Growing Mississippi I am proud that our Mississippi soybean checkoff serves as a partner with Growing Mississippi –Farm Families of Mississippi. The program’s goal, to educate and promote our state’s thriving agricultural industry, supports the state’s soybean farmers. The campaign speaks to the heart of agriculture in our state, the people who care for the livestock we raise and the crops we grow. Farmers and ranchers continue to make agriculture a thriving success in America. As a soybean farmer in the Magnolia State, I am a proud member of the state’s number one industry–DJULFXOWXUH , NQRZ À UVWKDQG the value of being a farmer and hope the tradition will continue ZLWK P\ IDPLO\ WR SURYLGH IRRG DQG À EHU WR RWKHUV 0LVVLVVLSSL DJULFXOWXUH SURYLGHV D VLJQLÀ FDQW FRQWULEXWLRQ WR DOO 82 counties and communities in our state through generating a
steady workforce and bringing much-needed tax revenue to help maintain safe roads, keep schools open and provide an overall better way of life. Together we strengthen our communities and the success of agriculture in our state. We have many roles in agriculture, from caring for our livestock and their well-being to cultivating the rich, fertile soils on our farms. America’s farmers and ranchers are providing a safe, reliable and abundant food supply for your family. And we’re proud to do so! Sincerely, Keith Morton – Chairman Mississippi Soybean Promotion Board
WHAT IF YOUR LOCAL ANIMAL AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY DISAPPEARED?
What else would disappear with it? Well, to start, the millions of dollars that livestock and poultry producers generate to help build and restore your local schools and parks. Then there’s the locally produced meat that we trust to be part of the safe and healthy meals we feed our families.
Š 2010 United Soybean Board. (38420-MFC-8.375x10.5)
And of course saying goodbye to your local poultry and livestock industries would also mean saying goodbye to the number one customer for U.S. soybean meal. Animal agriculture helps our community thrive. That’s why it’s important that we continue to give them our support. Because a safe and secure food supply and a safe and secure rural community both come from the same place – inside the barns and out in the fields of America’s farmers and producers. Soybean farmers helping livestock and poultry producers just makes sense.
www.soybeans.msstate.edu
www.animalag.org
MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY Volume 86 Number 6 November/December 2010
CONTENTS
EDITOR Glynda Phillips
Features
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Graphic Arts Coordinator Danielle Ginn Department Assistant/Ad Sales Rep. Angela Thompson
EMINENT DOMAIN Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation delivered more than 118,000 certified signatures to Secretary of State Hosemann on Sept. 30 so that eminent domain reform can be placed on the November 2011 ballot. Come with us as we learn more.
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MISSISSIPPI SWEET POTATOES The 2010 harvest season has shaped up to be a bountiful one for Mississippi sweet potato growers. Read all about this industry inside.
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SOLVE THE MYSTERY Our Solve the Mystery Contest spotlights the county seat of Franklin County. This town is the headquarters of Cellular South and Herring Gas Company, Inc. Read the clues and make your guess
FARM BUREAU OFFICERS
President - David Waide Vice President - Donald Gant Vice President - Randy Knight Vice President - Reggie Magee Treasurer - Billy Davis Corporate Secretary - Ilene Sumrall
FARM BUREAU DIRECTORS Dr. Jim Perkins, Iuka Kevin Simpson, Ashland B.A. Teague, New Albany Bill Ryan Tabb, Cleveland Coley L. Bailey, Jr., Coffeeville Dan L. Bishop, Baldwyn Jeffrey R. Tabb, Walthall Doss Brodnax, Starkville Wanda Hill, Isola Weldon Harris, Kosciusko William Jones, Meridian Max Anderson, Decatur Stanley Williams, Mt. Olive Mark Chaney, Vicksburg Moody Davis, Brookhaven Bill Pigott, Tylertown D.P. O’Quinn, Purvis Wendell Gavin, Laurel Clifton Hicks, Leakesville Tom Daniels, Gulfport Betty Mills, Winona Clint Russell, Cleveland
HONORARY VICE-PRESIDENTS Louis J. Breaux, David H. Bennett, and Warren Oakley
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SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS The 2010-2011 Young Farmers and Ranchers Scholarship Foundation and 2010- 2011 Berta Lee White Scholarship recipients have been announced. Read about them inside.
Departments 4
President’s Message
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Commodity Update: Beef
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Commodity Update: Equine
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Counsel’s Corner
EDITORIAL AND BUSINESS OFFICES 6311 Ridgewood Road Jackson, MS 39211 TELEPHONE 601.977.4153 ADVERTISING (National) Paul Hurst 1.800.397.8908 (Southeastern U.S.) Angela Thompson 1.800.227.8244 ext. 4242 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.
*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.
ABOUT THE COVER The Clark family of Vardaman hails from a long line of sweet potato growers. Pictured are Norman and Sylvia Clark, their son Andy, daughter-in-law Laura and grandsons, Matthew, 9, and Joshua, 4. Read their story on pages 8-9. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
Mississippi Farm Country (ISSN 1529-9600) magazine is published bimonthly by the *Mississippi Farm Bureau® Federation.
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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.
