Mississipi Farm Country September/October 2013

VOLUME 89 NO. 5

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2013

A Publication of Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation • MSFB.org

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Program is not identity theft • CIMARRON MORTGAGE Save $150 off closing costs Inc. is one of the world’s largest lodging • MEDICAL ALERT SYSTEM - This discounted system provider in COMPUTERS your area.- Dell’s Member Purchase Program • DELL protection, an insurance product, or credit monitoring. the Baymont Inn®, cbilbo@msfb.org Days Inn®, Inn Hawthorn ® ® personal identification information, such asprovides a social Bilbo under at 601.977.4245 E-mail: whenallows you finance your mortgage through companies under the or Baymont Inn , Days , offered by Southern Security Systems members to home receive member-only pricing ® ® ® Suites , Howard Johnson , Knights Inn®,Inn Ramada , ® ® ® security number, an address, and/or credit and debit Mortgage Company, a Mississippi-based Hawthorn Suites , Howard Johnson , Knights , two-way communications in case of an emergency •Cimarron DELL COMPUTERS Dell’s Member Purchase Program on all personal PCs from Dell, including: ® ® • MEDICALwithout ALERT SYSTEM - This discounted system Super 8 , Travelodge , Wyndham and • THEFT REWARD PROGRAM can $500 ® ® - Members ® offer ahotels card numbers permission with the intent of national lender. , Wyndham in the home. A pendant is worn by the member Ramada , Super 8 , Travelodge allows- Up Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation to 30% OFF list prices for select configurations offeredfraud

by Southern Security SystemsMisprovides resorts, and Wingate Inn® Inn brands. reward forresorts, information leading to® the arrest and committing or otherarises, crimes.

That's *This credit be requested prior to closing. and and Wingate brands. if an emergency all the why member hotels members to must receive member-only pricing on all and, sissippi Farm Bureau Federation has included as a conviction of anyone committing theft, arson or • CLEAR part of your membership thisFARM Identity Theft Credit vandalism against their property. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 22 VALUE HEARING - Members can receive a MISSISSIPPI MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY COUNTRY MAY/JUNE free hearing test, free annual retests, free Restoration Service. All eligible* members of the • WYNDHAM HOTELS - Receive an additional 20% off programming and maintenance, free case of household are covered and best of all - It's Free! batteries, and 25% off Starkey digital hearing *MFBF member, spouse and children under the age of 19, or the "Best Available Rate" at participating locations.

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www.msfb.org www.msfb.org

Farm Bureau: Making a Difference in Your Life I’m Coley Bailey Jr., and I farm cotton near Coffeeville in

Yalobusha County. I’ve been a Farm Bureau member since 1994 and a volunteer leader for almost 20 years. I couldn’t do my job without Farm Bureau.

Farm Bureau is Mississippi’s largest general farm organization, standing nearly 200,000 members strong. We have offices in all 82 counties. Established by a handful of farmers almost a century ago, Farm Bureau continues to honor the basic mission of those founding men and women, which is to create an environment where farmers, ranchers and other members can have a better life and make a better living.

I believe deeply in Farm Bureau, and I’m proud of all that it has accomplished through the years. Here are two areas

Coley Bailey

where we excel: • Policy Development and Implementation. Our grassroots policy development and implementation process monitors issues of interest to our members in the Legislature and U.S. Congress. In 2011, following a strong and sustained effort on the part of Farm Bureau, voters passed Initiative 31 to strengthen Mississippi’s private property laws. If you’d like to get involved with issues that matter, see the article about our Political Issue Committee (PIC) on page 7.

• Farm Families of Mississippi. I know you don’t ever want to depend on another country for your food. A strong

domestic agriculture is critical to a strong national security.

Each year, the Farm Families of Mississippi Ag Promotion Campaign takes agriculture’s message to media outlets SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

across the state. This successful campaign, spearheaded

by Farm Bureau, is changing perceptions and strengthening our ag industry so that we will always have a dependable food supply right here at home. If you’d like to learn more, visit www.farmfamilies.org or call (601) 977-4154.

When you join Farm Bureau, you gain access to these programs and more. If you are unfamiliar with our member benefits package, see the adjoining page and page 20 or visit our website at www.msfb.org.

Thanks for your interest in Farm Bureau. Tell your friends and neighbors to join. Together, we will continue to make a difference in the lives of our members and all Mississippians.

F AMISSISSIPPI R M FARM B UCOUNTRY REAU

3

Now Get the Home Field Advantage Presenting the exclusive Farm Bureau Wireless Discount

We’re partnering with Mississippi Farm Bureau to offer Home Team members a special 10% discount on SHARED Data+ plans. Share data among up to 10 devices and get unlimited nationwide talk and text, all for one low price. Buy only the amount of data you need, with no surprise overage charges.

Because Mississippi is where we call home, no one knows how to give you better coverage where you live and work.

Call 1.855.CSPIRE4 for details or visit cspire.com/msfb

2-year agreement required. All trademarks and service marks 4 MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY are the property of their respective owners. Š2013 C Spire. All rights reserved.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY Volume 89 Number 5 September/October 2013 Mississippi Farm Country (ISSN 1529-9600) magazine is published bimonthly by the Mississippi Farm Bureau® Federation.

Farm Bureau members receive this publication as part of their membership benefit. Periodicals postage is paid at Jackson, MS and at additional mailing offices.

Postmaster: Send address changes to P. O. Box 1972, Jackson, MS 39215 EDITORIAL and BUSINESS OFFICES 6311 Ridgewood Road Jackson, MS 39211 601-977-4153 EDITOR - Glynda Phillips ADVERTISING Angela Thompson 1-800-227-8244 ext. 4242 FARM BUREAU OFFICERS President – Randy Knight Vice President – Donald Gant Vice President – Ted Kendall Vice President – Reggie Magee Treasurer – Billy Davis Corporate Secretary – Ilene Sumrall FARM BUREAU DIRECTORS Carla Taylor, Booneville Lowell Hinton, Corinth Ronnie Jones, Holly Springs Chris Lively, Clarksdale Randle Wright, Vardaman Kelcey Shields, Mantachie Mike Langley, Houston Kenneth King, Ackerman Wanda Hill, Isola Jimmy Whitaker, Satartia Oliver Limerick, Shuqualak Vander Walley, Waynesboro David M. Boyd, Sandhill David C. Barton, Raymond Jeff Mullins, Meadville Mike McCormick, Union Church Lyle Hubbard, Mt. Olive Larry Jefcoat, Soso J. B. Brown, Perkinston Louis J. Breaux IV, Kiln Betty Mills, Winona Jon Koehler Bibb, Tunica

CONTENTS

Features

3 Making a Difference

Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, established by a handful of farmers nearly a century ago, today stands almost 200,000 members strong. We continue to honor the basic mission of those founding men and women.

Come with us as we learn more.

24 Solve the Mystery

Our mystery town in Tate County takes its name from a nearby river. In 1942, the town and its 700 residents moved one mile south of the original “Old Town” site. Read the clues and make your guess.

27 Farm Bureau Events

Farm Bureau volunteer leaders and staff have been busy this summer. See the photos on this page and scattered throughout the magazine. County Farm Bureau annual meetings are listed on page 32.

Departments 6 President’s Message 8 Commodity Update: Corn

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.

Design: Coopwood Communications, Inc. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

“Our mission is to create an environment in which Mississippi farmers, ranchers, and Farm Bureau members can have a better life and make a better living.”

9 Commodity Update: Cotton 20 Member Benefits Spotlight 28 Counsel’s Corner

About the cover Yalobusha County cotton grower Coley Bailey Jr. has been a Farm Bureau member since 1994 and a Farm Bureau volunteer leader for almost 20 years. He says he couldn’t do his job without Farm Bureau. If you are unfamiliar with all that Farm Bureau offers its members, see pages 2 and 3 and page 20 inside this issue.

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

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President’s Message Randy Knight, President Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation

A Tough Decision My family recently decided to close our Pelahatchie dairy. It was a tough decision to make. Dairying has been a way of life for the Knight family since 1932, when my grandfather first opened the dairy, back when the cows were milked by hand. My father, Lee, began operating it in the 1950s, and I came on board as soon as I was old enough to help.

Through the years, the dairy has meant a lot to all of us, but it has been my father’s pride and joy – with an emphasis on joy. But with his age (he is 80), my responsibilities as Farm Bureau president and all of the challenges within the dairy industry, we decided to shift our focus to other aspects of our farm. In addition to the dairy, we have beef cattle, stocker calves, timber and horses.

This is an emotional time for my family, and we covet your thoughts and prayers. And please remember all of the other Mississippi dairy farmers across the state making similar decisions right now. In June 2013, Mississippi had only 104 Grade A dairies and two dairy processing facilities remaining.

Catfish Industry Our farm-raised catfish industry is experiencing similar change.

From about 116,000 water acres of catfish ponds here in Mississippi in 2001, we are presently down to 48,600 water acres, primarily in the Delta and eastern counties. A number of factors have contributed to this, but one of the biggest reasons is foreign competition.

People are purchasing the cheaper imported fish, many times having no idea how or where the fish were grown, while we know without a doubt that U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish are raised in clean freshwater ponds and fed a quality high-protein feed. In my opinion, there really is no choice. Farm-raised catfish wins, hands down.

Keep our catfish growers in your prayers, too.

Supportive Delegation Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation volunteer leaders and staff continue to work with Farm Bill legislation as the process drags on for far longer than we anticipated. The Senate approved its version of the bill in early June, and the House finally passed a farm-only version in early July. The two chambers will now conference and come up with a final version, which will hopefully be approved by the Sept. 30 deadline. We will strive to see that this most important 6

piece of legislation is passed in a timely manner, and I will keep you updated on our progress.

