VOLUME 92 NO. 6
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Agritourism in Mississippi
A PUBLICATION OF MISSISSIPPI FARM BUREAU FEDERATION • MSFB.ORG
C O N T E N T S
november /december 2016 Volume 92 Number 6 November/December 2016
FEATURES
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Mississippi Farm Country (ISSN 1529-9600) magazine is published bimonthly by the Mississippi Farm Bureau® Federation. Farm Bureau members receive this publication as part of their membership benefit. Periodicals postage is paid at Jackson, MS and at additional mailing offices.
LAWMAKERS HONORED Five members of our Mississippi Congressional Delegation were honored recently for their support of agriculture. Read about this honor inside.
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 — Donald Gant Vice President — Ted Kendall IV Vice President — Reggie Magee Treasurer — Billy Davis Corporate Secretary — Kent Bloodworth FARM BUREAU DIRECTORS Carla Taylor, Prentiss Matt Ormon, Benton Jeffrey (Jeff) Hollowell, Lafayette Bob Workman, Quitman Gabriela Brasher, Tallahatchie Dan L. Bishop, Lee Scott O’Brian, Clay Craig Canull, Lowndes David Hayward, Grenada Dott G. Arthur, Leake William Jones, Lauderdale Paul Myrick, Jasper James R. Ford, Smith James G. “Jimbo” Newman, Issaquena Tammy Layton, Simpson Earl Gay Edwards, Amite Everett A. “Pud” Stringer, Marion Dot Cole, Perry Clayton Lawrence Jr., George Tom Daniels, Harrison Betty Mills, Montgomery David Arant Jr., Leflore 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.
AGRITOURISM In this issue, we visit Bull Bottom Farms, where family farmers are educating the public about agriculture. Also, in our Farm Facts column, Rita Seward talks about how “agritainment” has provided an additional stream of income on her family’s multigenerational farm near Lucedale.
19 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Scholarships have been awarded to a number of college students through the Berta White Scholarship and the Young Farmers & Ranchers Foundation. Come with us as we meet these deserving young men and women.
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STATE CONVENTION The annual membership meeting of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation will be held Dec. 3-5 in Jackson. See the schedule of activities inside.
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DEPARTMENTS
ABOUT THE COVER
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Three-year-old Jack Henry Robinson is pictured in the pumpkin patch at Bull Bottom Farms. He is the son of Nic and Katie Robinson of Duck Hill.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE NATIONAL AFFAIRS REPORT NOTES FROM THE FIELD MEMBER BENEFITS
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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
Land of Liberty As we prepare to elect a new president this November, I find myself thinking about what it means to live in a country founded upon the principles of freedom, equality and justice. Americans truly do believe that someone (anyone) can start from nothing and achieve greatness. All you need is a willingness to work hard, a refusal to give up, a little luck and a dream bigger than a harvest moon over a cornfield on a cold autumn night. Farm Bureau volunteer leaders are thankful to live in America. But we know that with all of our rights and freedoms come important responsibilities. While Farm Bureau is a nonpartisan organization — meaning we don’t support or oppose any political party or candidate — we do believe in an active participation in the governmental process. Our volunteer leaders are dedicated and intelligent consumers of the media. We attend meetings and listen carefully. We write letters or phone our elected officials and lawmakers. We visit the State Capitol, and we make a point of regularly traveling to Washington, D.C. We gather our information from reliable sources, but we make our decisions using a wisdom honed from years of working outdoors, buffeted by the whims of Mother Nature and the unpredictable nature of the global markets. We know what will work for our way of life, and we are seldom fooled. Most importantly, we are not afraid to speak 4
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as one, letting our collective voice be heard on those issues that matter most in our lives. It is the farmer’s way, and it is the Farm Bureau way. On Election Day, don’t forget to exercise you right to vote. Our great country and our wonderful farming way of life depend on it, both now and in the future. See you at the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 8. FARM CREDIT
Speaking of the farming way of life, this year marks the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Farm Credit System, whose mission is to support rural communities and agriculture with reliable and consistent credit and financial services. Farm Credit serves all 50 states and Puerto Rico, but its lenders are locally owned and operated, providing services in the communities where they live and work. Farm Credit organizations are also memberowned cooperatives, so that the men and women who work within this system understand the industry sectors they finance. Farm Credit’s commitment to a thriving rural America extends beyond providing financial services. Its banks and associations also support rural American communities through volunteer hours and financial contributions annually to organizations and initiatives that improve the lives and livelihoods of farmers and ranchers. Congratulations, Farm Credit, on a job
well done, and many wishes for a strong and productive future. THE FARMER’S VOICE
As state convention draws near, bringing to a close yet another year of Farm Bureau activities, I look back with pride on all we have accomplished. This has been an especially busy and productive year. When I was elected your president, I promised Mississippi farmers they would have the environment they need to do what they love. Production agriculture is cyclical; that’s a given. We will always have years of good prices and years of poor prices; times of high input costs and times of lower costs. Farm Bureau works hard to help our farmer members navigate all of the “givens” in their lives. This past year, state farmers were provided access to information on how to do their jobs more effectively and efficiently. Volunteer leaders and staff spoke up in the legislative and regulatory arenas on issues that held the potential to impact our farmers’ lives and livelihoods. We supported programs that take agriculture’s message to the consuming public and programs that shape the agricultural leaders of tomorrow. In the coming year, I look forward to continuing our efforts to ensure that our organization remains a strong “Voice of Agriculture®.” Here at the state office and out in