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE MAY GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU By David Waide • President, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation
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s it comes to this time of the year, I realize that my days of being president of Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation are not excessively long. Since announcing my retirement in January, I have checked off the things that I have done for the final time as president. This will be my final article as president of Mississippi Farm Bureau. I cannot emphasize enough how important I think the Farm Bureau is in the lives of every rural Mississippian. It certainly enhances the lives of our urban dwellers, too, because the farm community, by and large, produces the food and fiber that this nation consumes. As long as we keep agriculture strong, it is the strength of Mississippi’s economy and the strength of those things that will keep us sovereign and free as a nation. Our country faces numerous challenges as we continue into the 21st century. Those challenges are certainly ones that industrious and intuitive people can succeed in solving. The one thing that I have tried to emphasize during my tenure as president is that, as a nation, we can never afford to become dependent on another nation for our food supply. I can say unequivocally that nations that cannot feed their populations cannot have the independence and luxury of being sovereign and free because they will be beholding to the country that supplies them with the necessities of life. While I recognize that we have numerous challenges as a nation, I firmly believe that agriculture can be a huge contributor in solving the economic woes that we have at this time. It is the only entity that contributes a positive trade balance to our foreign trade deficit. It is through the efficiency of the American farmer that we not only have the
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safest, most abundant food supply but we are indeed the envy of the world in the ways that we have managed to be innovative in creating new economic opportunities for all of those jobs that are dependent on agriculture. While we see a shift in some of the trade areas in the world and some countries that have been competitors of ours in world trade, we will continue to be a huge contributor. If we as Americans do not allow our farms to be regulated out of business or to be forced out because we have not kept pace with production practices, we will remain sovereign and free forever. I can assure every Farm Bureau member that the positive impact Farm Bureau will continue to have can only be had by the organization’s volunteer leaders who are willing to interact on behalf of agriculture. When asked to contact a legislator or a congressman, a handwritten note is so influential to let them know how you feel about an issue. I cannot emphasize that enough. As gifted and talented as the Farm Bureau staff is, it is not something they can do without the support of the volunteer leadership and members of Farm Bureau. We as staff can always let our legislators and regulators know exactly how we feel about an issue, but if we are going to succeed with that issue, it is going to be because those individuals who gain their livelihood from agriculture interact in addition to the staff. As I conclude this article, my final thought is, while we realize the importance of having a bountiful food and fiber supply to remain the best-fed, best-clothed, best-housed nation on Earth, we must also remember that our strength comes because we have been a God-fearing nation. To compromise our principles or allow someone to impose something on us that is not in keeping with the belief we have in our
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Creator can cause our demise. My prayer for every Farm Bureau member is one of continuing health, one of continuing prosperity, but, especially, one that would guide us by faith in God Almighty. For us to realize that only in Him can we find happiness and contentment, and only through Him can our salvation be provided. My prayer for everyone is that, as members of this organization, we will pray daily for the farm community and that we will remember it is the American farmer who has provided the best way of life that any individual on Earth has ever known. It is my sincere prayer that we will continue to keep that faith in our Creator. May God bless each and every one of you in the days ahead.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS Dec. 4-6 Annual Meeting Hilton Hotel Jackson Jan. 4
Legislature Convenes
Jan. 9-12 AFBF Annual Meeting Atlanta, GA Jan. 20
Winter Commodity Conf. Livestock and Forestry Jackson
Jan. 20
Legislative Reception Jackson
Jan. 21
Winter Commodity Conf. Row Crops and Aquaculture Jackson
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2010 MFBF ANNUAL MEETING Nationally known agricultural advocate Trent Loos of South Dakota will address the opening General Session of the 89th Annual Meeting of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation to be held Dec. 4-6 at the Hilton Hotel in Jackson. Loos is a farmer, rancher and host of the radio show, “Loos Tales,” whose new passion is spreading the word about the many positive things in production agriculture, where it is "individuals, not institutions, who make a difference.” “Loos Tales” TV programming airs each weekend at 8:30 a.m. Central on Dish Network 9411. The Miracles, a nationally recognized choir from The Baddour Center in Senatobia, will be featured during the Sunday morning worship service. Their mission is to praise God through music, bridge attitude barriers that may exist towards persons with intellectual disabilities, and share the mission of The Baddour Center. Other convention highlights include the Farm Bureau General Store and Young Farmers and Ranchers Silent and Live auctions; State Ag Ambassador Contest; Safety and Environmental conferences; Young Farmers and Ranchers State Discussion Meet and State Achievement Award activities; and Women’s Recognition Breakfast and Business Session. David and Sandra Waide will be honored with a reception Saturday afternoon, beginning at 5 p.m. Annual meeting activities will close Monday with the Business Session, where policy will be determined for the coming year and elections will be held for state officers and directors. At presstime, the schedule looked like this: Entire convention - YF&R Silent Auction (Saturday and Sunday) & General Store
SATURDAY, DEC. 4 9 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 1 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 5 p.m. 6:30 p.m.
Ag Ambassador Contest YF&R Discussion Meet Semi-finals Lunch on your own General Session - Live auction - Trent Loos, keynote speaker Land/Environmental Conference Safety Conference Reception honoring David and Sandra Waide General Session - YF&R Discussion Meet Finals and Presentation - Pennies for Mississippi Presentation - Live Auction - YF&R Achievement Award Presentation
SUNDAY, DEC. 5 7 a.m. 9 a.m. 10:45 a.m.
Women’s Recognition Breakfast Women’s Business Session Worship Service - The Miracles
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2 p.m. 6 p.m.
County Recognition Program Ag Image Campaign Fundraiser Dinner – Ag Museum
MONDAY, DEC. 6 8 a.m. 12 p.m.
Business Session Board of Directors meeting
FARM BUREAU DELIVERS EMINENT DOMAIN PETITIONS
Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation delivered more than 118,000 certified signatures to Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann on Sept. 30 so that the issue of eminent domain reform can be placed on the November 2011 ballot. After several failed attempts to get an eminent domain reform bill passed in the Legislature, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) decided to go the initiative route and gathered the necessary signatures to allow the people of Mississippi to speak on the issue of private property rights. “For three years, Farm Bureau urged legislators to protect homeowners and landowners from confiscation of their private property by eminent domain, but to no avail,” said MFBF President David Waide. “The 2009 Legislature passed H.B. 803, which prohibited the taking of private property under the guise of economic development for private development or business. Both House and Senate passed the bill, but Governor Barbour vetoed it.” In 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court held in a 5-4 decision in Kelo v. City of New London that a Connecticut city could take away people’s homes and turn the property over to a private party to develop the property for its own profit. The court justified this result because the increased tax revenue on the developed property would benefit the public and the use of the property was, therefore, a public use. Farm Bureau and many others disagree with this decision. Since 2005, 44 states have strengthened their private property rights laws to keep property from being taken by eminent domain and used for economic development. This initiative will give the people of Mississippi the right to vote to ensure that eminent domain will be used only in the traditional ways for public use such as roads, schools and utilities.
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COMMODITY UPDATE
Mike McCormick
BEEF
Jon Kilgore
We Must Cultivate Tomorrow’s Leaders by Mike McCormick, MFBF Beef Advisory Committee Chair Jon Kilgore, MFBF Commodity Coordinator for Beef
As I watch my children grow, I am grateful for their love of the livestock industry at such a young age. Recently, we took family pictures at my parents’ barn, which belonged to my grandfather. As I watched them jump on the hay bales and lean against the weathered siding, I was reminded of many Hereford production sales my grandfather held in the ring and the countless hours I spent with my parents feeding cattle and raising club lambs to show as a member of 4-H and FFA. As a father, I know the impact of these experiences on my life and career. I want to continue my grandparents’ legacy of faith, family and deep love of agriculture for those I have the opportunity to impact. As beef producers, it is our responsibility to cultivate tomorrow’s leaders. We must sow seeds in the young lives around us which will allow the next generation to have the same experiences we have had that drive us each day as cattle producers. Many times, it would be much easier for me to go to the pasture, fix the fence, check or doctor cattle alone; however, as a father, it is the experiences that I can give to my children that will continue our legacy as cattle producers to the next generation. Just as we must fertilize our fields to improve the quality and quantity of our forage crop to ensure the success of our herd, we as Mississippi Farm Bureau members must recognize that the support of area programs, such as local 4-H and FFA projects, is essential to the continued growth of agriculture. Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) strives to ensure the future success of our young people in several ways: • Purchasing animals in the Dixie National Sale of Junior Champions;
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• Donating a laptop computer to a state winner of the Heifer Development Project; • Purchasing jackets to be worn by state FFA officers; • Making monetary contributions to the 4-H Foundation. MFBF understands our role in leaving a legacy that supports future industry and that is vital to the success of our economy for many years to come. With our faith being the most important legacy of all, I challenge you with a farming analogy used by Jerry Bridges in his book, “The Pursuit of Holiness.” Bridges points out that each season a farmer is dependent upon God for causing the seed to germinate and for producing the rain and sunshine necessary to produce a successful harvest. But the farmer is also aware that, unless he diligently carries out his responsibilities to plow, plant, fertilize and cultivate, he can’t expect a harvest at the end of the season. In a sense, he is in a partnership with God, and he will reap benefits only when he has fulfilled his responsibilities. Whether raising beef cattle or our children, tomorrow’s leaders, what are our responsibilities and what legacy will we leave?