In our work with the Farm Bill, we have enjoyed excellent support in both the Senate and House from members of our congressional delegation, including Sen. Thad Cochran, Sen. Roger Wicker, Congressman Gregg Harper, Congressman Alan Nunnelee and Congressman Steven Palazzo. I encourage you to thank these men when you get a chance. We are blessed to have them representing the interests of Mississippi agriculture in the halls of the U.S. Congress.

Harvest Time I can’t believe September is already here, and what a strange year it has been. Unusually wet and cool weather early in the year resulted in dramatic planting delays for most crops across the state and nation. Harvest efforts for many of these crops could continue into late fall.

When you are in the midst of harvesting, always a very stressful time of year, please remember to slow down and use caution.

Farming can be one of the most dangerous occupations on earth.

Be careful out there, and have a blessed and bountiful harvest season.

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

Donate to PIC When you donate to the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Balloted Measure Political Issue Committee (PIC), you assure that Farm Bureau’s voice will be heard on matters of concern to members. PIC funds are used to work toward the passage or defeat of the following: • Issues voted on by the state’s registered voters • Measures voted on by members of the state Legislature • National ballot issues and national issues in Washington, D.C. In recent years, PIC funds made it possible for Farm Bureau to conduct a very successful eminent domain reform cam-

New Way to Pay Farm Bureau Dues

paign. PIC funds have also helped us make a difference in these areas:

By Samantha Cawthorn Newman MFBF Public Policy Director

• Farm Bill • Country of Origin Labeling • Disaster Relief • Tort Reform • Right to Farm • Estate Taxes • Health Care

You can now pay your annual Farm Bureau membership dues and PIC contributions through electronic funds transfer. Simply sign up for the service, and these funds will be automatically drafted from your bank account each year.

For more information, visit our website at www.msfb.org or contact a county Farm Bureau office to obtain a form.

PIC funds cannot be contributed to candidates for political office.

Funds for the Political Issue Committee are collected through a voluntary contribution on annual county Farm Bureau dues statements. Please consider donating to PIC, even if it’s just a dollar. Working together, through PIC, we can truly make a difference.

For more information about PIC, contact the Public Policy Department at (601) 9774226.

PAPERLESS BILLING

NOW AVAILABLE!

In an effort to reduce your mail volume, paperless billing is now available for auto and homeowner’s insurance premiums. Paperless billing is an environmentally-friendly solution that also decreases the amount of mail to sort through. Besides, your mailbox could probably use a break.

Going paperless is simple: • Log on to www.msfbins.com • Click on the Paperless Billing icon g Paperless Billing *Mississippi Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Co. *Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co., Jackson, MS

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

MFBPPRLS5412

7

COMMODITY UPDATE: CORN Larry Killebrew - MFBF Corn, Wheat and Feed Grains Advisory Committee Chair Britton Hatcher - MFBF Commodity Coordinator for Corn, Wheat and Feed Grains

Corn is an Important Grain in America From the cars we drive to the foods we eat, corn is an integral grain in American life. It’s a basic food plant and by far one of the world’s most versatile grains. It’s a crop that continues to be grown in more and more acreage here in Mississippi, and this expansion can be realized by going back to 2005, when approximately 380,000 acres were planted in our state. In 2007, farmers planted roughly 930,000 acres. This year, planting intentions were over 1 million acres.

However, as luck would have it this year, those acres were never realized due to the wet spring we had. Frequent rains kept farmers out of the fields and pushed plantings further and further behind to a point where they began to shift acres they intended to plant in corn into other crops such as cotton and beans.

Given the significant challenges this spring, corn didn’t take off as it has in years past; however, that said, after the crop was planted, it really began to take shape, and with harvest looming, it will be interesting to see what sort of yields this crop has in store, given all of the hurdles it’s had to overcome.

Dr. Erick Larson, Mississippi State University Extension Grain Crops Specialist, said this crop is a later crop than normal and possibly two to three weeks behind last year’s crop. Weather conditions for last year’s crop, on the other hand, were quite the opposite. As you may remember, last year provided farmers with a warm, dry spring, allowing them to enter the fields much earlier.

On a national level, this growing season did not get off to a good start either. Hindered by cold, wet weather, growers were slow getting the crops in the ground, making it the slowest planting season since 1984. May weather conditions improved significantly, allowing corn growers to make great advances in planting. This break in the weather gave farmers an opportunity to not only overcome the dismal spring but also plant one of America’s largest corn crops on record at 97.4 million acres. This is up slightly from 2012, which realized 97.1 million planted acres, according to the acreage report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). This is the highest amount of corn acreage since 1936, when 102 million acres were planted, and it also marks the fifth year in a row of corn acreage increases in the United States.

By far, the U.S. is the largest producer of corn in the world, growing approximately 32 percent of the world’s corn crop. Corn is grown by over 400,000 U.S. farms, and we export about 20 percent of the corn produced by U.S. farmers. Corn is typically grown for either grain or silage production. Corn 8

Hatcher

Killebrew

grown for grain production accounts for almost one-quarter of the harvested crop acreage in this country, and corn grown for silage accounts for about two percent of the total harvested cropland.

According to the National Corn Growers Association, each American consumes roughly 25 pounds of corn annually. However, that said, about 80 percent of all the corn we grow here in the U.S. is consumed by domestic and overseas livestock, fish and poultry production. The crop is fed as ground grain, silage, and high-moisture and high-oil corn, while only about 12 percent of the U.S. corn crop ends up in foods that are either consumed directly (e.g. corn chips) or indirectly (e.g. highfructose corn syrup).

The end products in which corn is found are often far removed from the farmer’s field. From foods, beverages, snacks and livestock feed to industrial uses in adhesives, plastics, pharmaceuticals, textiles and fuel, the processing starts with the corn. As stated before, it’s a very useful grain and one that touches our lives every day in one way or another.

As the world’s population continues to grow, so will the demands for food and fuel. These demands will only continue to challenge farmers to produce more corn on less land with fewer resources.

Sources: National Corn Growers Association 2013 Report. N.p., 11 Feb. 2013. Web. <http://www.ncga.com/upload/files/documents/pdf/WOC%20 2013.pdf>.

U.S. USDA. Economic Research Service. Corn: Trade. N.p. Web. <http:// www.ers.usda.gov/topics/crops/corn/trade.aspx#.UWbCQ7UX-w5>.

U.S. EPA, AG 101, Major Crops Grown in the U.S. http://www.epa.gov/oecaagct/ag101/cropmajor.html U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. CORN ACREAGE UP FOR FIFTH STRAIGHT YEAR http://www.nass.usda.gov/Newsroom/2013/06_28_2013.asp

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

COMMODITY UPDATE: COTTON Rob Farmer – MFBF Cotton Advisory Committee Chair Justin Ferguson – MFBF Commodity Coordinator for Cotton

Global Opportunities Remain Strong Over the last 15 or 20 years, the cotton industry as a whole has experienced change in a number of areas. If you just look at the production systems of the industry alone, you recognize so many technological advancements.

Few people ever dreamed one day growers could plant cotton that would have built-in defenses to the bollworm and budworm or herbicide resistance to allow for more efficient weed control – all in the seed. This system has eliminated so many passes over the field with equipment and labor, all while increasing stewardship of the environment by reducing the amount of pesticides applied to the growing area.

Likewise, I think few growers imagined being able to buy a cotton picker that can harvest and build a module or round bale on the back of the picker, eliminating the need for numerous pieces of equipment and added labor in the field during harvest.

Just as these changes in production have occurred, so have changes occurred in world cotton trade. According to the USDA Economic Research Service, world cotton consumption has realized unprecedented growth since the start of the 21st century. Much of the gain in world mill consumption of cotton in recent years has occurred in China. China’s investment in spinning capacity has been substantial and enabled world cotton consumption to grow at extraordinary rates, even as mill consumption in former major textile centers declined.

This shift has had important ramifications for U.S. cotton production. Exports have come to play a more prominent role in the world cotton economy and, especially, in the United States. During the 1990s, U.S. domestic mill use accounted for about 60 percent of the U.S. crop. Now, exports account for more than 80 percent of the U.S. crop, and imports ac-

Farmer

Ferguson

count for 20 to 40 percent of China’s consumption.

As we all know, China and India now make up one-third of the world’s population. Particularly, China’s rapidly growing middle class has been the driving factor in this whole equation.

As China’s population continues to grow, several policy matters will have to be addressed. The Chinese government will have to decide whether or not production priorities shall be focused solely on feeding their population. In addition, as this population growth occurs, cropland will be taken out of production at the same time due to urban sprawl and for further industrial development. Therefore, food and fiber supply may become much more of a domestic policy issue for the Chinese than ever before, potentially creating a larger market for U.S. cotton.

We feel, with these policy issues facing countries like China and India, U.S. cotton will stand to gain greater market opportunities and be poised to do so.

Farm Bureau Day at the State Fair Join us at the Mississippi State Fair in Jackson on Oct. 8 for “Farm Bureau Day at the Fair.” Farm Bureau will be distributing educational material about agriculture and Farm Bureau all day at a booth near the petting zoo and pig races.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

Discount admission and parking tickets are available at your county Farm Bureau office – $2 off each admission ticket and $2 off parking.

Tickets will be available at any county Farm Bureau office after Sept. 16.

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

The Mississippi State Fair runs from Oct. 2 - 13, and these discounted tickets are good for the entire run. So pick a day and have a great time using your Farm Bureau discount!