the counties, we never forget why Farm Bureau was organized nearly a century ago. That great legacy inspires us daily, pushing us to do our very best in all of our endeavors. I appreciate your hard work, and I covet your prayers. Thanks for all you do for Farm Bureau. FB NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Farm Credit Celebrates 100 Years of Service This year, Farm Credit is celebrating 100 years of supporting rural communities and agriculture. The seeds for the Farm Credit System were planted by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908 to address the problems facing a predominantly rural population. Congress passed the Federal Farm Loan Act of 1916, which was signed into law on July 17, 1916, by President Woodrow Wilson and created the cooperative Farm Credit System. Since then, the system, much like agriculture itself, has continued to evolve and grow. Congress established the system to provide a reliable source of credit for the nation’s farmers and ranchers. Today, Farm Credit provides more than one-third of the credit needed by those who live and work in rural America, helping fund America’s food, fuel and fiber and supporting the thriving rural communities America’s farmers call home. LOCALLY OWNED
provide more than $235 billion in loans, leases, and related services, which is more than a third of the credit needed by U.S. agriculture. This capital helps nearly 500,000 borrower-owners succeed and grow, today and tomorrow. The Farm Credit System is regulated by the Farm Credit Administration (FCA), an agency of the federal government, and is insured by the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation (FCSC). LOCAL COMMUNITIES
minority farmers and youth-focused agricultural education programs. Friends of Agriculture: Programs and organizations that promote economic opportunity, social advancement and the overall wellbeing of farmers, ranchers and rural America. “Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation congratulates Farm Credit on 100 years of excellent service to our nation’s agriculture industry and to rural America,” said MFBF President Mike McCormick. “We especially want to recognize Mississippi Land Bank, First South Farm Credit and Southern Ag Credit for all they do for the state of Mississippi. We wish you a very strong and productive future.” FB
Farm Credit’s commitment to a thriving rural America extends beyond providing financial services. Its banks and associations support rural American communities through thousands of volunteer hours and millions of dollars in financial contributions For more information about the Farm Credit annually to organizations and initiatives that System and its 100th anniversary, visit the webimprove the lives and livelihoods of farmers site at www.farmcredit100.com. and ranchers. Strengthening this legacy of service, Farm Credit’s national contributions Source of Information: Farm Credit website program targets organizations that work in and brochure. three focus areas:
While Farm Credit has a national footprint serving all 50 states and Puerto Rico, its lenders are local. Each locally owned and operated Farm Credit organization provides Advocates for Agriculture: Organiservices in the communities where they live zations that advocate for the policy and work. Farm Credit organizations are perspectives of their agricultural member-owned cooperatives and have a deep members. understanding of agriculture in their area. Producers of Tomorrow: Programs Combined, Farm Credit organizations for young, beginning, small and
CALENDAR of EVENTS
NOV. 5 YF&R Tailgate MSU
2017 MFBF Winter Commodity Conference
NOV. 10 State Resolutions Meeting Jackson
Make plans to attend the 2017 Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) Winter Commodity Conference to be held Jan. 23-24 at the MFBF Building in Jackson. The annual Legislative Reception is scheduled for the evening of Jan. 23. Excellent speakers will address issues of interest to every segment of Mississippi agriculture. More information will run as the conference draws closer. You may also contact Nancy Britt at (601) 977-4230. FB
JAN. 8-11 AFBF Annual Convention Phoenix, Arizona
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016
NOV. 13-16 YF&R Washington D.C. Fly-In DEC. 3-5 MFBF Annual Meeting Jackson
JAN. 23-24 Winter Commodity Conference Jackson
JAN. 23 Legislative Reception
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National Affairs Report ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ BY JUSTIN FERGUSON, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation National Affairs Coordinator & Commodity Coordinator for Major Row Crops
Mississippi Delegation Members Attain “Friend of Farm Bureau” Distinction Every two-year session of Congress, Harper and Rep. Steven Palazzo. Farm Bureau Resolution of Disapproval of USDA Catfish Farm Bureau monitors the voting records of scored members on the following key pieces of Inspection Program. U.S. House and Senate members on key leg- legislation during the 114th Congress: House Legislation: (S.1): Keystone Pipeislative priorities for America’s farmers and Senate Legislation: (S.1): Keystone Pipe- line Approval; (H.R. 636): America’s Small ranchers. A “Friend of Farm Bureau” award line Approval; (Amendment 607 to S. Con. Business Tax Relief Act; (H.R. 1105): Death is given each Congress to those members Res. 11): Create Reserve Fund to Eliminate Tax Repeal Act; (H.R. 2353): Highway and who have a consistent, strong record of sup- Death Tax; (H.R. 2146): Trade Promotion Transportation Funding Authorization; (H.R. porting legislation and priorities for us in the Authority; (H.R. 22): Surface Transportation 2146): Trade Promotion Authority; (H.R. agriculture industry. Reauthorization; (Cloture Vote on S. 1140): 1599): Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act; Farm Bureau is pleased to announce that the Rewrite EPA WOTUS Rule; (S.J. Res. 22): (H.R. 2029): Consolidated Appropriations; following members of the Mississippi delegation Resolution of Disapproval of EPA WOTUS (S.J. Res. 22): Senate Resolution of Disaphave received a “Friend of Farm Bureau” award Rule; (H.R. 2029): Omnibus Appropria- proval on EPA/Corps. WOTUS rule; and for the 114th Congress: Sen. Thad Cochran, tions for FY2016; (S.2012): Bill to Modern- (H.R. 2406): Sportsmen’s Heritage and RecSen. Roger Wicker, Rep. Trent Kelly, Rep. Gregg ize Federal Energy Policy; and (S.J. Res. 28): reational Enhancement Act. FB
SENATOR COCHRAN
SENATOR WICKER
REPRESENTATIVE KELLY
REPRESENTATIVE HARPER
REPRESENTATIVE PALAZZO
Farm Bureau again congratulates these members of our Mississippi Congressional Delegation for their record of supporting legislation important to America’s farmers and ranchers. As Farm Bureau members, please take the time to thank them for their support.