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COMMODITY UPDATE
EQUINE Virginia Mathews
Greg Shows
Update from Board of Animal Health Virginia Mathews, MFBF Equine Advisory Committee Chair Greg Shows, MFBF Commodity Coordinator for Equine
This has been a busy year for the Board of Animal Health. For those not familiar with our agency, we are charged with developing programs that deal with the control of contagious diseases of animals. As an example, earlier this year, we were involved with a disease investigation which uncovered a farm with multiple Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) positive horses. Several horses from this farm were moved illegally to another state, resulting in transmission of disease to another horse on the farm, resulting in four horses having to be euthanized. This serves as a reminder. Even though the incidence of the disease is very low, it is out there and a potential danger to other horses. Also, it is state law that each horse have a negative Coggins Test whenever leaving your farm. If you purchase a horse, make sure that, as provided by law, you receive a current negative Coggins Test for the protection of the rest of your horses. Many of you are aware of the animal identification initiative that has been ongoing for several years now. In February of this year, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced the development of a federal rule that will require a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and individual animal identification for livestock moving across state lines. There has been a lot of concern about what the identification requirements will be for horses, especially fears that microchips will become mandatory. As a result of a recent meeting with the horse advisory committee, USDA has determined that identification for horses will consist of a description of the animal, i.e., name, age, sex and physical descriptions such as color, markings and whirls. Digital photographs are acceptable as well. Permanent identification such as tattoos, brands and microchips are encouraged but not required. Recent outbreaks of diseases such as Contagious Equine Metritis, Equine Viral Arteritis and, more recently, Equine Piroplasmosis highlight the need for an enhanced animal traceability program NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
within the United States. In recent years, especially post-Katrina, our agency has gotten very involved in emergency preparedness activities. Disasters affect animals as well as humans, as was seen during the response to Hurricane Katrina, where thousands of animals were displaced or died. As a result, the Mississippi Animal Response Team (MART) was formed as a way for volunteers to participate in an organized way to disasters involving animals. One of our more interesting training opportunities is the Technical Large Animal Emergency Rescue Training that teaches techniques for rescuing horses and other livestock that are trapped in ravines, iced-over ponds or overturned trailers. This course will provide emergency responders with the skills needed to address those situations. The Board of Animal Health also coordinates evacuation activities for horse owners needing to evacuate their horses from low-lying coastal areas as a result of hurricanes. If you are interested in joining MART, please contact our office for more information. Please remember that many contagious diseases are preventable by the use of vaccinations, so please contact your veterinarian for an appropriate vaccination program for your horse. This article was written by Dr. Jim Watson, D.V.M., State Veterinarian, Mississippi Board of Animal Health.
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Growing & Promoting
SWEET POTATOES By Glynda Phillips
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ears of hard work and dedication have given Norman and Sylvia Clark a good life as Vardaman sweet potato growers. The noble part of the equation is that, in the midst of their efforts, the two of them have consistently taken the time to give back to their church, community and state. Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation has benefited from Norman and Sylvia’s leadership through the years, and we hope to have them for many more. Since their son Andy and his wife Laura, also Vardaman sweet potato growers, serve on the Young Farmers and Ranchers State Committee, it would seem that the Clark family tradition will continue well into the future.
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GROWING TATERS
PROMOTING TATERS
Norman Clark stands knee-deep in a field of sweet potatoes. The sky is blue, the weather is hot, and the taters are growing right on schedule. As if to prove it, Norman digs up a bunch and hands them over. “Beautiful,” you tell him, and he smiles happily. Mississippi, it seems, is on course for a bountiful harvest season. “We’re excited,” Norman said. “Our crop looks great this year, and this is especially welcome after the devastating loss we experienced in 2009. Sweet potatoes mean a lot to this area.” Mississippi’s economic loss due to unharvested sweet potatoes in 2009 totaled $58.5 million. Calhoun County is the number one sweet potato-producing county in the state. Last year was bad, but Norman is confident the industry will come back stronger than ever. Why? Because Mississippi sweet potatoes are popular nationwide. “Our Vardaman sweet potatoes taste great,” Norman said. “We attribute this to the silt loam soil and climate. However, our success as an industry can also be attributed to our faith in God and our hardworking and dedicated growers.”
While Norman and Andy toil in the field, Sylvia and Laura work to promote the industry. Sylvia is especially vocal in telling the sweet potato story to the consuming public. For her efforts, she received the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation’s prestigious Excellence in Leadership Award in 2006. “The sweet potato is very important to Calhoun County,” Sylvia said. “This industry affects related businesses like the gas stations that fuel our trucks; the dealerships that provide us with equipment and parts; the grocery stores; and even the clothing stores. “It’s important that the sweet potato industry remains strong and that the counties that depend upon it continue to thrive. I try to do my part to promote sweet potatoes and, in my mind, I am also promoting Calhoun County,” she said with a smile. Sylvia says Farm Bureau and the Mississippi Sweet Potato Council have played the biggest role in her learning how to market sweet potatoes. “The people who attend the meetings where I present my talks are so receptive to learning about the industry and the products it produces,” she said. “This has encouraged me to branch out into TV and print advertising.” Sylvia says she wants all sweet potatoes and sweet potato products to receive consumer attention, but she wants Vardaman sweet potatoes to be recognized, like Vidalia onions, as a quality product that deserves a premium price. “I think we have made a lot of progress in recent years promoting our industry,” she said. “I’m well pleased with the promotions.” FC
THREE GENERATIONS Mississippi sweet potato growers benefit from the long line of growers who came before them. Norman is a third generation sweet potato farmer, whose family migrated from Tennessee to the area in the early 1900s. “Five families came down here because land was so affordable,” he said. “It was just a blessing that they discovered this soil.” Norman and Sylvia grew up helping out on the farm, and their son Andy and his two siblings would ride the sweet potato digger in their childhood years. Andy says his own 9-year-old would rather be in the field than anywhere else. “You’re just born with this in your blood,” he said with a smile. “I don’t think I would have been happy doing anything else.”
Sylvia works with the School of Human Sciences at Mississippi State University. Laura teaches at Vardaman Elementary School. Andy and Laura have two children, Matthew, 9, and Joshua, 4.