9

“

I’ve always stressed to my family the importance of making sure that their voices are heard in the policy development process.”

By Glynda Phillips 10

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

A Membership in Farm Bureau is Part of My Job M I S S I S S I P P I FA R M E R S P O T L I G H T

Chickasaw County row crop farmer Jan Hill has been a member of Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) since the mid-1970s and an active volunteer leader since the 1990s. He considers his Farm Bureau membership to be an important part of his job.

“I’ve always stressed to my family the importance of making sure that their voices are heard in the policy development process,” he said. “Farm Bureau has a strong and effective grassroots policy development and implementation process, so when Farm Bureau has asked, I’ve always tried to do what I could do to help. I make the time.”

Jan says he doesn’t think farmers today could do their jobs without Farm Bureau.

“Now, with political and environmental issues like they are, it is just too complicated to farm without a strong group helping us with the different issues that affect our lives and livelihood,” he said. “We also need to be able to get our message out, and Farm Bureau helps with that, too, through programs like Farm Families of Mississippi and Ag in the Classroom. It is so important that we teach people to appreciate agriculture.”

Jan says Farm Bureau has opened a lot of doors for him through the years, connecting him with people who have helped him with what he does on his farm. He says he’s also made many close friendships.

He encourages all Mississippi farmers, especially young farmers, to become active members.

“Farm Bureau is such an important part of our family farming operation here in the hills of Chickasaw County,” he said. “I can’t imagine trying to do what I do each year without it.”

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

Jan grows soybeans, corn and cotton on his farm near Woodland. He also helps with his son Jason’s large soybean operation.

Since this issue of our Ag Mag children’s newsletter (located in the center of the magazine) focuses on corn, we will take a look at Jan’s corn operation.

Growing Corn This year presented corn growers in most areas of the state with weather challenges. In the past, Jan has planted twice the number of acres of corn he planted in 2013, but with the weather so rainy and cool for so long, he struggled to get just 300 acres in the ground. It was also planted later than the normal planting date, which is early March.

“We finished in late April,” he said.

“But most of the corn looks real good.”

Jan’s corn goes to a private hog operation in Maben and to a grain elevator.

“Most of the corn grown in Mississippi is sold to the poultry industry, even if it goes through an elevator first. Prestage Farms also uses Mississippi corn to feed hogs,” he said. “Years ago, cattle consumed our state’s corn crop, but that isn’t the case today.”

Jan says one of the biggest issues in the corn industry today is aflatoxin, which is caused by mold fungi. If a crop tests positive for too much aflatoxin, it is turned away by grain elevators to keep it out of the food chain. Hot, dry growing conditions and humidity in the South contribute to aflatoxin, which costs U.S. growers millions of dollars each year.

“A lot of our checkoff funds go into aflatoxin research,” Jan said. “We have looked at different areas that can help prevent this problem, including better, MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

stronger corn varieties, insect control, cultural practices and biological controls.

We have some products on the market that show promise, but they don’t get us where we need to be. But I think we will solve the problem eventually… and it tends to be a Southern problem.”

Weed control is another issue for corn growers.

“That’s always a problem,” he said.

“But we have come a long way with weed control.”

Labor is a third challenge.

“We can find people willing to work, but young people today don’t have farming experience,” Jan said. “People have grown so far away from farming that they don’t know what to do on a farm, and that makes it difficult.”

Volunteer Leader In his volunteer work with Farm Bureau, Jan has served as a county president and a state director. He is a past chair of the MFBF Corn Advisory Committee and a past member of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Corn Advisory Committee. He has served on both the MFBF and AFBF Wheat Advisory committees.

Jan’s son, Jason, just stepped down from a term as chair of the MFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers State Committee.

Jan’s wife, Judy, and Jason’s wife, Kelley, are involved with the county Farm Bureau women’s committee.

Jan also sits on the Mississippi Land Bank Board of Directors and the Mississippi Corn Promotion Board. He has been cited by our state’s agricultural industry for his work in production agriculture.

11

U.S. Freshwater Prawns

F

By Glynda Phillips Freshwater prawns are a healthy, delicious food grown right here in Mississippi. Each year, Dolores and Steve Fratesi produce about 14 acres of prawns on their Lauren Farms in Leland. Dolores says they have mastered a “full circle” in the production process: from hatching, stocking and feeding to harvesting and marketing.

“One of the beauties of growing freshwater prawns is the probiotic or feed conversion aspect,” Dolores said. “Prawns eat the natural productivity of ponds, stimulated by an organic fertilization practice that uses such commercially available products as corn gluten pellets, range cubes and alfalfa pellets. We only feed one to one and one-half tons of feed per acre over the entire growing season. No chemicals are used. Another plus is that freshwater prawns are a non-invasive species.”

The Fratesis were thrilled when U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish and U.S. Freshwater Prawns received the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s “Best Choice” designation. Environ-

12

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

mentally conscious, the group appreciates the all-natural, best-management practices aspect of U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish and U.S. Freshwater Prawn production.

Marketing Prawns Steve and Dolores sell fresh and individually quick-frozen freshwater prawns in a variety of sizes, with an emphasis on the jumbo size. They take orders over the phone and have an Internet business. They also sell at farmers markets across the state, including the Mississippi Farmers Market in Jackson and the Livingston Farmers Market in Madison. Fresh prawns are sold “pond-bank” style annually on the farm on the last two Saturdays in September.

“I like to meet the people we sell to, and I know our customers like to meet us,” Dolores said. “Seeing their smiles, hearing their recipes and hearing about their families makes it so personal.”

Dolores speaks to various organizations and has a weekly cooking show on WABGTV in Greenville. In addition, she and her daughter, Anne-Lauren, regularly attend the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Show in Monterey, California. The Fratesis are also listed on Mississippi State University’s Mississippi MarketMaker internet marketing service.

A member of the lobster family, the freshwater prawn is high in protein and low in iodine, sodium and fat. It also has fewer calories than other species of shrimp.

Steve and Dolores Fratesi encourage you to make a point of eating healthy, sustainable, locally grown U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish and U.S. Freshwater Prawns. See the freshwater prawn recipes on page 14, compliments of Lauren Farms.

Dolores cooks a prawn dish at the Mississippi Farmers Market in Jackson.

More Information For more information, contact Steve and Dolores Fratesi at Lauren Farms, 655 Napanee Road, Leland, MS 38756 or (662) 390-3528.

You may also visit their website at www.laurenfarms.com.

Steve and Dolores are founders of the U.S. Freshwater Prawn and Shrimp Growers Association and are longtime members of the Washington County Farm Bureau.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

13

Prawns & Grits Casserole 4 cups chicken broth ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup regular grits (look for locally stone-ground grits) 1 cup (4 oz.) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, divided 1 cup (4 oz.) shredded Monterey Jack cheese with peppers 2 tablespoons butter or margarine 6 green onions, chopped 1 green bell pepper, chopped 1 garlic clove, minced 1 lb. U. S. Farm-Raised Freshwater Prawns, peeled 1 (10 oz.) can diced tomatoes and green chilies, drained ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper

Bring four cups chicken broth and ½ teaspoon salt to a boil in a large saucepan. Stir in grits. Cook until thickened according to package directions. Stir together grits, ¾ cup Cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat; add green onions, bell pepper and garlic and sauté five minutes or until tender. Stir together green onion mixture, grits mixture, prawns and next three ingredients. Pour into a lightly greased two-quart baking dish. Sprinkle top with remaining ¼ cup shredded Cheddar cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until hot.

Lauren Farms Prawn Stir-Fry 1 lb. freshwater prawn tails, shelled 3 tablespoons vegetable oil or olive oil Kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper ¾ cup chicken broth 2 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon cornstarch ½ teaspoon sugar 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 (16-oz.) bag frozen stir-fry vegetables, thawed and drained

Season prawns with salt and pepper to taste. In a wok or large skillet, heat one tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat. Add prawns and stir-fry for three to four minutes or until prawns are just cooked. Do not overcook! Transfer prawns to a plate.

In a small bowl, mix the broth, soy sauce, cornstarch and sugar. Set aside.

Add remaining oil to wok. Add the ginger and garlic and sauté for one to two minutes. Add the stir-fry vegetables and cook, stirring until crisp-tender. Add the sauce to the pan and stir until thickened, about two minutes. Return the prawns to the pan and toss to coat. Serve with rice or noodles.

14

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

Would like to thank the following major sponsors for their support of the 2013 campaign.

Without them these efforts would not be possible.

FOUNDATION SPONSOR Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation

®

PLATINUM BENEFACTORS Mississippi Cattlemen’s Assn.

Mississippi Corn Promotion Board Mississippi Rice Promotion Board

Mississippi Soybean Promotion Board Mississippi State Support Unit of Cotton Inc. Sanderson Farms

GOLD BENEFACTORS BASF Case IH DuPont Crop Protection

Eat Jackson Jimmy Sanders Inc. John Deere Mississippi Land Bank, FLCA

Mississippi Poultry Assn.

Monsanto Company Pioneer Hybrid

SILVER BENEFACTORS Dulaney Seed Arant Acres First South Farm Credit Archer Daniels Midland and Co. Helena Chemical Catfish Farmers of Mississippi Crop Production Services (CPS) Jeff Davis County Farm Bureau Delta Farm Press-Penton Media Lincoln County Farm Bureau Dow Agrosciences MS Agricultural Aviation Assn.

MS Peanut Growers Assn.