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Lee Thorne and Kaleb Deese Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) would like to welcome Lee Thorne and Kaleb Deese into our Farm Bureau family. Lee will be working with MFBF General Counsel Kent Bloodworth and the Public Policy staff in developing and implementing MFBF policy on the local, state and national levels. Kaleb will join Billy Davis in the Accounting Department as a field auditor. A native of Tishomingo County, Lee is a 2010 graduate of Mississippi State University with a degree in Political Science. He is a 2013 graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law. Prior to joining the Federation, Lee served as Tishomingo County Prosecutor and was an associate attorney in the law firm of Phillips & Phillips in Iuka. Kaleb is a native of Smith and Jasper counties. He is a 2005 graduate of Mississippi College with a degree in Accounting. He received his Master’s in Business Administration in 2006. After graduation, Kaleb worked in public accounting for the international accounting firm KPGM. In 2008, Kaleb joined the Mississippi Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company’s Accounting Department, where he obtained his CPA license and was a senior accountant. Lee and Kaleb began their new careers with Farm Bureau on Aug. 1. FB
Earl and Vickie Robinson; Nic, Katie and Jack Henry Robinson
ttom Fa r m s o B l l u • •B B Y G LY N D A P H I L L I P S
LL BOTTO
M BU THIS FALL, A GROWING NUMBER OF MISSISSIPPIANS WILL BE SPENDING THE DAY AT ONE OF OUR STATE’S MANY AGRITOURISM OPERATIONS. AGRITOURISM HAS BECOME AN INCREASINGLY POPULAR WAY FOR FARMERS TO MAKE ADDITIONAL INCOME ON THEIR FARMS, WHILE OFFERING A FUN WAY FOR CONSUMERS TO LEARN ABOUT AGRICULTURE. BULL BOTTOM FARMS NEAR DUCK HILL IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY IS A FINE EXAMPLE.
“Bull Bottom Farms offers a good mix of She is also very artistic and creative. She ing families together,” Katie said. “This education and entertainment,” said Katie does most of the paintings that you will see is something the whole family can do Robinson, a co-owner of the operation. “We around the farm. together. We provide a good, safe Chrisgrow several acres of our own pumpkins, “Nic is our main businessman,” she said. tian atmosphere.” where people can pick out the perfect one for “He handles the finances and advertising, All ages enjoy Bull Bottom Farms. themselves. We also have a huge 7-acre field and he also has knowledge of farming and “The oldest person to go down our Magic of corn, which we transform into a tricky construction. I am responsible for sales and Carpet Slide was a 91-year-old lady,” Katie and confusing maze for visitors to get lost public relations. I design and order T-shirts said. “She had a ball.” in each fall. Along with all of that, we have and gifts, make sure that we reach out to our live animals, a hayride, a giant slide that is 10 schools and businesses when the season is FOR MORE INFORMATION feet high and 150 feet long, a jumbo jump- approaching and handle the scheduling of Bull Bottom Farms is open from the ing pillow, a cow train, a corn box, a pond field trips, church trips and birthday parties. last weekend in September through the first stocked full of catfish that you can feed, an I do a lot of research and brainstorming to weekend in November. It is also open for the old Wild West tiny town, live pig racing, a come up with new and fresh ideas and activi- weekend of Easter, with the Easter Bunny concession stand and so much more. ties to add to the farm.” and an Easter Egg Hunt. Monday through “Bull Bottom Farms also makes a point Friday is devoted exclusively to school field of telling agriculture’s story. As a farm family, SOME HISTORY trips. Saturdays and Sundays are open to the we understand the importance of teaching Several years ago, Katie and her husband, public. The cost is $10 per person. Every children about what farm life is really like,” Nic, were working in Nashville but were weekend is a fall festival. she said. “It’s important for children to know ready to move back to Mississippi to start a For more information, visit the website where meat, fruit, vegetables and cotton (to family. They wanted to farm, but the family at www.bullbottomfarms.com. make their clothes) come from.” row crop operation wasn’t big enough to supAccording to the Mississippi Department port two families, so they began to consider of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC), A FAMILY OPERATION agritourism. They visited other operations agritourism generates approximately $150 Bull Bottom Farms has four owners, a and did a lot of online research. million annually in Mississippi and is now family of row crop farmers. The Robinsons started out small and one of the state’s fastest growing tourism “Earl, Vickie, Nic and myself bring had 500 customers their first year. Nic and markets. For more information on Missisunique qualities to the farm,” Katie said. Katie drove back and forth from Nashville to sippi’s many agritourism operations, visit the “Earl is the farmer. He knows how to grow help get it started. The operation has steadily MDAC website at www.mdac.ms.gov. FB the crops as well as how to develop and build grown each year since. the structures that we have. Vickie keeps the “In addition to teaching kids about agri- Katie Robinson is president of the Mississippi grass and flowerbeds clean and manicured. culture, we also believe strongly in bring- Agritourism Association.