A CHANGING INDUSTRY In recent years, the sweet potato industry has really begun to grow and change. Whereas, Norman’s parents grew 15 to 20 acres of sweet potatoes annually, Norman grows about 100 acres each year. Some farmers today produce as many as 300, 500 and even 2,000 acres of sweet potatoes annually. Equipment has become more sophisticated, research more accessible, and processed sweet potato foods more varied and popular. Most growers market their taters locally and through brokers. Many sell to out-of-state processing facilities. Because of last year’s loss from excessive rainfall … and because of one other previous year of loss … most Mississippi sweet potato farmers now diversify. Many have added crops like soybeans, corn or wheat to their operations. Andy ran an agribusiness this fall. He offered the public a corn maze and sold sweet potatoes as part of the experience. He says it takes patience to be a successful sweet potato farmer. “You also pray a lot and have a lot of faith,” he said. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
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SWEET POTATO GROWERS WORK
TOGETHER By Glynda Phillips
ississippi sweet potato growers represent a tight-knit community. Many of these families have worked together for four or more generations. Farmers invest a lot of time and effort into growing and promoting their industry, and they help each other out when necessary, providing encouragement, equipment and labor. At no time in recent history have growers needed one another more than in 2009, when the industry experienced one of its worst years ever. Excessive rainfall, beginning in early September and continuing through October, devastated what should have been an excellent sweet potato crop. “We lost about 75 percent of our sweet potatoes and all of our soybeans,” said Randle Wright, who co-owns N&W Farms with fellow grower Larry Nelson. “It was tough.” Mississippi’s total economic loss from unharvested sweet potatoes in 2009 was approximately $58.5 million, a tragedy not only for area farmers and their families but for all related industries. Calhoun County, in particular, relies heavily upon the economic contribution made by local sweet potato farmers. INSURANCE COVERAGE “We worked hard and were successful in getting disaster assistance for state sweet potato farmers,” said Randle, who is chair of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Sweet Potato Advisory Committee and president of the Mississippi Sweet Potato Council. Standard crop insurance coverage is not available for sweet potatoes, but producers do have access to NAP, the Noninsured Assistance Program administered by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency. “Anything you get in a time of disaster helps. But, compared to what we had invested in the crop, NAP funds were not adequate to cover the loss that we sustained,” Randle said. Randle says Mississippi sweet potato growers have talked with Louisiana sweet potato growers about an insurance program those farmers have put together. He says the program looks promising.
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“They’ve offered to let us come in with the program, but we haven’t decided what we’re going to do,” he said. “We’re still talking about it.” Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) worked hard during the 2010 Session of the Mississippi Legislature to get a guaranteed loan program for sweet potato farmers in disaster areas. Farm Bureau also worked on the national level to secure disaster assistance for all crops impacted by excessive rain in 2009. GROWING INDUSTRY In the last decade, the whole dynamic of the state’s sweet potato industry has changed. Innovative ideas and hard work have transformed Mississippi’s sweet potato industry from a small community of farmers marketing their field potatoes locally into an industry that annually produces millions of bushels of potatoes that are marketed as a variety of products nationwide. It is an exciting time to be a Mississippi sweet potato grower, and despite any challenges that might exist within the industry, Randle wouldn’t do anything else. He put in his first sweet potato crop in 1978, following the example of his grandfather and uncle, longtime Vardaman sweet potato growers, and he hasn’t looked back. Randle had worked for his grandfather during summer vacations from school and had decided at that time that sweet potato farming would be his future. In 1983, Randle teamed up with Larry to form N&W Farms. The men slowly grew their acreage and improved and updated their packing line, which they added in 1994. Today, N&W Farms grows about 1,100 acres of sweet potatoes each year and operates one of only three state-of-the-art packing sheds in the area. They truck taters across the United States and into Canada. In addition to sweet potatoes, N&W Farms grows soybeans, corn and wheat. The farm employs 40 people year-round and hires an additional 80 to 100 people during harvest season. Randle says sweet potato farming is labor intensive, but it’s a whole lot easier today than when he was starting out. “Back then, we had to hand-lay the potatoes when they were bedded and pull the plants by hand when they were ready to be transplanted in the fields,” he said. “We would harvest 50-pound bushel crates and stack them one at a time in our storage facility. “Now, we have modern equipment to help with the planting and harvesting, and we use forklifts to stack the bins, which weigh 1,000 pounds instead of 50 pounds. Back in those early years, we used one- and two-row transplanters. Today, we have six- and eight-row transplanters.” Randle primarily grows the popular Beauregard sweet potato variety. He also grows the Evangeline and Covington varieties, which he says he likes. WORKING TOGETHER Looking toward the future, Randle says N & W Farms plans to keep a slow but steady growth. He sees the same course of growth as being desirable for the industry as a whole. “I think we all want to see this industry grow, but at a manageable rate,” he said. “We are working together to ensure that it remains strong, despite any recent challenges we might have experienced.” FC 12
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MISSISSIPPI SWEET POTATOES By Glynda Phillips
Mississippi is the second-largest sweet potato-growing state in the nation, exceeded only by North Carolina. In 2010, Mississippi boasted 19,200 acres of sweet potatoes, down somewhat from the previous year’s approximately 20,000 acres because of poor quality seed stock. “We lost seed due to excessive rain last year,” said Dr. Bill Burdine, area Extension agent, agronomic crops, Mississippi State University’s Chickasaw County Extension Office. “Mississippi’s economic loss due to unharvested sweet potatoes in 2009 totaled about $58.5 million. “This had a far-reaching effect not only on farmers but related industries as well,” he said. “As sweet potatoes go, so go area businesses such as auto dealerships, trucking firms, department stores and equipment and parts stores. Sweet potatoes drive the economies of Calhoun and Chickasaw counties.” Burdine says this year’s sweet potato crop looks excellent overall, second only to the 2009 crop before the rain began. “We’re hoping we won’t get all of that rainfall again this year,” he said. “If we don’t, we should harvest a great crop.” Sweet potatoes contributed $78 million at the farm gate in 2008. FAMILY OPERATIONS According to the Mississippi Sweet Potato Council (MSPC), Mississippi boasts 96 commercial sweet potato operations, most located within a 40-mile radius of Vardaman. The state has a total of 24 sweet potato packing facilities. “Mississippi boasts a good number of young, third- and forth-generation sweet potato farmers,” said MSPC Executive Secretary Benny Graves. “These young farmers are working hard on their marketing plans, which include brokers and other up-to-date marketing tools,” he said. “As a result, I think we will see a steady upward growth trend for the industry over time. Value-added products will fuel the industry’s growth. “Sweet potatoes are used in a wide range of food products produced by Gerber Baby Foods, Allen Canning Company, Bruce Foods, McCain Foods, Con Agra Foods, Heinz, Mrs. Paul’s and many others. Fresh sweet potatoes and sweet potato products are used in school lunch programs and by other institutions that serve
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meals such as hospitals and nursing homes. You can even find sweet potatoes in vegetarian dog treats. And all of that is expanding,” Graves said. “We are excited.” Burdine added, “We’re seeing the nicer to mid-price steakhouses and some chain restaurants offering baked sweet potatoes and sweet potato fries. McDonalds is even thinking about offering sweet potato fries, and that would help our industry considerably.” Most Mississippi sweet potato farmers sell locally and through brokers, and many sell to out-of-state processing facilities. ConAgra recently announced it would construct the first large-scale processing facility in the world dedicated to highquality frozen sweet potato products near Delhi, Louisiana. The company said it would invest over $210 million in a new state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly facility, creating a minimum of 500 new direct jobs. The first phase of construction for the facility was to be finished in late 2010. The second phase is slated to be finished by early 2014. FOR MORE INFORMATION Burdine holds biweekly sweet potato crop update meetings, where growers get together for lunch and an opportunity to talk. He also holds an annual spring production meeting. In addition, Burdine has put together a Sweet Potato Insect Control Guide and a full-color poster that features sweet potato pests. He says many farmers hang it on a wall for easy reference. For more information, contact Dr. Burdine at 662.456.4269 or email him at bburdine@ext.msstate.edu. You may also contact Benny Graves at 662.325.7773 or benny@mdac.state.ms.us. The Mississippi Sweet Potato Council is pleased to unveil its new promotional poster. The original artwork features a nostalgic 1956 International truck filled with beautiful, nutritious sweet potatoes and surrounded with a flowering vine. The promotional poster will be on display at all Welcome Centers in Mississippi as well as some well-known restaurants that feature sweet potatoes on their menus. The new poster will also be a centerpiece of this fall’s ad campaign. Posters are $15 each. For a personal copy of the Vardaman Sweet Potato Poster, call Bennie Graves or mail request and check or money order to: Mississippi Sweet Potato Council, P.O. Box 5207, Mississippi State, MS 39762.