MS Peanut Promotion Board Producers Rice Mill, Inc. Table 100 The Catfish Institute Terral Seed

BRONZE BENEFACTORS Amite County Farm Bureau Buck Island Seed Bunge North America Danny R. Holland & Company, Inc. Dairy Farmers of America Delta Ag Expo Delta Oil Mill DeSoto County Farm Bureau Farmers Grain Terminal, Inc. GreenPoint Ag Milburn Growers Mississippi Agricultural Consultants Assn.

Mississippi Agricultural Industry Council Mississippi Department of Agriculture & Commerce Mississippi Pork Producers Assn.

Mississippi Seedmen’s Assn.

Mississippi Sweet Potato Council Neshoba County Farm Bueau RiceTec Seed Southeast Mississippi Livestock Staplcotn TJ Beall Company, Inc. The Scoular Company Winfield Solutions

FARM COUNTRY For more information about this effortMISSISSIPPI or to contribute, visit www.growingmississippi.org or15 contact Greg Gibson at 1.800.227.8244 ext. 4242 or ggibson@msfb.org

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

A Whole Lot

of Berries

By Glynda Phillips

H

Hays Berry Farms in Dumas is the largest commercial blackberry operation in Mississippi and one of the few of its kind in the South. Here you will find 7,000 blackberry bushes, or eight miles of trellised plants, that supply 39 restaurants in Memphis and 19 farmers markets in Memphis, Hernando and the Booneville area. Hays Berry Farms offers a U-pick opportunity for interested customers, and the farm will pick berries for you if you call ahead and place an order. The farm also supplies Sugaree Bakery in New Albany.

As impressive as it is today, you would never guess that Hays Berry Farms came about almost accidentally.

16

Some History “I was working in construction full-time in 2000 when I planted six blackberry bushes for my family to enjoy,” owner Robert Hays said. “My neighbors saw the bushes and asked if they could pick some berries, too. After that, I began adding bushes each year, and in 2004, I decided to turn this into a business. That’s when we got into it in a serious way.”

Robert says he can’t keep up with the demand.

At the time of his interview in May, he already had orders for 36,000 gallons of blackberries. He said if the weather cooperated this summer he would harvest about 12,000 gallons.

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

The growing season for blackberries generally stretches from May through August, but in a good year, it can go until November. One year, Robert stopped picking blackberries on Thanksgiving Day.

Not for Faint of Heart Growing blackberries is not for the faint of heart.

“It costs about $14,000 per acre to get started with this,” Robert said. “Seven years will pass before you will break even with your investment. Blackberries are labor intensive and demand a lot of your time. My family and I work year round, picking, pruning, setting out new plants and tying up vines.

“This is primarily a family operation, with my wife and two sons helping me. But I do hire people seasonally to help pick.

I am hoping to hire one or two full-time workers after this year because it is so time consuming. It takes my oldest son four and one-half days just to cut the grass and weed-eat around the bushes.”

Hays Berry Farms grows eight varieties of blackberries, including Navaho, Arapaho, Ouachita, Natchez and Apache (all introduced by the University of Arkansas) as well as Black Satin, Triple Crown and Osage. All of the bushes are thornless and disease resistant.

Robert says his berries are grown without fertilizer or pesticides. He uses hay and pine straw for bedding, and he plants flowers, like alyssum, to draw beneficial insects and birds, like praying mantis, lady bugs and hummingbirds, to rid his plants of insects naturally. He also works with insect and disease experts at Mississippi State University (MSU) to make sure he is up to date on the very latest production methods.

“I had some experts from MSU out here just the other day,” he said. “They said they were impressed with how the plants looked and how little insect and disease damage they had sustained.”

Marketing Berries Robert says he doesn’t pick his berries SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

half ripe like some farms that ship them cross-country to grocery stores.

“Mine are ripe when picked, and they are sweeter.”

Robert stores his berries in a cool shed until they can be transported via truck to where they need to be. He has access to an air-conditioned trailer he borrows when necessary. He says you can keep berries about two weeks if they are refrigerated.

Future plans for the farm include adding agritourism elements like a zipline, hiking trails, picnic tables and a canteen. Robert says he has many potential customers for this aspect of the operation just from the many area universities and community colleges. He intends to offer his facilities for parties, reunions, retreats and other special occasions. He has cut hardwood and planted pecan trees for shade and for nuts to sell.

“If I am successful in getting investors, then I will be able to do all of this sooner,” he said. “If not, it will take me one more year of raising blackberries before I can get it all going.”

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

One other venture that’s in the works for Hays Berry Farms is a possible appearance on a California-based reality television show for small farmers and ranchers. The people connected with the show called, and Robert passed the preliminary tests.

Stay tuned.

More Information Robert Hays grew up in Cary and moved to Dumas after purchasing land there with plans to eventually retire in the area.

“All I wanted was five or 10 acres,” he said with a grin. “I ended up with 65 acres and a thriving blackberry operation. I am very happy.”

Robert consults for 15 beginning blackberry growers and welcomes opportunities to lecture about growing and marketing blackberries.

For more information, visit his website at www.haysberryfarms.com or call Robert at (662) 538-2899. You may email him at Robert@haysberryfarms.com.

17

Support Local Farmers 18

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

By Glynda Phillips

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

A

U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish

As Louis Thompson unloads a tankful of bass fingerlings at Thompson Fisheries near Tchula on a hot and humid morning in June, it is clear that he is in his element. It is hard to visualize him doing anything else for a living ... nor would he want to.

Louis has worked in our state’s aquaculture industry his whole life. It could even be said that it is in his genes.

His father was among the state’s first farm-raised catfish growers, along with his friend Skinner Anderson.

“In the 1950s, my father decided to clear this land for row crops,” Louis said. “He eventually dug a few ponds, and those fish ponds, in time, evolved into our farm-raised catfish operation.

“In the beginning, my father tried buffalo fish and bass before settling on channel catfish. Catfish are more easily domesticated,” he said. “He split his big ponds into smaller ponds and began raising them for the new and growing market. He also decided to begin a hatchery as the industry continued to grow.

“Back in those growing years, our industry had its ups and downs and growing pains along the way, but we always managed to persevere until around the year 2000, when grain prices started going up and foreign fish started coming in,” he said. “At that point, farmers began to get out of it, and the industry began to shrink.”

Additional reasons for the decline in domestic production of farm-raised catfish include a recessive economy and rising costs of fuel, utilities and other inputs.

“Last year was the last year we had our catfish hatchery here on the farm,” Louis said.

At its largest, Thompson Fisheries

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

boasted 500 to 600 water acres of farmraised catfish ponds. Today, it is down to around 100 water acres.

Support Local Farmers Louis says he will continue working within the aquaculture industry even as he begins to get out of commercial farmraised catfish production.

“

I hope consumers will ask where the fish they purchase were grown and insist on buying only U.S. FarmRaised Catfish.”

“In the 1980s, in addition to catfish, we dabbled in grass carp, which eat vegetation in both catfish and recreational ponds. We have been doing that ever since,” he said. “Now, I am raising catfish, bass, bream, grass carp and other fish to stock recreational ponds. I sell to distributors who consult with landowners about their ponds. If you look down from an airplane as it crosses the state, you will see thousands of little ponds, especially in the hills.

“I am phasing out of farm-raised MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

catfish, but I continue to support organizations like Catfish Farmers of Mississippi, Catfish Farmers of America, The Catfish Institute and the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Aquaculture Advisory Committee. Farm-raised catfish is my first love, and I just wish we could help the industry recover.

“Growing catfish has made a good life for me,” he added. “It saddens me that something that has been so good for the state of Mississippi and this region is struggling. The industry has brought in a consultant to review where we are and where we may be going. We will see how that goes.”

In recent years, catfish growers also worked hard to get a Country of Origin Labeling law passed so that consumers who purchase fish in a grocery store or restaurant will know where it was grown.

Louis hopes the industry will begin to grow again. If that doesn’t happen, Louis hopes the farmers who are left will prosper.

“I hope consumers will ask where the fish they purchase were grown and insist on buying only U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish,” he said. “I hope consumers will support local farmers. All of these reports in the press about imported fish tainted with chemicals should make people stop and think.

“You get what you pay for.”

Roger Barlow, president of The Catfish Institute and executive vice president of the Catfish Farmers of America, says Louis Thompson, is a true icon, representing the very best in giving of his time and support to the industry.

19

MEMBER BENEFITS SPOTLIGHT MEMBER BENEFITS SPOTLIGHT

It CAN Happen to You; ID Theft Credit It Happened to Me

AGMagAd7/13_Layout 1 7/10/13 2:49 PM Page 1

g a M g A CORN

Restoration Assistance

By Greg Gibson, MFBF Member Services Director

ByOne Greg MFBF Member Servicesfeelings Director of Gibson, the most helpless and disconcerting I’ve Our evernewest experienced happened to me this past April.

It partnership to help Farm Bureau members is with a comAn agricultural newsletter for kids from was a Friday about 5:30provide p.m., after a long week pany called afternoon ID Experts.

They a service that most people will Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation at work, and but I wasif preparing for a it, you will thank never need, you do need nice quiet home when your luckyweekend stars thatatyou have it available to you. theID phone was actheftrang. is oneIt of themy fastest-growing crimes in the countant,And whowhen said that he hadsteals just been country. someone yourcontacted identity, it by the IRSyears abouttomy IRS claimed can take fixtaxallreturn. of theThe problems this can that a you. return had already been filed using my cause daughter’s number.

My daughter ID theftsocial takes security many forms.

Someone could steal your credit card numis still in college, andcard I still claimname her on myyou taxdon’t know about. Then they ber or set up a credit in your that return.charge She had not filed of a tax return. could thousands dollars to that credit card and the card company Apparently, had obtained my daughter’s name, address thinks it’s you someone who owes them money. and social security number and filed a return in her security name, trying to get Or how about this?