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MISSISSIPPI SUNBELT
OF THE YEAR
AT AGE 90, PAUL GOOD OF COLUMBUS HAS HAD A LONG AND DISTINGUISHED CAREER IN FARMING, first in his home state of Indiana and, for the past 42 years, in eastern Mississippi’s Noxubee County. A farmer for 70 years, he’s old enough to remember rural electrification coming to the farm, and young enough to have used global positioning and variable rate applications.
As a result of his farming efforts, Paul has been selected as the state winner of the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year award. He joins nine other individuals as finalists for the overall award that will be announced on Tuesday, Oct. 18, at the Sunbelt Expo farm show in Moultrie, Georgia. Paul started farming full time in 1946 with 220 acres of rented land. His farm currently encompasses 1,050 acres, with 90 acres rented and 960 acres of owned land. Last year, he grew corn, soybeans, wheat and catfish. Paul added center pivot irrigation in 2007 and now irrigates 800 of the 960 acres he farms. He uses information on soil types and yield maps to adjust seeding with his variable rate planter. Paul used chicken litter for fertilizer over many years to help build up soil nutrient levels. Minor elements, such as zinc, helped him boost corn test weight. Starter fertilizer and split nitrogen applications also help his corn, as does fertilizer applied through irrigation just prior to tasseling. Paul’s conservation practices include the installation of drain tile, terraces and grassed waterways on his farm. He adopted minimum tillage and no-till planting. Paul has worked closely with university, USDA and industry representatives to test new varieties and chemicals. One on-farm trial was aimed at controlling plant bugs in cotton, and another evaluated the benefits of chicken litter. Until several years ago, Paul farmed about 2,500 acres. He has cut back on his farming to distribute a portion of his land to his children.
THROUGH THE YEARS
As a child during the Great Depression, Paul milked cows and shucked corn by hand on his father’s Indiana farm. He says, “We milked all of our cows by hand until 1938 or 1939 when we got rural electrification on our farm.” He remembers the Dust Bowl in the upper Midwest. “In the North, we faced wind erosion and blowing dust, while in the South, we face soil erosion from water,” he adds. In the 1940s and early 1950s, before herbicides were used, he cultivated widely spaced corn in the direction of the rows, then came back and cultivated again across the rows. By the early 1970s, urban growth from Chicago suburbs reached near his farm in Valparaiso, Indiana, and he started looking south for farming opportunities. He liked what he found in Mississippi. He grew his first Mississippi crops in 1973, and moved to the Magnolia State in 1974. Marketing is a year-round process. Paul likes to start selling his crops early in the season. As a member of a marketing group during the 1980s and 1990s, he learned to appreciate diversity in marketing opportunities. He sells grain to several poultry companies. He has used commodity futures and options, and has occasionally exported crops by shipping them down the Mississippi River. In past years, Paul raised crops for seed. He owned and operated Good Seeds, a cer-
tified seed business that cleaned and marketed seeds. During this time, he was also a dealer for Pioneer and Northrup King grain varieties. FARM BUREAU AND FAMILY
Through the years, Paul has been active in a number of organizations, including Farm Bureau. He served on the Noxubee County Farm Bureau Board of Directors. His son, Philip, is the current vice president of Noxubee County Farm Bureau. Paul and his wife, Joyce, are members of Cornerstone Community Church in Macon. They recently moved their residence to Columbus. The Goods have four adult children, Gail Atkinson, Steven Good, Philip Good and Janice Weaver. They take great pride in the fact that all of their children and several grandchildren are involved in farming. Since 1984, Paul has farmed in partnership with Janice’s husband, Dale Weaver. Dale and Janice also own and farm land in Noxubee County. Steve Martin with the Mississippi State University Extension Service coordinates the Farmer of the Year award in the state. Paul Good was nominated for the honor by Dennis Reginelli, agronomic regional Extension specialist. Reginelli admires how Paul speaks to the news media about farming. Reginelli says he has hosted visitors from Poland, Brazil, Russia, Germany and elsewhere on tours of his farm. “Mr. Paul spends quality time with all the people who come by to see him,” says Reginelli. “He has made me a better person and a better Extension agent.” FB
B Y G LY N D A P H I L L I P S NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016
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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
Generations of Family Farmers by Rita Seward
I am Rita Seward. My husband, Bud, and I reside in the Tanner Williams Community just southeast of Lucedale. Our family farm includes row crops, cattle, trucking and agritainment. Our family farm was started by Bud’s grandparents, M. A. and Florence Maybelle Rea Seward, who moved to the Tanner Williams Community in 1924 with their three daughters and son. He grew corn, cotton and produce on leased land. In 1934, his son, Harry, married Aude Hinton Seward, and in 1938, they purchased a farm of their own, consisting of 366 acres. They started row crop farming and later added a dairy operation. It was sold and replaced with beef cattle. They had two sons and two daughters. Harry K. (Bud) and William D. (Bill) joined their father’s operation, forming Harry Seward & Sons, which remained until the late 60s, when Bill left the operation. Harry and Bud continued farming, and their main crops were corn and soybeans along with beef cattle. In 1968, Bud and I married. In 1969, we purchased 334 acres
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that joined his dad, helping us to expand our operation. In 1977, Harry retired and leased his land to us. At that time, the farm became known as Seward Farms. In the 70s, we started our own family. Our son, Steve, and daughter, Susie, are both still a part of the operation today. Farming seemed to do well until the late 70s. In September 1979, Hurricane Frederic completely destroyed our crops before harvest. We were barely getting by from the disaster, when, in 1982, the economy hit rock bottom. Trying to overcome the hard times, we became more diversified by continuing to farm and raise beef cattle. We also started our own transportation business. In 1984 and over the next five years, with our love and desire to continue our farming and trucking business, our son, Steve, began to be a vital part of the operation. In 1994, Harry was very excited to see Bud and Steve plant a cotton crop after more than 50 years since he had planted cotton. The year ended up being bittersweet when Harry passed away before the cotton was harvested.