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B [ B$ LQGG
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THE RICHARDS GROUP
CLIENT: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
LIVE: 00 x 00
PRODUCT: Farm Bureau /Ram HD
TRIM: 14.5x 9
*Must be a Farm Bureau® member for at least 30 days. Contact your local Farm Bureau® office for details. †EPA estimates based on 20 highway mpg. Farm Bureau® is a federally registered collective membership and a registered service mark of the American Farm Bureau Federation.® HEMI is a registered trademark of Chrysler Group LLC.
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AD: xx AB: xx
PROOFREADING SIGNOFF INITIALS: ______ DATE: _________
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By Glynda Phillips
A UNIQUE HOMEGROWN
Bakery
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GROWING POPULARITY The sweet potato, rated number one in nutritional value out of 58 vegetables by Nutrition Action Health Letter, is growing in popularity because it is high in fiber, vitamins and minerals, especially beta carotene. “People are looking for a healthier choice,” Karen said. “They are always amazed at how many products can be made using the sweet potato.” The women say they are also happy to note that many restaurants and steakhouses now offer baked sweet potatoes and sweet potato fries on their menus.
FOR MORE INFORMATION For more information about Sweet Potato Sweets, please call 662.682.9647 or 800.770.5035 or email sweetpotatosweets@TDS.net. Visit the Web site at www.sweetpotatosweets.com. FC
Next time you’re in Vardaman, stop by Sweet Potato Sweets and enjoy a treat. This unique “homegrown” bakery, located on Highway 8 as you are passing through town, makes over 30 different products, including candies, breads, pies, cookies, casseroles, marmalades, and sausage balls, all using the Mississippi-grown sweet potato as an important ingredient. Sweet Potato Sweets was founded in 1996 by three sweet potato farm couples as a means of promoting the Mississippi Sweet Potato Industry. Today, it is one of the industry’s most important promotional tools.
SOME HISTORY Sweet Potato Sweets is presently owned by two of the original founding farm couples, Paul and Daphna Cook and Randle and Karen Wright. While their husbands grow the potatoes, Karen and Daphna manage the bakery. “Sweet Potato Sweets has grown and changed in the years since it was begun almost 15 years ago,” Karen said. “We offer so many different types of items now, and we are constantly trying to come up with new products to add to our line.” Sweet Potato Sweets enjoys visitors from all over the state and nation. In addition, the bakery ships products throughout the United States and outside of the country as well. “We employ three full-time workers who are here every day, and we couldn’t do this without them,” Karen said. “We add additional help around the holidays.” Advertising for Sweet Potato Sweets is primarily word of mouth. As a promotional tool for the sweet potato industry, Karen and Daphna distribute bakery items at food shows and other events. Products from Sweet Potato Sweets are used in a tasting booth hosted by sweet potato farm families during the annual Sweet Potato Festival in Vardaman on the first Saturday in November of each year. Over 10,000 folks attended the festival in 2009. “In addition to our bakery and promotional work, we offer made-to-order gift baskets, and we cater receptions and other special occasions,” Karen said. “We make cheese balls, a congealed salad and a sweet potato cake upon request.” NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
THE SWEET POTATO, RATED NUMBER ONE IN NUTRITIONAL VALUE OUT OF 58 VEGETABLES BY NUTRITION ACTION HEALTH LETTER, IS GROWING IN POPULARITY BECAUSE IT IS HIGH IN FIBER, VITAMINS AND MINERALS, ESPECIALLY BETA CAROTENE.
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SOLVE THE MYSTERY
Our mystery town serves as the seat of county government for Franklin County. Established in 1809, two miles west of its present location, this town was originally called Franklin, after the county. When our mystery town became a county seat, it adopted its present name from General Cowles Mead, the second Secretary of the Mississippi Territory. Gen. Mead also served as acting Mississippi Governor and as Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives. Formal incorporation was accomplished in 1860. The present courthouse in our mystery town was designed by Jackson architect Noah Webster Overstreet, who designed many of the prominent buildings in the state at that time. A bicentennial project for the town is to renovate this 1913 county courthouse.
AGRICULTURAL AREA Our mystery town is located 30 minutes from Brookhaven, McComb and Natchez. It has access to the larger cities while maintaining its small-town Mayberrytype atmosphere. The residents care for each other and are among the friendliest in the state. Each year, this town enjoys a St. Patrick’s Day Parade, complements of the local Lions Club; a Homecoming Parade; and a Christmas Parade, which takes place in Bude then moves to our mystery town. Franklin County is home to some 60 churches, many of them historic, as well as numerous antebellum homes. Our mystery town boasts an historical museum, the Franklin County Municipal Library and the Franklin County Memorial Hospital. It is home to a convalescent home and the Summit Rehab and Wellness Center. This town boasts one park, the city park tennis courts and playground, and one school system that serves the entire county. The economy of our mystery town has historically depended upon agriculture. Back in the early days, the region’s massive yellow pine forests drew numerous lumber mills, both large and small. The town had access to railroad lines and the Homochitto River to ship out logs, cotton and molasses. Farmers in the area still grow timber, row crops and cattle. In the mid-20th century, our mystery town boasted a cotton gin, ice house, feed mill, co-op, movie theater, combination grocery store/clothing store, dry goods store and meat market. It was home to Mosby Dairy and Western Auto. Back in those days, longtime residents say you could find at least four auto dealerships and just as many body shops. Today, our mystery town boasts businesses that include the Franklin County Farm Bureau, Georgeanne Deli and Gifts, Toad House (a consignment shop), Feed Meal restaurant, Dollar General, two banks, one drugstore, and The Franklin Advocate, a weekly newspaper established in 1891.
