Life Line Screening
2015 Berta White Scholarship recipients include Chloe’ DeRyn Henson, Rienzi; Haven Alexandria Sims, Laurel; Natalie Anne McCormick, Picayune; and Sayde Danielle Turner, Corinth. The $3,000 scholarship is annually presented to deserving female college students in Mississippi. Scholarship winners are pictured with members of the State Women’s Committee and Teacher of the Year Tiffany Lyles, a second-grade teacher at Pleasant Hill Elementary School in Olive Branch. Tiffany received an expense-paid trip to the National Ag in the Classroom Conference in Louisville, Kentucky.
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2015-2016 Young Farmers & Ranchers Foundation Recipients
Conner McLendon Greene County JCJC $3,000 David Waide Scholarship
Jessica Wilson Rankin County MSU $3,000 YF&R Scholarship
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Price Coleman Alcorn County MSU $3,000 Don Waller Scholarship
Laura McCurdy Panola County MSU $3,000 YF&R Scholarship
Randi Clark Forrest County MSU $3,000 Hugh Arant Scholarship
Alex Bynum Jones County JCJC $3,000 YF&R Scholarship
Ashly Ivy Jones County JCJC $3,000 YF&R Scholarship
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Mississippi Sunbelt Farmer of Year Fourth generation Sweets/Sunbelt farmer Allen Eubanks Expo Southeastern of Lucedale specializes in Farmer of the Year farm-fresh, hand-picked award. Eubanks vegetable crops. He has joins nine other been buying land throughstate winners from out his career, and his farm the Southeast as is now one of the largest finalists for the vegetable farms in Missisaward. The oversippi. Eubanks Produce all winner will be encompasses about 2,800 announced on Tuesacres. He farms in six counties, includ- day, Oct. 20, at the Sunbelt Ag Expo ing in nearby Alabama. farm show in Moultrie, Georgia. A farmer for 23 years, Eubanks owns Allen is pictured with wife, Janice, three major enterprises. These include who oversees accounting and manages Eubanks Produce, Inc., his main vegeta- the farm’s office. She introduced handble farming business; Charlie’s U-Pik, a held computers for use in the fields to pick-your-own venture; and Farm Fresh keep track of the piece-rate harvests. Gourmet, a startup company specializ- This helped reduce payroll-processing ing in creative recipes and value-added times. She also helped the farm install canning and preserving. a wireless network so U-pick customers As a result of his vegetable farming can make credit card purchases. success, Eubanks has been selected as the The Eubanks are longtime George 2015 Mississippi winner of the Swisher County Farm Bureau members. FB
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Calendar of Events NOV.12 State Resolutions Meeting
MFBF Building, Jackson
NOV. 20-26
National Farm-City Week
DEC. 5-7 MFBF Annual Meeting Hilton Jackson Hotel, Jackson
JAN. 5
Mississippi Legislature Convenes at Noon
JAN. 10-13 AFBF Annual Meeting Orlando, Florida JAN. 25-26 Winter Commodity Conference MFBF Building, Jackson
JAN. 25
Legislative Reception
MARCH 4-6 YF&R Leadership Conference Memphis
APRIL 26-27 Secretaries’ Conference MFBF Building, Jackson
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Washington D.C. Visit Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation President Mike McCormick visited recently with, first photo (top left), Congressman Mike Conaway, 11th District, Texas, chair of the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, and Congressman Trent Kelly, 1st District, Mississippi. In the second photo (top right), he is pictured with Congressman Kelly and Congressman Gregg Harper, 3rd District, Mississippi. In the third photo (left), he is shown with Congressman Kelly and Congressman Steven Palazzo, 4th District, Mississippi.
Gardening Book Presentation “Seedsters� from the Mustard Seed, a Christian community in Brandon for adults with developmental disabilities, presented a gardening book to Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) President Mike McCormick depicting their experiences with their summer gardening class. The book is also a way of saying thank you to Mississippi farmers for the work they do to ensure that all of us have an abundant, safe and affordable food supply. It is on display at the MFBF Building in Jackson. 32
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015
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MEMBER BENEFIT
Life Line Screening Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation has teamed up with Life Line Screening to offer members four screenings at a discounted price. Established in 1993, Life Line Screening has since become the nation’s leading provider of preventive health screenings. Preventive screenings enable you to understand your risk for major chronic diseases while you and your doctor can still take preventive action. Life Line Screening is coming to your community soon to make these valuable tests convenient for you. The non-invasive, painless tests help people identify their risk for stroke, vascular diseases and other chronic diseases early enough that the physician can begin preventive procedures. Call them at 1-844-591-7116 to schedule an appointment, or call the state office at (601) 977-4242 for additional information. FB
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Ag Mags Available Farm Bureau offers a children’s agricultural newsletter called Ag Mag. Each issue features one Mississippi commodity or related topic through facts, activities, games and more. You can order copies of the newsletter for your local classroom or ag promotion events from our Ag in the Classroom program. Dairy, corn, poultry, horticulture, cotton, soil, honey bees and peanuts editions are now available. Contact Pam Jones at pjones@msfb.org or (601) 977-4854.
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