The following year, Bud and Steve went into business together by forming Seward Farms Partnership. At that time, we separated the trucking company from the farm by forming Seward Farms Inc., and over the next five years, it doubled in size and doubled the office work. The farm seemed to be just recovering after weathering two more storms, but with the land and crop records becoming more intense and added requirements by USDA for farmers, the paperwork had grown there, also. In 2000, our daughter, Susie Seward Kelley, came back to work in the office with day-to-day duties and bookkeeping. Then in 2002, our daughter-in-law, Susan (who was raised on a farm), joined us in the office. Later that year, Steve purchased 120 acres which also joined our existing farm. In 2002, after lots of research by Bud, we added an agritainment business to the
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016
Bud and Rita Seward, in green shirts, are pictured with their family.
By allowing God to be first in our lives and trusting him, we have been blessed and continue to be blessed daily in all we do. — Rita Seward
operation. We opened Seward Farms Maze in September of that year, putting a bit of agriculture back into the communities and schools, educating people by reminding them where their food and clothes come from. After weathering several tropical storms through the years, Hurricane Katrina hit on August 28, 2005. It was a very devastating storm that destroyed everything in its path. We actually started all over (reconstructing buildings, equipment sheds and 11 miles of fence). As time passed and our farm became 100 percent operative once again, we then rebuilt and opened our agritainment in 2007 and resumed our educational process with our communities and schools. Our cattle and farming operation has grown as the years have passed. We have sold our brood cattle and only have stocker feeder cattle. For the most part, we double crop our acreage by planting ryegrass and NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016
oats in fall for grazing, and in the spring, we plant cotton and peanuts. Today, the farm consists of 1,058 owned acres and 3,500 leased acres for our dayto-day operation. Our diversification and years of farming experience have enabled us to make good farming decisions and continue in today’s market for agriculture. The efficiency of the farm has enabled us to run with minimal problems in the past years — having hands-on experience during our years of farming has given us the capability, knowledge and skill to run the farming operation. We also strive to keep up with the fast pace of changing technology in farming, and we believe this has helped us in maintaining a family farm in today’s economy. Our agritainment facility has also grown through the years. After starting our first year with educating and entertaining about 7,000 adults and children, today we see an average
of 20,000 people in a season. All family members take part in the operation. Bud and Steve manage and supervise. Susie, Susan and I are all a part of the daily operations, whether it's office work, running errands, field trips or all-day FUN on Saturdays running the corn maze! Grandchildren, Megan, Andrew, Kase, Koda and Kole, are also very much involved, whether it be caring for horses, mowing grass, working cattle, helping with planting, harvesting or working at the corn maze. By allowing God to be first in our lives and trusting him, we have been blessed and continue to be blessed daily in all we do. 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. MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY
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Aileen and Cody Bost
MIDTOWN FARMERS’ MARKET B Y G LY N D A P H I L L I P S
On a hot and humid morning in midJuly, box fans are busily stirring the air near the vendor stalls at Midtown Farmers’ Market in downtown Oxford. People are purchasing lots of locally grown fruits and vegetables, including fresh purple hull peas, ripe red tomatoes, tender yellow squash and sweet juicy peaches. A truckload of plump green watermelons is also commanding a whole lot of attention. Midtown Farmers’ Market provides customers with a variety of fruits, vegetables and flowers every Wednesday from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. and every Saturday from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m. Baked goods are sold on Saturdays. “Our farmer vendors come from Lafayette, Lee, Pontotoc, Tippah and Panola counties,” said Aileen Bost, executive director, Midtown Farmers’ Market. The market has a volunteer board made up of vendors and non-vendors. Aileen and her son, Marty, sell vegetables and flowers grown on their Lafayette County farm. She says Marty is in charge of the vegetables (with an emphasis on tomatoes), while she grows several long rows of zinnias and sunflowers. Also on hand to help out at the market are Marty’s son, Cody, and Aileen’s husband, Freddy. MISSISSIPPI PRODUCTS
In 2011, Midtown Farmers’ Market was certified by the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce as part of their Mississippi Farmers Market Certification Program. “Essentially, this means that we received official recognition for something that has always been central to our mission,” Aileen NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016
said. “We are a true venue for Mississippi farmers and food artisans to sell their locally produced food. At Midtown, you can always count on buying a Mississippi product from the Mississippian who made it.” Aileen says the market is busy from late spring to early fall. On Saturdays, in addition to the vendor stalls, the market sells coffee, T-shirts and water under a tent called “the main tent.” There is also a music tent. Midtown Farmers’ Market started out 16 years ago with seven or eight vendors and now averages about 20 to 25 vendors (or more), especially on Saturdays. “We are all volunteers. That’s what makes us unique,” Aileen said. “Each Saturday, our main tent is staffed by a volunteer board member or a community volunteer. Our board is comprised of 10 members. We operate solely on vendor fees and what we sell in the main tent.” Aileen says the market provides insurance to vendors using funds generated by vendor fees and what is sold in the main tent. PART OF THE COMMUNITY