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Pictured, opposite page, is Okhissa Lake near Bude. This page, from left, are Herring Gas headquarters and a Presbyterian church. Our mystery town has historically had access to bountiful natural resources, including the region’s Homochitto National Forest, Homochitto River, Clear Springs Park and numerous lakes, including the beautiful Okhissa Lake. The population of our mystery town swells to about 3,000 folks each year when outdoor enthusiasts converge upon the area.
HEADQUARTERS TOWN This town is the headquarters of Cellular South, the nation’s largest privately-owned wireless communications provider. The company has close ties to Franklin Telephone Company, also headquartered in this town.
Our mystery town is also the corporate headquarters for Herring Gas Company.
FAMOUS FOLKS Famous folks from our mystery town include Gloria McGehee, a movie star; state Senator Herman B. Mayes McGehee; state Rep. Edward Turner; and U.S. Senator Dan McGehee from Little Springs.
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Many of the current residents of this town are descendants of the original settlers. A few of the common historical names include Whittington, Halford, Seab, McLemore, Lehmann and McGehee. Name this town. A special thanks to Joy Foy with the Mississippi Development Authority, Dorothy McGehee, a longtime resident and historian, City Clerk Leslie Cupit and Franklin County Farm Bureau secretary Eva Nell Milton for their help with this article.
CORRECT GUESSES Mail guesses to Solve the Mystery, Mississippi Farm Country, P. O. Box 1972, Jackson, MS 39215. You may also e-mail your guesses to FarmCountry@MSFB.com. Please remember to include your name and address on the entry. Visit our Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Web site at www.msfb.com. 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 December 31.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER The correct answer for the September/October Solve the Mystery is Rolling Fork.
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COUNSEL’S CORNER
WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?* Sam E. Scott, MFBF General Counsel
Once upon a time, law students were taught legal history and how important legal concepts were developed throughout the ages. It seemed not particularly interesting at the time though experience has shown its importance. One of my favorite professors taught that law has two important goals, justice and certainty, and that those two goals were in perpetual conflict with each other. One of his favorite analogies was comparing the law as developed by courts carefully over centuries and laws passed by Parliament. The law of the English courts, called the common law, was a carefully, well-trimmed and cultivated garden through which, from time to time, Parliament tore like a gaggle of mounted fox hunters requiring new planting and cultivating but still subject to later unpredictable damage by the hunter legislators. Precedent resulted in certainty, a norm by which society could conduct its social and business affairs by tradition and habit, yet it had to be tempered by mercy so as not to become static or inhumane. From this mix, came the doctrine of stare decisis, which, in Latin, means “to abide by, or adhere to, decided cases” and its heart is precedent. This is no ironclad rule, and courts not only have made exceptions in certain instances or, for what they deem good reasons, modify or overrule longstanding precedents; i.e., “separate but equal” in public education, “one man, one vote,” etc. One may ask what are the standards by which exceptions are made or the rule of law changed? Recent events in California make that question a bright line. In May 2008, the California Supreme Court held that gay marriage was legal in California.2 (This article is not about the legality or morality of gay marriage, but the legal process of how the legal struggle has evolved.) Thereafter, utilizing California’s initiative law by which citizens may propose changes in the law (varying from state to state), the 20
California voters passed Proposition 8 in November 2008, which banned same-sex marriages in that state. The campaigns for and against Proposition 8 raised $39.9 million and $43.3 million, respectively, becoming the highest-funded campaign on any state ballot and surpassing every campaign in the country in spending except the presidential contest and resulted in almost 13.5 million votes. Proposition 8 was then challenged and the issue came up to the California Supreme Court again.3 That court, in a 99-page opinion, held that the citizen voters had properly exercised their rights under California law and that the prohibition enacted under Proposition 8 was legal and valid. This decision could have been appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court but was not. During the time between the two California Supreme Court decisions, over 18,000 same-sex marriage licenses were legally issued in the state, which will not be disturbed by the decision of this case. As usual, in cases which involve questions of public morality and law, considerable publicity ensued. Proposition 8 opponents filed in federal court in San Francisco another challenge to Proposition 8, primarily under the equal protection and due process clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.4 The case was heard by a single United States District Judge who recently ruled that Proposition 8 was unconstitutional in a 136-page opinion. Now the tables turned and former victors appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which has held the ruling in abeyance until it hears the case the week of Dec. 6, 2010. Almost certainly, the loser there will attempt to get the U.S. Supreme Court to accept a further appeal. Where does it all end? Just as is the situation with criminal cases involving the death sentence, some feel that in many civil cases there are never-ending appeals and new hearings going on for many years, M I S S I S S I P P I FA R M C O U N T RY
affirming the adage that “justice delayed is justice denied” – not to mention expensive. So how do you summarize these proceedings? Has a courageous federal judge, appointed for life by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, stood up for the Constitution and judicially declared the clearly expressed will of the people and the Supreme Court of California denies some of its citizens due process and equal protection of the law? Or, has a single appointed judge held himself to be superior, morally and legally, to decisions by thousands of his fellow citizens and the California Supreme Court? Moreover, when is enough enough? Who is financing this enormously expensive litigation? What will it cost California taxpayers? Has the doctrine of stare decisis been tossed out the window? Does the law mean nothing more than what the last court which opines it to mean - a version of last man standing? This reminds me of a quote from an ancient English case in 1458 where the chief justice said: Sir the law is as I say it is, and so it has been laid down ever since the law began; and we have several set forms which are held as law and so held and used for good reason, though we cannot at present remember that reason.5 *Theme song from the 1966 hit movie “Alfie.” The opening lines include: “Is it just for the moment we live …?” 2
In Re: Marriage Cases, 189 P3d 384.
3
Strauss v. Horton 207 P.3d 48
4
No. CO9-2292VRW Perry v. Schwarzenegger, U.S.D.C. N.D. CA
5
Y.B. 36 Hen. VI, ff. 25b-26 (1458) (as translated in 3 William
S. Holdsworth, A History of English Law 626 (3d ed. 1923))
Sam E. Scott is general counsel for Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) 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.
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Have you heard? Your annual membership fee includes many valuable member benefits. Highlighted below are a few of those benefits. To see a complete list, visit our Web site at www.msfb.com. Take advantage of the benefits available to Farm Bureau members ONLY. If you are not a member, joining is simple. Contact the Farm Bureau office in the county where you live, pay your membership dues, and start enjoying these benefits today! For more information, contact Member Benefits Coordinator Dedra Luke at 1.800.227.8244, ext. 4169. ®
www.msfb.com
BUDGET TRUCK RENTAL Farm Bureau members receive a 15 percent discount on truck rentals through Budget. For reservations, call 1.800.566.8422 and give the Mississippi Farm Bureau code. You can also visit us on the Web at www.budgettruck.com/mississippifarmbureau.aspx.