Someone gets your social number and files an IRS return in your money fromsteals the government. name and your refund. It could be several months before you even discover that it happened.

Needless to doctor say, myinquiet weekendhad washer ruined.

How did this Or this? A Los Angeles identity stolen by ahappen? sophisticated international crime What did Iset need do?inThe part was I didn’t even know ring that up to shop herhelpless name and was bilking Medicare outwhere of hundreds of thousands of doltolars. start.

The government then came knocking at her door wanting the money back.

For these reasons and many more, Farm Bureau felt the need to help our members who have been victims these types of crimes. This new Member Benefits program will help any Farm Program to of the Rescue Bureau memberFarm whoBureau has been victimized by identity theft get benefit their credit restored to pre-theft staFortunately, had just launched a new member tus.allAnd theBureau best part of this that program thatidentity it doesn’t cost thenew member a penny! for Farm members deals is with theft.

Our ThisTheft free Identity Theft Credit Restoration Programthrough is nowID availIdentity Credit Restoration program, administered able andiswill work with you to fixyour all the problems that come Experts, designed to help restore credit to pre-theft statuswith and ID is theft. more this program, check out our Web site free to For use for all information Farm Bureauon members.

I received my refund within three weeks. That let us know that the IRS at Iwww.msfb.org or call Member Benefits Coordinator Dedra Luke called the hotline number and explained what had happened.

The at was satisfied we were the victim and the other return had been denied.

601-977-4169.

Farm Bureau representative took all my information and said that someAfter approximately six weeks from the initial discovery of the ID one from ID Experts would contact me within one business day. That theft, it appears that everything is under control. ID Experts has said that was about 7 p.m. on Friday night, which meant it would be sometime we can expect more attempts to open fraudulent accounts after the initial Monday when I should expect a call.

90-day period has ended. The crooks will want to see if we extended the Sure enough, just before lunch on Monday, I received a call from the fraud alert to seven years. When they are continually denied, ID Experts intake specialist at ID Experts. She patiently listened to everything that believes that the attempts will stop. I hope they are correct. had happened and emailed me a set of documents and instructions to get the process started.There were several things that I had to provide first, The highly successful Farm Families of Mississippi ag image camincluding a police report and a couple of notarized documents, one of Peace of Mind paign began its fourth year on the air in late February. This statewide efwhich was a limited power of attorney allowing ID Experts to work on The overriding point to this whole story is that, even if I had done fort to educate the public about the importance of agriculture will be exmy/my daughter’s behalf. all the things myself that ID Experts did on my daughter’s behalf, there panding its reach once again this year. The newest TV market will be After all of the paperwork was signed, ID Experts went to work. We would still have been doubts about whether I was doing everything that Hattiesburg, which will join with the established markets in Jackson, were assigned our case worker, and she is the only person we talked with needed to be done. The confidence of knowing that the leaders in the ID Biloxi, Greenville, Tupelo and the Mississippi Public Broadcasting Netfrom then on. That’s one great thing about the way ID Experts handles theft credit restoration industry were working for me made this whole work. theseFarm cases.Families You don’t have to re-explain your situation to a new person experience bearable. Frustrating…..but bearable. of Mississippi has also entered into a partnership every time you contact them.

You can know that, too! This ID Theft Credit Restoration benefit is with Eat Jackson, a leader in food media and culinary events production, first document that had to beorganization filed was a form to the alertprovided to all Farm Bureau members FREE OF CHARGE. It’s covered to The be the presenting sponsor of that for 2013.

EatIRS Jackson’s ing them that a fraudulent had marketing been filed. Then the three credit in your membership dues. If you were to purchase a similar program founder, Andy Chapman,return said this partnership with Farm bureaus were alerted to put a 90-day temporary fraud alert on my individually, you would pay anywhere from $70 to $100 per year, but Families of Mississippi demonstrates a shared commitment to the growth daughter’s credit reports.and This ensures that if someonefor tries open iman Farm Bureau pays your premium for you and provides it to you for free. of our state’s economy makes a strong statement theto mutual account daughter’s name, the company contact her directly You don’t have to sign up or register for it in advance. It’s there if you portanceinofmy agriculture and the culinary arts to must our state’s long-term suctocess. make sure she is the one trying to open the account. There have been need it. We hope you don’t – but you’ll really appreciate it if you do! two attempts to farmers open such accounts andevery both have thwarted the “We know work tirelessly day tobeen make the foodbythey procedures been set in place.

Your membership in Farm Bureau is packed with value. Through all grow betterthat andhave more affordable,” said Daryl Burney, who chairs the A seven-year alert has now been “That’s placed on my credit of the money-saving programs offered by Farm Bureau, members saved Farm Families offraud Mississippi Committee. why wedaughter’s are so excited reports replacing 90-day temporary This will the protecover $900,000 in 2012. For a complete list of all the member benefits to tell our stories,the answer questions and alert. demonstrate ourextend commitment to tion that shehealthy has against someone opening an partnership account in her available to you, visit our website at www.msfb.org or call Member providing choices for everyone.

This withname.

Eat Jackrequired me to re-file my tax return by mail, and incredibly, Benefits Coordinator Dedra Luke at (601) 977-4169. sonThe willIRS help us do that.”

To learn more about Eat Jackson, visit www.EatJackson.com 20 MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER or www.EatYall.com. ®

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MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

MARCH/APRIL

GROWING MISSISSIPPI Mississippi soybeans play an important role in Mississippi’s number one industry - agriculture. In 2012, Mississippi soybean farmers produced more than 72 million bushels of soybeans that will provide food, feed, fuel and more.

The Mississippi soybean industry grew from being the state’s third ranking commodity in 2011 to being ranked the second largest commodity in 2012.

As Mississippi farmers, we take care in growing healthy food while preserving the land we use to produce it.

The farmer-led Mississippi Soybean Promotion Board (MSPB) thanks all those that help to speak out about the importance of agriculture to our nation, our state, our local communities and our families. MSPB proudly sponsors

Farm Families of Mississippi as they provide consumers with information about food production in Mississippi.

And soybean farmers nationwide also help answer consumer questions about food and farming through a program called CommonGround. To learn more, visit www.growingmississippi.org or www.findourcommonground.com.

Sincerely,

Jan de Regt – Chairman Mississippi Soybean Promotion Board

FROM THE...toFIELD your fork.

Meet the farmers who grow your food and get the answers to your food questions at

FindOurCommonGround.com

Brought to you by America’s soybean and corn farmers and their checkoffs.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

21

T

By Glynda Phillips

22

Alison’s MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

T

Through the years, Alison’s in downtown Belzoni has become a Delta tradition.

Owned and operated for over a decade

by Alison and Jerry Wade, the restaurant has drawn patrons from Humphreys and surrounding counties and even enjoyed customers from as far away as Jackson.

Recently, Alison’s was passed down to the Wades’ son, Anthony, who is excited about taking the reins. In keeping with his parents’ vision, he says he intends to take the restaurant in a new direction.

U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish Alison’s has always served a variety of foods, but catfish is its main claim to fame. The restaurant cooks about a case (15 pounds) of U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish a week or about 60 pounds a month. It is supplied by Heartland Catfish and Freshwater Farms.

“We sell fried catfish fillets, but I also do a John Grisham pan-sautéed catfish with a lemon cream sauce,” Anthony said. “We got the idea for a dish like this from Chef John Currence at City Grocery and Bouré in Oxford, but it is our own special version.

It is delicious.”

Other items on the menu now include seafood pasta, quail in a red wine reduction and speckled trout in a white cream sauce, to name a few. Anthony has seafood flown in fresh from New Orleans.

Among the desserts are a sweet potato crème brûlée and a chocolate chess pie. Anthony says his mama makes the chess pie, and it is one of the best he has ever tasted.

Long History Anthony’s family has enjoyed a long history in the restaurant business. Besides his parents, his paternal grandparents, Buckwheat and Sofia Wade, owned and operated three Delta restaurants, Buckwheat’s, Sofia’s Steakhouse and the renowned Twingates. His uncle, a chef, has two restaurants in San Francisco, where Anthony worked for a time before returning to Belzoni.

“I loved working and living there, as well as on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, but SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

the Delta is my home,” he said. “It is where I grew up. My wife, Lindsay, and I are happy to be back.”

Anthony’s maternal grandmother, Adelaide Coleman, is an excellent cook, who grew farm-raised catfish in the Delta in the early 1970s and 1980s.

Catering In addition to the restaurant, Anthony caters special events, such as parties and wedding receptions. The building that houses Alison’s boasts an annex for overMISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

flow and catering purposes.

Anthony says he hopes he can grow both the restaurant and the catering business, but he is satisfied with the volume of work he does now and with the restaurant being open three days a week, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. He invites you to visit Alison’s, located at 107 East Jackson Street.

For more information, you can call Anthony at (662) 247-4487 or (601) 8136437.

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The historic United Methodist church

24

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

Solve the

?

Mystery

North Mississippi Grain Elevator

Our mystery town was founded in 1856 as a small village called Elm Grove. When the town was incorporated in 1872, it took the name of a nearby river.

This town was once a part of DeSoto County before boundary lines were moved and a new county, Tate County, was formed.

Read the clues and make your guess.

Our mystery town grew up along the Mississippi-Tennessee Railroad. The railroad contributed economically, employing local people and picking up grain and other agricultural products to be shipped around the country. The railroad still runs through town, but the depot is now closed.