The Midtown Farmers’ Market tries to accommodate working customers on Wednesdays. On Saturdays, an emphasis is placed on the community. Neighbors can enjoy the music and visit as they make their purchases. “Lots of our customers are local people, and we have developed friendships with them over the years,” Aileen said. A special children’s day is held the first Saturday of every month, with face painting and other fun activities. Prizes are awarded
for these activities and a big prize, like a backpack, is given away before school starts. The market makes a point of giving back to the Oxford community, with some of the vendors donating weekly to the local food pantry. THE FUTURE
As far as the future is concerned, Aileen says Midtown Farmers’ Market is always open to change and to having more vendors. “This has been a real good venture. It is super fun to watch the market grow,” she said. “If somebody new comes along, we work them in some way. We have been very fortunate to grow as we have and to continue to feel that we are an important part of this community. “Here in Oxford, you can meet the person who grows the food you are purchasing. You can ask us questions about what we grow. We are proud of our farms, and we are eager to meet our customers. It’s a great situation.” For more information about Midtown Farmers’ Market, visit the website at www. mtfarmersmarket.com or the Facebook page. Mississippi is home to approximately 88 farmers markets statewide. Visit the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce’s website at www.mdac.ms.gov for a listing. Nationally, 8,268 farmers markets were operating in 2014, up 180 percent since 2006. FB
Aileen serves on the Lafayette County Farm Bureau Board of Directors. She and Marty were featured on their farm in an earlier issue of this magazine. MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY
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Notes from the Field ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★ BY ANDY BROWN
Region 1 Regional Manager
Telling Our Story Agriculture has always been about stories. Generations of farmers have passed along farming practices, field names, recipes and traditions strictly through word of mouth. That is how I first knew of agriculture. I saw fields and tractors, but did not grow up in the buddy seat of a combine, nor did I wake early to go feed or milk. Farming was a part of my family’s heritage, like most Americans, but had passed as an everyday way of life. Part of this farming history told was that of great struggle, but always coupled with great triumph and blessings. Different eras of war, economic depression and fights against the mighty boll weevil have now turned from a memory into folklore for many young people today. This includes our young farmers and ranchers, most of whom have not seen the newsworthy struggles of our ancestors. However, young farmers and ranchers now face a new frontier. People of this industry see attacks from all over the globe and from many different kinds of groups. Often, these attacks can be traced to a lack of understanding of what the American farmer does, because the naysayers are so far removed from the turnrow.
As a regional manager for Mississippi Farm program and the Farm Families of MissisBureau Federation, the best rebuttal to such sippi campaign. The 2016 YF&R Leadership attacks that I have seen is using agriculture’s Conference had 200+ attendees learning how oldest tool: storytelling. No greater impact can to lead by telling their story. This was one of be made than from a young person or farming the largest attendances in our organization’s veteran alike telling how they care for the land history. There are strong individuals in this and animals they have, what they do each day state involved in our YF&R program, like to provide for their family and how they take national YF&R Achievement Award winners it as a personal mission to help feed, clothe William and Cala Tabb, who do not hesitate and provide shelter for the rapidly growing to take their farming story to venues across world in which we live. the state and nation. This carries an impact in the coffee shop American Farm Bureau President Zippy and on Capitol Hill. Duvall often explains his start in Farm Bureau Farm Bureau has thrived as a grassroots came when his father told him that if he organization because of its members’ ability intended to change anything outside of his to tell just that — the American grassroots fencerows, he couldn’t do so by staying inside story. However, it is my sense that the farm- of them. It is my challenge to you to encouring and rural community is growing tired of age young people to do just that, and join us telling their story to only have more attacks in working to provide farmers and ranchers come in response. This is when we can look the opportunity for a better life and a better back to history and see the struggles of where living both in Mississippi and across the world. we have come from to realize we should not If you know a young person involved give in to such worry and anguish. I encour- with agriculture who needs to become a part age the older generations to continue to tell of our Young Farmers & Ranchers program, the stories of agriculture’s past to help fuel my please contact me, your regional manager, generation’s push to keep feeding the world. or Samantha Laird, our YF&R coordinator. Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation facil- Let’s ensure that our strong storytelling legacy itates this storytelling process through both continues to benefit agriculture, both now our Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) and for generations to come. FB
GENERATIONS OF FARMERS HAVE PASSED ALONG FARMING PRACTICES, FIELD NAMES, RECIPES AND TRADITIONS STRICTLY THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH.