CHILD SAFETY SEATS Members can pick up order forms for $25 car seats and $15 booster seats at their local county office or visit our Web site at www.msfb.com.
CHOICE HOTELS 20 percent off the published rack room rate at any participating Comfort Inn®, Comfort Suites®, Quality Inn®, Sleep Inn®, Clarion®, Main Stay Suites®, Econo Lodge®, and Rodeway Inn® based on availability.
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By Glynda Phillips
DAIRY GOATS ARE A REAL
LEARNING EXPERIENCE Bright and early on a typical morning at Hidden Arrows Farm in Rankin County, four brothers, David, Alex, Andrew and John Mark Huff, head for the milking barn. Two of the boys feed the baby goats (kids) and two of them milk the mama goats then strain the milk and refrigerate it. Hidden Arrows Farm presently boasts 30 to 40 Oberhasli and La Mancha dairy goats. The farm also has laying hens, llamas, commercial meat goats, grass-fed beef cattle, and horses. The Huff dairy isn’t a Grade A facility so the goat’s milk is not pasteurized. Family members drink raw goat’s milk and sell the rest to customers who value its nutritional qualities. The milk is also used to make kefir (a type of strong buttermilk), cheese, soap and lotion. The brothers say that goat’s milk is gentle and known for its richness as a moisturizer. They make scented and unscented goat’s milk soap and lotion in a workshop in their home, molding the soap, designing the packaging and selling the products themselves. Their best-selling scent is red clover tea. Magnolia and cotton blossom also smell great. All of the goat’s milk products are sold from their home and at the Mississippi Farmers Market in Jackson. The soap and lotion are also sold at select stores in Brandon and Jackson and at the Mississippi Craft Center in Ridgeland, home of the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi.
THE BEGINNINGS The Huffs’ dairy goat operation was begun when David was 8 years old. (He will be 17 years old in September.) David needed something to show in 4-H, and his parents, Mark and Debbie, wanted some type of livestock project that would help him develop a good work ethic and a strong sense of responsibility. Debbie and Mark also wanted to incorporate the experience into David’s educational curriculum. All of their boys are home-schooled. “David was small for his age, and cows and horses intimidated him,” Debbie said. “We have friends in Brandon who show goats, and we went with them to one of the shows. Mark and I talked and prayed about it, and we decided that dairy goats would be a good match.” What they didn’t anticipate was how rapidly the goats would multiply. All of those goats began producing far more milk than the Huffs could sell, so they were forced to come up with creative ways of using the extra milk. “We had some close friends, the Willis family of Little T Farms in Southhaven, who had some children raising dairy goats as 4-H projects. They were making and selling goat’s milk soap and goat’s milk lotion,” Debbie said. “They invited us to spend the weekend with them, and they showed us the process. We have also learned by doing as we have expanded the business.” Through the years, Hidden Arrows Farm has developed a loyal customer base. All advertising is word of mouth.
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“Consumers are interested in locally-grown foods and value-added products,” Debbie said. “When Mississippians leave home and live in other states for awhile, they tell their relatives they can’t believe they don’t have access to fresh goat’s cheese and milk. “It is definitely a younger crowd interested in this,” she added. “They are willing to pay for it, and they don’t mind seeking out farmers markets to purchase their foods. They want to eat clean, light and fresh.”
HARD WORK The Huffs say it is hard to raise Oberhasli (Swiss) and La Mancha (Spanish) goat breeds in the southern United States because of the humidity and heat, the types of soil here, and our wet, early springs. All of this lends itself to problems with disease. “We rotate pastures with them, and that helps,” Debbie said. “We have six different pastures, ranging in size from 2 to 7 acres each.” Debbie and the boys say a dairy goat farm involves intensive management and long hours. This type of farming is definitely not for people who are afraid of hard work and lots of it. Nonetheless, the boys unanimously agree that they enjoy working with dairy goats, especially the kids. They also love country life and, although none of them plans to farm for a living, each one of them acknowledges that raising livestock will always be an important part of their lives regardless of the career paths they might take. David dreams of one day becoming a civil engineer. Alex, 15, is a talented musician with a variety of interests, who especially loves politics. Andrew, 15, is interested in the military and journalism. He aspires to a military academy appointment, specifically West Point. And John Mark, 10, loves teeth. He expects to become a dentist one day. “They are growing into responsible young men,” Debbie said. “Mark and I look forward to seeing what God has in store for each of them. We just hope they will be sensitive to the calling God has on each one of their lives.” In addition to their school work and farm chores, the brothers are very involved in church (especially mission work), sports and 4-H. “We believe that their dairy goats project through 4-H has been especially beneficial,” Debbie said. “The goats have helped to positively shape their character and have proven to be a real learning experience. We like to say that we are raising dairy goats in order to raise our boys.” The Huff family must be doing something right. Hidden Arrows Farm was presented the 2008 Farm Family of the Year award by the Rankin County Chamber of Commerce. The Huffs are members of the Rankin County Farm Bureau. For more information about goat’s milk products, contact Hidden Arrows Farm at 601.824.9255. FC
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A Great Ch ristmas Display
G
Jo Bullard, Mayor Pattie Watkins and Linda Dendy invite you to visit Woodland during the Christmas season. On the opposite page, is a sample of the types of displays decorating the town.
By Glynda Phillips ive yourself a treat this holiday season and visit the town of Woodland in Chickasaw County. Last year, thousands of folks passed through to view the town’s lavish display of Christmas lights and decorations. Limousines, buses, cars and trucks were backed all the way to the highway. “We had visitors from all over the state,” said Mayor Patti Watkins, a local business owner and enthusiastic contributor to the production. “Some were just passing through. They saw the lights from the highway and were curious. Others made a point of stopping by. People took photos of the displays and of themselves posing with the displays. “It was just a whole lot of fun,” she said. “The kids and the elderly seemed to enjoy it the most." The great thing is that each display is put up for the enjoyment of everyone, and there is never a charge for viewing.
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SOME HISTORY Woodland has for years decorated for Christmas. But last year, residents decided to amp up their extravaganza when Drs. Clint and Laura Washington donated a huge amount of Christmas decorations and lighted scenes to their hometown. They even offered their valuable time and knowledge to help get everything put up. “We like the holidays around here,” Patti explained. “We go all out for every holiday, but we really outdo ourselves at Christmas. Last year, we put up close to a million lights.” Among the displays, which are gigantic and lighted, are flags, trains, roller coasters, underwater scenes, Christmas trees with presents, a 30-foot cross, poinsettias, deer, stars, angels, Cinderella’s Castle, toy soldiers, 16-foot Christmas trees, Candyland, Noah’s Ark, a carousel, a Cane House and a tunnel covered with snowflakes, to name a few. Many of the scenes are animated and some of them are even set to music. “Each year, we try to add some new things,” she said. Last year, a live Santa stood alongside Woodland volunteers at the town’s one main intersection, handing out candy canes every Friday and Saturday night and every single night during the week of Christmas. Santa intends to visit the town again this year. This year, the town is working on a new scene to celebrate the birth of Jesus. They are even making a huge birthday cake! “Our fire department plans to have carriage rides this year, but you must call and make an appointment,” Patti said. “You must also pay for this because it is an effort to raise funds for the fire department.” Woodland takes everyone's suggestions to make improvements. Hot cocoa and cookies are also in the works. Y’ALL COME Mayor Patti and the town of Woodland extend to you an invitation to visit, especially during the Christmas season. Lights will be turned on Thanksgiving night and will shine until New Years. “Come bring your kids,” she said. “Enjoy the lights, and have a nice night out.” For more information or to schedule a time for the fire department carriage ride, call Talitha Hudson at 662.456.4315 or email her at talitha@woodlandfurniture.net. FC Woodland received the Mississippi Municipal Association's Overall Excellence Award last year for its community spirit. Woodland’s motto is “The Little Town that Can.”