This town has historically depended upon the economic contribution of row crops. Cotton was once big here, but the gin is closed and soybeans and corn are now the preferred crops of area farmers. The town is home to North Mississippi Grain Elevator.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

25

The historic Todd House

In the 1930s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began planning Arkabutla Dam, which when completed, impounding Arkabutla Lake, would have flooded our mystery town. In 1942, the U. S. government moved the town and its 700 residents one mile south to get away from floodwater. A town monument states that, as of May 1999, the lake had reached flood level six times, and parts of “Old Town” remain underwater year round.

In 1999, our mystery town boasted 1,500 residents and was three square miles in size. The town has schools, a public library, doctor’s offices, a bank and other businesses. It has an attractive downtown square with two pavilions, where programs are held on special occasions.

Our mystery town is located near the cities of Memphis, Hernando, Senatobia and Holly Springs. It also has access to abundant outdoor recreational opportunities, including rivers and lakes.

26

This town is home to Homestead Farms Greenhouse and Nursery, which does landscape work and sells plants wholesale in Memphis and the surrounding area. It is home to the Trade Days campground, which draws people from the surrounding area and other states, offering flea market items and antiques. The Lamp Shade is a famous local business.

Our mystery town boasts historic homes, including the Todd House.

Famous folks from here include Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Dumas Malone; actress Dorris Bowdon; and Olympic track and field runner Trell Kimmons. U.S. Representative Thomas Webber Wilson, 19231929, was also from our mystery town.

Name this town.

Correct Guesses Mail guesses to Solve the Mystery, Mississippi Farm Country, P. O. Box 1972, Jackson, MS 39215. You may also email MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

your guesses to FarmCountry@MSFB.org.

Please remember to include your name and address on the entry.

Visit our Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation website at www.msfb.org.

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 September 30.

July/August The correct answer for the July/August Solve the Mystery is Coffeeville.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

Ag in the Classroom Workshops Teachers from across the state participated in Ag in the Classroom workshops held this summer in Hernando, Jackson and Hattiesburg.

The workshops, which are coordinated by the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Women’s Program, give teachers ideas about how they can incorporate agriculture into their classroom activities. Lectures and hands-on activities were presented by State Women’s Committee members and others. A special thanks to Nancy Strickland and Nelda Starks with the Mississippi Cattlewomen’s Association and Sandy Havard and Lise Foy with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Museum in Jackson. Participants also received first aid safety tips from Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Safety Specialists John Hubbard, Trey Pope and Chris Shivers. Pictured are Region 4 Women’s Chair Jody Bailey and State Women’s Chair Betty Mills demonstrating the mobile cotton gin.

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27

COUNSEL’S CORNER

T

Things You Don’t Forget

By Sam E. Scott, MFBF General Counsel

All of us have them – some are good and some are bad.

Some are epiphanies, some are disasters or near disasters, some are windfalls or unexpected blessings. Often, we learn important lessons from them, but sometimes, we don’t. At times, it may be like the opening line from “A Tale of Two Cities:” “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times…”

When I was growing up, there were two things that everyone in that little north corner of the Delta remembered: the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and the Great Depression. My parents grew up in the hills of Webster County, so they were not flooded, but they married in 1933 and never got over the Depression.

In 1934, they both taught school and were paid $50 per month each, but the state was insolvent, and they were paid in state warrants, which were just government I.O.U.s. The local bank would cash them at a 33 1/3 percent discount, leaving them $66.66 for both their month’s work. Typical of their attitudes, they were glad to get it and said it didn’t bother them to have nothing because nobody else did, and they didn’t have to stand in a bread line as so many did. Also, they had each other for 62 years.

During World War I, American farmers were constantly pushed to increase production, and the government guaranteed high prices and large purchases from other countries affected by the war. Farmers were encouraged and bought new and expensive equipment and more land and incurred large debts.

In 1919, the bottom dropped out after the end of the war, and an agricultural depression came about. Prices and demand were so low that crops sat unsold. Products and foods rotted in storage, while people starved in the cities. Things were bad in the 1920s but got far worse in the 1930s, when national unemployment exceeded 20 percent and, in some areas, reached 50 percent. If you lived through it, how could you forget it?

My grandfather was a country lawyer. Having a large, growing family and clients who were totally dependent upon farming, he couldn’t make a living practicing law, so he had to leave and take other jobs to feed his family. But like so many others, they persevered but never forgot moving around and making the best of it.

During the 1930s, farmers by the thousands lost their land.

The Federal Land Bank owned millions of acres through foreclosure, and it took 20 years or more to sell it back to farmers.

The plight of those millions who were dispossessed is sadly told in John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath,” and it still is a chilling and poignant story 80 years later. The book describes the journey of multitudes who were looking for any kind of home or

28

work but found mostly resentment or hatred. In the meantime, big-money interests bought up foreclosed farms for pennies on the dollar, and Steinbeck described that process in California, but it was not unique there: “And it came about that the owners no longer worked on their farms. They farmed on paper; and they forgot the land, the smell, the feel of it, and remembered only that they owned it, remembered only what they gained and lost by it. And some of the farms grew so large that one man could not even conceive of them anymore, so large that it took batteries of bookkeepers to keep track of interest and gain and loss; chemists to test the soil, to replenish; straw bosses to see that the stooping men were moving along the rows as swiftly as the material of their bodies could stand.”

We must never forget what farming and agriculture mean to this country and the world. Americans spend less of their income on food than any other developed country. Every time Congress considers a farm bill, we hear complaints about subsidizing rich farmers. I grew up on a farm and have been connected with land and farming for all my life and do not remember ever meeting many rich people who made their fortunes farming.

Why shouldn’t our government promote and protect agriculture? It does support or subsidize many causes and people worldwide that not only don’t feed and clothe us, but don’t do anything for us and never have. The same is true here for subsidies. Is agriculture less deserving than Amtrak?

Mechanization and world wars depopulated our nation’s farms but did not diminish the work ethic and strongly held family values that I have observed for more than 50 years. Yet, economically, most still struggle, and if one compares the prices of commodities 50+ years ago with those of today and then factors in the cost of land and equipment, it does not take rocket science to understand. We can only hope that Congress understands and acts accordingly.

Most farmers I know and have known are optimistic and brave when times are tough. My dad taught that no matter how bad something is or seems to be, good can and usually does come out of it if you have the right attitude and faith.

That I never forgot.

Sam E. Scott is general counsel for Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation and practices law in the Law Firm of Samuel E. Scott, PLLC, in Jackson. The foregoing information is general in nature and is not intended as nor should be considered specific legal advice, nor to be considered as MFBF’s position or opinion.

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

New Ag Exhibit Ribbon-Cutting

Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation President Randy Knight, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Cindy Hyde-Smith and members of Farm Families of Mississippi participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to showcase a new agricultural exhibit on display in the Heritage Center at the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Museum in Jackson. The exhibit, made possible by the Farm Families of Mississippi, showcases the importance and contributions of Mississippi agriculture. It features information about Mississippi’s farmers, farmland and agricultural commodities as well as interactive activities, including two iPads with information and educational videos about Mississippi agriculture and a kiosk with an interactive game called “My American Farm” that teaches people about agriculture in America.

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2013 Gary Langley Memorial Clay Shoot

By Kirsten Johnson MFBF YF&R Coordinator

On June 22, the Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) State Committee hosted the Gary Langley Memorial Clay Shoot at Kearney Park Farms in Flora. This yearly event is held in memory of Gary Langley, a previous YF&R State Committee member who lost his life in a tragic tractor accident. All of the proceeds from the event are donated to the YF&R Scholarship Foundation.

This year, even though the temperature was very hot, the event enjoyed a great turnout. Sixteen four-man teams competed for a variety of prizes. The course consists of 100 shots at 15 different

First-place team members – Simpson County 4-H, sponsored by Simpson County Farm Bureau –Todd Dupre’, John Dupre’, Rob Holbrook and Todd Dupre’ Jr

stations, creating a challenging and fun course.

The committee would like to thank all of the sponsors, donors and participants for making the event a success. Committee members would also like to extend a very special thank you to Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation President Randy Knight, North MS Vice President Donald Gant, Central MS Vice President Ted Kendall IV and South MS Vice President Reggie Magee for their generous donation of a Browning A5 12-Gauge Shotgun that was awarded to the high shooter of the day, Dustin Simmons.

For more information about the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation YF&R Program, call (601) 977-4277.

Second-place team members – MS Tent & Party Rental (High Shooter: Dustin Simmons) –Lee Hutchison, Dustin Simmons, Andrew Parrish and Jared Busick

Third-place team members – Barton Farms – David Barton, Bryan Jones, Dan Hughes and Joe Lauderdale

YF&R Clay Shoot Prizes R andy Knight, Donald Gant, Ted Kendall & Reggie Magee – Top Shooter – Browning A5 12-Gauge Shotgun Academy Sports & Outdoors – First Place – Four 54-Quart Camo Coleman Coolers YF&R State Committee – Second Place – Four Nikon Camo Binoculars Watson Quality Ford – Third Place – Four $50 Visa Gift Cards

30

Station Sponsors Adams County Farm Bureau Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co. Jimmy Sanders, Inc. Calhoun County Farm Bureau Community Bank Marion County Farm Bureau First Security Bank MS Tent & Party Rental Jefferson County Farm Bureau Attala County Farm Bureau Agri-AFC-Mike McCormick Brignac Flying Service MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

Leaf River Vet Service Kubota Tractor Door Prizes Academy Sports & Outdoors Cabot Lodge Jackson North Chick-Fil-A Deviney Equipment Grainger Hilton Jackson Mississippi Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company - Sales Department Scrooge’s SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

Farm Bureau速 Young Farmers & Ranchers Program

YF&R SHAPES THE FUTURE

The YF&R program helps young members shape the future of agriculture, as well as their own, with leadership development. The program strives to provide personal growth and advancement opportunities for its members, while building a more effective Farm Bureau to preserve the industry.