William Tabb at work with his soybean crop. 16
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Recipese Fruited Bread Pudding
Sweet Potato Cobbler
Fudge Pie
4 c. French bread, cubed 3 lg. eggs, beaten 2 c. milk ½ c. sugar ½ tsp. almond extract 1 (21-oz.) can apple or peach pie filling ½ tsp. ground cinnamon 2 T. brown sugar, firmly packed 1 ½ tsp. butter, sliced into pieces
1 stick margarine 2 c. sugar ½ c. shortening 1 tsp. cinnamon 2 c. sweet potatoes, boiled but not completely soft 2 c. water 1 ½ c. self-rising flour ⅓ c. milk 1 tsp. nutmeg
3 c. sugar 1 ⅓ c. evaporated milk 1 tsp. vanilla 2 pie shells, unbaked 7 T. cocoa 4 lg. eggs 1 stick oleo, melted
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat an 11x7-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Spread bread cubes in pan. Whisk together eggs, milk, sugar and almond extract. Stir in pie filling, reserving ½ cup for use as a topping. Pour mixture over bread cubes; press into bread with the back of a spoon. Combine cinnamon and brown sugar and sprinkle on top of bread mixture. Add sliced almonds, and dot with butter. Bake for 50-55 minutes, until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Serve warm with reserved pie filling on top, or mix powdered sugar, vanilla extract and tiny bit of milk to make a glaze. Peggy McKey Hinds County
Melt margarine in a 9x13-inch pan. In a saucepan, heat water and sugar. Make dough with flour, shortening and milk. Knead and roll out to a ¼-inch thick triangle. Sprinkle dough with cinnamon and nutmeg. Place sweet potatoes down the middle of the dough. Pull up sides of dough and pinch ends together. Slice into 14-16 slices. Place in pan with melted margarine. Pour sugar-water into pan. Slices will float at first but will settle as they bake. Bake 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
Mix together sugar and cocoa. Add vanilla, eggs and milk. Stir in oleo. Mix well. Pour into two unbaked pie shells. Bake 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Serve warm with scoop of ice cream. Margaret Davis Grenada County
Kay Perkins Tishomingo County
COUNTRY COOKING, VOLUME V: These recipes are from “Country Cooking, Volume V,” now available at most county offices. The cost is $20. If you order a cookbook from the state office, you will pay $20 plus postage. For more information, contact Pam Jones at (601) 977-4854.
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MFBF Annual Meeting The 95th annual membership meeting of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation is set for Dec. 3-5 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. 3 10:30 a.m. Ag in the Classroom Roundtable 1:00 p.m.
General Session – Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Ambassador Competition and YF&R Discussion Meet Finals
3:30 p.m.
Personal Protection, Situational Awareness and Crime Prevention
3:30 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. 4 7 a.m.
Women’s Recognition Breakfast
9 a.m.
Women’s Business Session
9 a.m.
Agriculture and the Consumer: A Vital Relationship
10:45 a.m.
Worship Service
1:30 p.m.
General Session – Keynote Speaker is Matt Rush. Presentations will be made to Mississippi Pennies and to the Farm Woman of the Year, Excellence in Leadership and Distinguished Service award recipients.
County Recognition Program
5:30 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. 5 8:00 a.m.
Business Session
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HOMEMAKER GROUP ENJOYS SERVING COMMUNITY
The group, which now has 20 members, began meeting in the summer of 2015 when Hilda Hayes began organizing activities for them. She cooks lunch Monday through Friday at the Lexington Multipurpose Building for seniors who participate in the community-based services offered through the district’s Area Agency on Aging program. Although the daily lunches provide a social outlet for older adults, Hayes says she 20
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WHAT STARTED AS A FEW WOMEN MEETING TOGETHER TO SOCIALIZE, LEARN NEW SKILLS AND/ OR REFRESH FAMILIAR ONES IN LEXINGTON GREW INTO A NEW MISSISSIPPI HOMEMAKER VOLUNTEER CLUB. BY S USAN CO LLI NS-SMITH
felt like individuals who come to the multi- and other opportunities on a lot of differpurpose building should benefit from other ent topics.” activities. So, she turned to the Mississippi She approached the Holmes County State University Extension Service for help. Extension agent, Tara Howell, about the “I wanted more enrichment activities kinds of programs Extension could bring to for us,” explains Hayes, who used to ride the group. Howell first did a home canning the bus to lunch before she began work- training. Then the ladies who regularly ate ing for the North Central Planning and together decided they wanted to quilt, too. Development District. “I knew about the “I encouraged them to formally organize Mississippi State University Extension Ser- themselves as a Mississippi Homemaker vice and knew they could provide classes Volunteer club because the activities they NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016
MHV quilt guilders include, from left, Jameson Whisenton, Nellie Mae Williams, Rosie Howze, Leona Fields, Betty Levy, Thelma Washington, Mary Helen Kohn and Mary Wesley.
were interested in are projects that many of our state’s clubs focus on,” Howell says. “They were a natural fit.” Extension-supported Mississippi Homemaker Volunteer clubs, better known as MHV clubs, provide a variety of educational opportunities and services to their communities. “MHV clubs are a great benefit to individuals, families and communities. Members give their time and share their NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016
talents to improve residents’ quality of life,” explains Sylvia Clark, an Extension associate who coordinates the Lexington MHV program. “The founding focus of the clubs was families — providing them with science-based information on everything from cooking to budgeting. But the scope of these clubs has expanded over the decades to include service to local causes, such as assistance for veterans, hospitals, libraries, schools and others.”
The club has already made a difference in its Holmes County community. Last Thanksgiving, the members donated the fruits of their first project — 67 lap quilts — to residents at the Lexington Manor Senior Care facility. MHV programs are self-funded, and clubs raise money throughout the year to be able to do their chosen projects. For their first project, Holmes County club members and a local business donated MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY
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“MISSISSIPPI HOMEMAKER CLUBS BEGAN BECAUSE THERE WAS A NEED TO BE MET AND A DESIRE TO LEARN NEW THINGS. THE EXTENSION SERVICE WAS A TRUSTED SOURCE FOR FREE EDUCATION ON TOPICS, SUCH AS FOOD PRESERVATION, GARDENING, MONEY MANAGEMENT AND SEWING. THAT IS STILL TRUE TODAY.” SYLVIA CLARK
material to make the lap quilts. Members use one sewing machine that belongs to the Extension Service, and a few members bring their personal sewing machines to meetings. Some of the work is done by hand the old-fashioned way — with a needle and thread. “These ladies live on a fixed income. They couldn’t go out and buy supplies, but they brought fabric that they had at home and cut up old clothes to have some fabric to get started,” Howell says. “The community provides them with meals and other services, yet they want to serve their community, and they are finding a way to do that.” Some of the members have sewn or quilted before, but others are learning. Although some ladies are still learning how to sew, quilting is a team effort. Some cut out pieces, some stitch, and some help in other ways. “I don’t sew, but I do their ironing for them,” says Ivory Walden. The group is now working on a queensize quilt they plan to raffle off to raise 22
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funds to do more projects. Howell says the group is interested in making more lap quilts and painting. She says group members have gotten to know one another on a different level through this club. “When they were just coming for lunch, they didn’t have a reason to really get to know one another. But they have built relationships that they didn’t have before.” Mississippi has more than 100 MHV clubs that continue to fulfill the mission of the first clubs of the early 1900s. “Mississippi Homemaker clubs began because there was a need to be met and a desire to learn new things. The Extension Service was a trusted source for free education on topics, such as food preservation, gardening, money management and sewing,” Clark says. “That is still true today.” Clubs differ from county to county, Clark explains. Some clubs do several sewing projects, including making quilts for seniors, baby blankets for children’s hospitals, caps for cancer patients and dresses for local and international children. Others
rally behind one main cause all year long, such as emphasizing breast cancer awareness. Many counties rely on their club members to help with county fairs and other community events. Members also are great teachers who hand down the same skills they learned as children to today’s 4-H’ers. “MHV members prove daily that you are never too young or too old to affect the life of another,” Clark said. Each year, these clubs contribute millions of dollars of value to the state in volunteer labor and materials. “One club recently turned in 309 hours for 2015, which amounted to almost $7,000 of value to their county,” Clark said. “Multiply that by 100 clubs and the economic benefit of having at least one MHV club in each county is clear.” FB This article originally appeared in Mississippi State University Extension Service’s Extension Matters magazine. Writer: Susan Collins-Smith; Photographer: Kevin Hudson. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016
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Youth Safety Camp A total of 66 youths from across the state attended Youth Safety Camp this year. These students were certified in CPR and attended classes on many different safety topics. They also watched a demonstration on how firefighters use the Jaws of Life as well as a vehicle rollover demonstration to show the importance of seatbelts. An Air Evac helicopter flew in and landed as it would at an accident scene, and the students had the opportunity to sit inside the heli-
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copter and ask questions as the three-person flight crew explained their job responsibilities. In addition to the safety programs, students enjoyed game time and a dance, where they could visit and meet new friends from across the state. The camp was held in July at the Gray Center in Canton. If you have a child or grandchild who would be interested in attending the camp, contact your local county office and let them know. FB
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GENERAL S
LAP THROWS
Afghan lap throws with the Ag in the Classroom artwork (the same as the T-shirts) are now available for $40 from the state office. The throws are maroon and are 51 inches by 38 inches in size. • For more information, contact Pam Jones at pjones@msfb.org or (601) 977-4854.
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The Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) Women’s Programs will again offer a General Store at MFBF Annual Meeting. The store always has a variety of interesting items for sale. This year, the stock will include T-shirts, cookbooks, the 2017 Ag Art Calendar, lap throws, canned goods, jewelry, etc. All funds raised will benefit the Ag in the Classroom program. For more information, contact Pam Jones at (601) 977-4854.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016
2016-2017 Young Farmers & Ranchers Foundation Recipients
Rachel Wilson Rankin County MSU $3,000 Hugh Arant Scholarship
Sayde Turner Alcorn County MSU $3,000 YF&R Scholarship
Emily Vowell Smith County MSU $3,000 Don Waller Scholarship
Barrett Shepherd Madison County MSU $3,000 YF&R Scholarship
Jessica Wilson Rankin County MSU $3,000 David Waide Scholarship
Price Coleman Alcorn County MSU $3,000 YF&R Scholarship
Alexis Lott Pike County MSU $3,000 YF&R Scholarship
2016 Berta White Scholarship The 2016 Berta White Scholarship was presented to Lauren Michele Walters of George County, Mary Hannah Mills of Montgomery County, Dixie Star Priest of Pontotoc County and Laura Caitlyn McCurdy of Panola County. The $3,000 scholarship is annually given to four deserving female college students in Mississippi. Scholarship winners are pictured with Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation President Mike McCormick, members of the State Women’s Committee and Farm Bureau Ambassador Jessica Smith. FB NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016
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Ag Mags Available
This issue of our Ag Mag children’s newsletter features land and water. You can order Ag Mags for your local classroom or ag promotion events from our Ag in the Classroom program. Dairy, corn, poultry, horticulture, cotton, peanut, honey bee, soil, beef and soybean editions are also available. Contact Pam Jones at: pjones@msfb.org or (601) 977-4854. FB
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SEE PAGE
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FOR A LIST OF OUR FARM BUREAU MEMBER BENEFITS.
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