As part of the YF&R program, top members are highlighted each January in three competitive areas.

Three winners will receive their choice of a 2014 Chevrolet Silverado or GMC Sierra truck, courtesy of GM; nine national finalists will receive a Case IH Farmall tractor, courtesy of Case IH; as well as a $2,500 cash prize and $500 in STIHL merchandise.

Danielle Budy of Woods County, OK, Photo by D. Mielke, OKFB

For more information about YF&R competitive events and how you can get involved, contact your state Farm Bureau office or the American Farm Bureau Federation速 at yfr@fb.org or 202-406-3600

County Annual Meetings Alcorn County Farm Bureau Tuesday, Sept. 24, at 6 p.m.

Alcorn County Extension Office Corinth Meal will be provided. Bring your favorite dessert.

Amite County Farm Bureau Thursday, Oct. 17, at 6:30 p.m.

Harrison Bldg.

Liberty Attala County Farm Bureau They will release their information locally.

Chickasaw County Farm Bureau Thursday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office Houston Claiborne County Farm Bureau Thursday, Sept. 19, at 12 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office Port Gibson Clarke County Farm Bureau Thursday, Oct. 31, at 6:30 p.m.

Multipurpose Bldg.

Quitman RSVP by Oct. 25 at (601) 776-6977.

Covington County Farm Bureau Thursday, Oct. 10, at 6:30 p.m.

Multipurpose Bldg.

Collins George County Farm Bureau Monday, Sept. 9, 7 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office Lucedale Grenada County Farm Bureau Tuesday, Sept. 3, at 7:30 a.m.

Farm Bureau Office Grenada

Harrison County Farm Bureau Saturday, Oct. 5, at 6 p.m.

West Harrison High School Gulfport

Marion County Farm Bureau Thursday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m.

Columbia Exposition Center 150 Industrial Park Rd Columbia

Rankin County Farm Bureau Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 6 p.m.

Brandon City Library 1475 W. Government St. Brandon

Hinds County Farm Bureau Monday, Sept. 30, at 1 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office Raymond

Monroe County Farm Bureau Tuesday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office Aberdeen

Jackson County Farm Bureau Saturday, Sept. 28, at 4 p.m.

East Central Community Center Hwy 614 Hurley

Montgomery County Farm Bureau Tuesday, Oct. 22, at 6:30 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office Winona

Scott County Farm Bureau Thursday, Sept. 5, at 6:30 p.m.

Roosevelt State Park (Alfreda Lodge) Morton

Jeff Davis County Farm Bureau Tuesday, Oct. 1, at 7 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office Prentiss Jones County Farm Bureau Tuesday, Oct. 1, at 6:30 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office Laurel Kemper County Farm Bureau Thursday, Sept. 12, at 6 p.m.

County Farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Market Building DeKalb

Newton County Farm Bureau Thursday, Oct. 24, at 6:30 p.m.

First Baptist Church Newton Noxubee County Farm Bureau Tuesday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m.

County Civic Center Macon

Lamar County Farm Bureau Monday, Sept. 16, at 6 p.m.

Midway Community Center 1166 Old Hwy 24 and Knight Road Sumrall

Oktibbeha County Farm Bureau Thursday, Sept. 19, at 6:30 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office Starkville (We have moved to 905 Stark Road.)

Lauderdale County Farm Bureau Monday, Oct. 14, at 6 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office Meridian

Panola County Farm Bureau Monday, Sept. 16, at 6 p.m.

Panola County Extension Building Batesville

Leflore County Farm Bureau Thursday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office Greenwood

Pearl River County Farm Bureau Thursday, Oct. 3, at 6:30 p.m.

First Baptist Church Poplarville

Lincoln County Farm Bureau Monday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office Brookhaven 32

Neshoba County Farm Bureau Tuesday, Oct. 15, at 6:30 p.m.

Neshoba County Coliseum Philadelphia

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

Simpson County Farm Bureau Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 6:30 p.m.

County Jr. Livestock Building Hwy 49 South Mendenhall Smith County Farm Bureau Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 7 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office Raleigh Tallahatchie County Farm Bureau Thursday, Oct. 17, at 6 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office Charleston Tippah County Farm Bureau Monday, Sept. 16, at 6 p.m.

County Fairgrounds Ripley Tishomingo County Farm Bureau Thursday, Sept. 19, at 6:30 p.m.

County High School Cafeteria Iuka Wayne County Farm Bureau Thursday, Oct. 10, at 6 p.m.

Farm Bureau Office Waynesboro Winston County Farm Bureau Thursday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m.

Louisville Shrine Club Louisville

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

33

Summer Commodity Meetings

The 2013 Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) summer commodity meetings enjoyed informative speakers and an active participation in the policy development process. Pictured at the cotton meeting held in Grenada, in conjunction with the Mississippi Boll Weevil Management Corporation’s (MBWMC) annual meeting, is, right photo, MFBF Cotton Advisory Committee Chair Rob Farmer. In the group shot are, from left, Jan Hill, past MFBF President Don Waller and John Swayze, who also serves on the MBWMC board.

Coloring Contest Winner

The Region 7 and State Coloring Contest winner is Caden Talley of Perry County. A presentation was made to Caden during Awards Day at New Augusta Elementary School. Pictured with Caden are Perry County Women’s Chair Sharon Lott, District 7 Women’s Chair Carolyn Turner and State Women’s Committee Vice Chair Shelby Williams. Caden is the son of Brad and Holly Talley.

Mississippi Gourd Festival The Fourth Annual Mississippi Gourd Festival will be held Sept. 21-22 at the Smith County Ag Center in Raleigh. Classes will be offered both days, and the bonus early-bird classes will be held Friday afternoon, Sept. 20. Festival hours are 8 a.m.-5 34

p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information, visit the website for the Mississippi Gourd Society at www.mississippigourdsociety.org. You can also call Paul Grubbs at (601) 260-4230.

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

Meet Baxter Black at State Convention For over 25 years, Black has traveled the U.S. and Canada, scattering his wit and left-handed observations to folks looking for a bright spot in their day. Over 1 million books and audios sold, a weekly column, a weekly radio program, a weekly television program … there’s no place to hide if you live in the country!

“My audience is my inspiration,” he says. “Every cowboy, rancher, vet, farmer,

Make plans to attend a special meetand-greet reception with our convention keynote speaker, Baxter Black, Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. until 11:15 a.m. State convention will be held Dec. 7-9 at the Jackson Hilton in Jackson.

Black is a popular cowboy poet, former large animal veterinarian and entertainer of the agricultural masses. He has, as he puts it, “a narrow following, but it’s deep!”

feed salesman, ag teacher, cowman and rodeo hand has a story to tell, and they tell it to me. I Baxterize it and tell it back to ‘em!

It doesn’t seem fair, does it?”

You can find him in Benson, Arizona, at www.baxterblack.com.

Baxter Black is sponsored in part by Priefert.

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P.O. Box 8988-F Jacksonville, FL 32211

Sawdust and Splinters

The First Annual Sawdust and Splinters event will be held Oct. 31, Nov. 1 and Nov. 2 at Shirard Gray Estates, located between Magnolia and Tylertown just off Highway 48 near the Bogue Chitto River. The event will combine nationally recognized chainsaw carvers and world-champion lumberjacks.

Sawdust and Splinters is the vision and dream of Mike Hobgood, who grew up on an area farm and carved his first duck from red cedar at the age of ten. At the age of eighteen, he traveled out West to Oregon, where he saw his first lumberjack show, 36

and a new appreciation and interest followed. Since that time, Mike has traveled many miles to observe lumberjacks and chainsaw carvers all over the United States.

With each traveling adventure and with what nature offers in South Mississippi, Sawdust and Splinters began to evolve.

Today, Sawdust and Splinters is a way for Mike to give back to his hometown and the surrounding area by sharing his love of trees and nature, combined with excitement and adventure. It is his hope that Sawdust and Splinters will inspire someone else to dream their dream and also to diligently MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

aspire to make it a reality.

During Sawdust and Splinters, three separate styles of events will be held: Lumberjack, Pole Climbing and Chainsaw Carving. The competitions will include Hot Saw, Standing Block Chop, Springboard Chop, Double Buck Sawing, Axe Throwing, Pole Climbing, Tree Topping and more. Trapper Joe from “Swamp People” will be on hand.

You can order tickets by phone at (601) 876-9635, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. through 5 p.m. For more information, visit online at www.sdsfest.com.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS Quality Tools at Ridiculously Low Prices FACTORY DIRECT TO YOU!

How do we sell high quality tools at the lowest prices? We cut out the middle man and buy direct from the factories who supply other major brands. It’s just that simple!

Come see for yourself and use this 20% Off Coupon on one of our 7,000 products*, plus pick up a Free 6 Piece Screwdriver Set, a $4.99 value. We stock Automotive Tools, Power Tools, Air Tools and Compressors, Engines and Generators, Welders, Hand Tools, Tool Storage, Tarps and much more.

• • • • •

1 Year Low Price Guarantee!

No Hassle Return Policy!

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed!

Over 25 Million Satisfied Customers!

430+ Stores Nationwide!

FREE!

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PE ON SU UP CO

WITH ANY PURCHASE

Item 47770 shown

6 PIECE SCREWDRIVER SET ITEM 47770/61313 REG. PRICE $4.99 LIMIT 1 - Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or prior purchase. Coupon good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Offer good while supplies last. Shipping & Handling charges may apply if not picked up in-store.

Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 1/1/14. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

7 FT. 4" x 9 FT. 6" ALL PURPOSE WEATHER RESISTANT TARP

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LOT NO. 877/69137/ 69249/69129/69121

2

NOBODY BEATS OUR QUALITY, SERVICE AND PRICE!

3-POINT QUICK HITCH

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SAVE $55

LOT NO. 97214

27-1/2" CLEARANCE

$

7499

Item 877 shown

LIMIT 8 - Good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last.

Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 1/1/14. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

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Item 68375 shown

LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last.

Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 1/1/14. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

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SAVE REG. 56% $ 59 PRICE $5.99

2

LIMIT 7 - Good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last.

Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 1/1/14. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

Item 93897 shown

SAVE $70 $

LOT NO. 93897/69265 REG. PRICE $129.99

5999

LIMIT 3 - Good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last.

Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 1/1/14. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

SAVE 66%

9

14999

REG. PRICE $219.99

Item 67847 shown

SAVE $70

LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last.

Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 1/1/14. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

9

$ 99

LOT NO. 5889

WEIGHS 74 LBS.

SAVE $80

OFF ANY SINGLE ITEM!

LIMIT 1 - Save 20% on any one item purchased at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-4232567. *Cannot be used with other discount, coupon, gift cards, Inside Track Club membership, extended service plans or on any of the following: compressors, generators, tool storage or carts, welders, floor jacks, Towable Ride-On Trencher (Item 65162), open box items, in-store event or parking lot sale items. Not valid on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase date with original receipt. Non-transferable.

Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 1/1/14. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

TRACTOR DRAWBAR GRAB HOOK

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LOT NO. 98256

SAVE 30%

9000 LB. WORKING LOAD

6

$ 99

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44", 13 DRAWER INDUSTRIAL QUALITY ROLLER CABINET W!

NE

SUPER HIGH GLOSS FINISH!

Item 68784 shown

2900 LB. CAPACITY

$

69

SAVE 60%

LOT NO. 42304/69043

YOUR CHOICE!

LIMIT 3 - Good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last.

Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 1/1/14. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

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SAVE 60%

RECIPROCATING SAW WITH ROTATING HANDLE

5

LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last.

Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 1/1/14. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

STORE LOCATIONS

Biloxi

19

REG. 99$49PRICE .99

LIMIT 3 - Good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last.

Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 1/1/14. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

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6.5 HP OHV HORIZONTAL SHAFT GAS ENGINES (212 CC) LOT NO. 68120/60363/69730 LOT NO. 68121/69727, CALIFORNIA ONLY

LOT NO. 42305/69044

REG. $ 99$14PRICE .99

LOT NO. 68784/ 69387

REG. PRICE $649.99

$

9 PIECE FULLY POLISHED COMBINATION WRENCH SETS Item 42304 shown SAE METRIC

SAVE $290

35999

Item 68048 shown

REG. 99$149PRICE .99

REG. PRICE $9.99

LIMIT 6 - Good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last.

Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 1/1/14. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

LOT NO. 65570

LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last.

Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 1/1/14. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

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20%

REG. PRICE $24.99

LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last.

Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 1/1/14. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

REG. $ $ 99$29PRICE .99

2.5 HP, 21 GALLON, 125 PSI VERTICAL LOT NO. 67847/ 69091/61454 AIR COMPRESSOR

15999

60%

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REG. PRICE $249.99

LOT NO. 68048/69227 12 VOLT MAGNETIC TOWING LIGHT KIT RAPID PUMP® LOT NO. 96933/67455/ 3 TON HEAVY DUTY Item 69626/69925 96933 STEEL FLOOR JACK shown

LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last.

Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 1/1/14. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

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$

29 PIECE TITANIUM NITRIDE COATED SAVE DRILL BIT SET

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ON ALL HAND TOOLS!

LOT NO. 68375/69774

LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last.

Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 1/1/14. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

RETRACTABLE AIR/WATER HOSE REEL WITH 3/8" x 50 FT. HOSE

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$

SAVE $90

LOT NO. 67227/69567/ 60566

Item 67227 shown

2" CLEAR WATER PUMP WITH 6 HP GAS ENGINE (212 CC) 9060 GPH

27 LED PORTABLE WORKLIGHT/FLASHLIGHT

Requires three AAA batteries (included).

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SAVE $ 79 68% REG. PRICE $8.99

LIFETIME WARRANTY

SAVE $ $80

Item 68120 shown

9999

REG. PRICE $179.99

LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. Offer good while supplies last.

Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 1/1/14. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

Pearl

Southaven

37

Tupelo

ATTENTION TRACTOR OWNERS!

MOW FENCE LINES 3X FASTER! NEW! 3-POINT HITCH

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256-757-9996

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Fits Category 1 Tractors

· All stainless steel construction · No smoke, ashes or wood trash in your home · 12 hour burn · 10 to 100 feet from your home · Heats home and household hot water · 25-year warranty · Connects to your existing central duct or hydronic system · Units from 120,000 to 250,000 BTU’s · Financing Available · Dealer Inquiries Welcome

Hardy Manufacturing Company, Inc. Philadelphia, MS 39350

www.hardyheater.com

1-800-542-7395



MOW FENCE LINES FAST. Spring-loaded mowing arm PIVOTING DECK. Follows the contours of the ground.

Great for clearing ditches or mowing along ponds.

NO STEEL BLADES. Commercial-duty, 175 mil

cutting line is flexible and durable. Goes where a bladed mower can’t.

80725X © 2013

automatically deflects around fence posts.

Call for a FREE DVD and Catalog!

TOLL-FREE

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Piers, Decks, Boat Lis, Boat Houses, Bulkheads/Headerwalls, Foundaon Pilings, Boat Launches/Ramps

662-515-2981

DRtrimmer.com

  

Sanders Marine Construcon Barry Sanders, Owner



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Signed

Date

* Certificate expires 2/24/0 * Participating Dealers On

As a Farm Bureau member, you have access to many programs and benefits. To learn more, visit our website at www.msfb. org. Or see the Member Benefits information on pages 2, 3 and 20.

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(courtesy of OffEr Only gOOd fOr nEw diSh SubScribErS All calls with InfinityDISH are monitored and recorded for quality assurance and training purposes. important terms and Conditions: Promotional Offers: Require activation of new qualifying DISH service with 24-month Commitment and credit qualification. All prices, fees, packages, programming, features, functionality and offers subject to change without notice. After 12-month promotional period, then-current regular monthly price applies and is subject to change. etF: If you cancel service during first 24 months, early cancellation fee of $20 for each month remaining applies. add’tl requirements: Hd Free for life: $10/mo HD fee waived for life of current account; requires continuous enrollment in AutoPay with Paperless Billing. Premium Channels: 3-month premium movie offer value is $135; after promotional period, then-current regular monthly price applies and is subject to change. Blockbuster @Home offer: 3 month offer value $30. After 3 months, then-current regular monthly price applies and is subject to change. Requires online DISH account; broadband internet to stream content; HD DVR to stream to TV. Streaming to TV and some channels not available with select packages. installation/equipment requirements: Free Standard Professional Installation only. Certain equipment is leased and must be returned to DISH upon cancellation or unreturned equipment fees apply. Upfront and additional monthly fees may apply. Recording hours vary; 2000 hours based on SD programming. Equipment comparison based on equipment available from major TV providers as of 5/22/13. Misc: Offers available for new and qualified former customers, and subject to terms of applicable Promotional and Residential Customer agreements. State reimbursement charges may apply. Additional restrictions and taxes may apply. offers end 9/18/13. HBO®, Cinemax® and related channels and service marks are the property of Home Box Office, Inc. SHOWTIME is a registered trademark of Showtime Networks Inc., a CBS Company. STARZ and related channels and service marks are property of Starz Entertainment, LLC. Visa® gift card must be requested through your DISH Representative at time of purchase. $25 Visa® gift card requires activation and $2.95 shipping and handling fee. You will receive a claim voucher within 3-4 weeks and the voucher must be returned within 30 days. Your Visa® gift card will arrive in approximately 6-8 weeks. InfinityDISH charges a one-time $49.95 non-refundable processing fee. Indiana C.P.D. Reg. No. T.S. 10-1006. *Certain restrictions apply. Based on the availability in your area.

NEW FARM EQUIPMENT LOANS Now as low as

3.49% APR*

24-MONTH TERM

Grow Your Agribusiness with Farm Bureau Bank Take advantage of your Mississippi Farm Bureau membership with special rates, flexible terms, and payment plans up to seven full years. Hurry, this limited-time offer expires December 31, 2013. Finance or refinance your farm equipment today!

To apply, or for more information, contact your local Farm Bureau agent or visit farmbureaubank.com Existing Farm Bureau Bank equipment loans are excluded from this offer. Normal credit criteria does apply. * Rate disclosed as Annual Percentage Rate (APR) and based on exceptional credit. Some restrictions may apply based upon the make and model of equipment offered as collateral. Up to 90% financing for new and 85% for used equipment. Loans subject to credit approval. Rates are accurate as of 07/01/2013. Rates and financing are limited to farm equipment model years 2003 or newer and are subject to change without notice. A down payment may be required for new or used equipment purchases. Financial information required for loan requests over $50,000.

Commercial vehicles and trailers may be subject to an additional documentation fee. Farm Bureau Bank does not provide equity or cash-out financing on commercial vehicles and equipment.

Banking services provided by Farm Bureau Bank, FSB. Farm Bureau, FB, and the FB National Logo are registered service marks owned by, and used by Farm Bureau Bank FSB under license from, the American Farm Bureau Federation.