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RECIPE Mix topping ingredients and spread over potatoes. Bake 45 minutes at 350 degrees.
SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE 2 c. mashed sweet potatoes 1 stick margarine 1 c. sugar 1 tsp. vanilla 2 eggs ¼ c. milk 1 c. coconut
Charlotte Wallace, Pike County
Mix these seven ingredients and pour into long casserole dish. Topping: 1 c. brown sugar 1 stick margarine ½ c. flour 2 T. water 1 c. chopped pecans
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These recipes were taken from “Country Cooking, Volume IV,” which is available at most county Farm Bureau offices. The cost is $15. If you order from the state office, it will cost you $15 plus postage. For more information, contact Women’s Program Coordinator Clara Bilbo at 1.800.227.8244, ext. 4245.
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2010-2011 Young Farmers & Ranchers Foundation Recipients
Jason Camp of Calhoun County $2,000 YF&R Scholarship, MSU
Angie Rogers of Perry County $1,000 Don Waller Scholarship, MSU
Christopher Baker of Calhoun County $2,000 YF&R Scholarship, MSU
Jennifer Williams of Hinds County $2,000 YF&R Scholarship, MSU
Michael Andrew Tucker of Leake County $1,000 Hugh Arant Scholarship, MSU
Thomas Wagnon of Jones County $2,000 YF&R Scholarship, JCJC
2010-2011 Berta Lee White Scholarship Recipients Kelsey Diane Unruh of Noxubee County and Jennifer Kelly Williams of Hinds County were each awarded the $2,000 Berta White Scholarship by the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) Women’s Program. Both girls are students at Mississippi State University. Pictured are, from left, Shelby Williams, State Women’s Vice Chair; Betty Edwards, Region 5 Chair; Kelsey; Deniese Swindoll, Region 1 Chair; Betty Mills, State Women’s Chair; Joan Thompson, Region 6 Chair; Jennifer; Wanda Hill, Region 8 Chair; MFBF President David Waide; and Carolyn Turner, Region 7 Chair.
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YF&R Competitions Offer Great Prizes Jackson Named MSU Extension Director The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Young Farmer and Rancher (YF&R) competitions will offer great prizes in 2011. The Achievement Award recipient will win a 2011 Dodge Ram pickup, courtesy of Ram Trucks, as well as a paid registration to the 2011 YF&R Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida, on Feb. 5-7, 2011. Each of the four runners-up will receive a Case IH Farmall tractor from CASE IH. The Discussion Meet winner will receive a 2011 Dodge Ram pickup, courtesy of Ram Trucks, as well as a paid registration to the 2011 YF&R Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida, on Feb. 5-7, 2011. Each of the three runners-up will receive a $6,000 U.S. Savings Bond and a Farm Boss on behalf of Stihl. Winner of the Excellence in Agriculture Award will receive a 2011 Dodge Ram pickup, courtesy of Ram Trucks, as well as a paid registration to the 2011 YF&R Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida, on Feb. 5-7, 2011. Each of the runners-up will receive a $6,000 U.S. Savings Bond and a Farm Boss on behalf of Stihl. Winners will be determined during AFBF’s 92nd Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, January 9-11, 2011.
Gary Brown Jackson has been named director of the Mississippi State University Extension Service. He will assume his duties Jan.1, 2011, pending formal approval of the Board of Trustees, State Institutions of Higher Learning. Jackson earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural and extension education at Mississippi State. He holds a doctorate from Pennsylvania State University, with a major in agricultural education and a minor in communication. Jackson began his professional career as an agricultural educator for the Starkville School District. He has been a member of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences faculty since 1990 and has served as assistant and associate dean of the college, as well as director of the School of Human Sciences and interim state leader for Extension’s Family and Consumer Sciences program. In 2010, he assumed the duties of interim associate vicepresident of academic affairs in the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President at MSU.
state-to-state rates Long-distance sta te-to-state ra tes are only 4.9¢ per minute in-state Local in-sta te calls are only 6.9¢ per minute (Sa (Save ve even more wth the EZDIAL plan-4.9¢ per minute)
state-to-state Calling Cards are only 8.9¢ a minute sta te-to-state Monthly FFee ee is only $2.00 Incremental Billing aatt 6 seconds TODAY! saving ving TODAY! FFill ill out the form belo w and start sa below
ARM Call toll-free 1-800-362-F 1-800-362-FARM Contact your sta state te office or visit www www.countryconnect.us .countryconnect.us for more informa information tion
Yes, please sign me up! Yes, Letter of Agenc Agencyy primary long-distance provider for the service(s) service(s) and telephone number(s) indica ted belo w and I authorize Countr yconnect to act as my aagent gent by notifying my local telephone I choose Countryconnect, Countryconnect, po powered wered by IBF IBFA, A, as my primary indicated below Countryconnect below and that that I have have the authority to change the prescribed 1+ long-distance carrier providing service service compan companyy of this choice. I am legally responsible for the payment of charges incurred on the telephone number(s) listed below have only one primary primary long-distance company company for a given telephone number carrier’s service(s) service(s) and that that to these numbers. Further Further,, I recognize tha thatt I can have number,, tha thatt I will no longer be pre-subscribed to my current long-distance carrier’s any later later change. I understand that that my long-distance service service will be billed directly by and payable payable to Countryconnect. Countryconnect. There will be a $1.50 monthly access my local telephone compan companyy may impose a charge for this and any IntraLATTA (in-state) IntraLA InterLATTA (state-to-state). services will be provided to me by Countryconnect: Countryconnect: IntraLATA (in-state) and InterLATA InterLA (state-to-state). fee on the bill. I understand that that my signature signature on this form means the following following services
Signature: ture: Signa
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Countr Countryconnect yconnect Calling Cards
Mail to: Countryconnect Countryconnect 1850 Howard Howard Street, Suite C Village, IL 60007 Elk Grove Village, © 2010 Countryconnect ® All Rights Reserved. Powered by IBFA, a subsidiary of Telava Networks, Inc.
28
MS0806#001
M I S S I S S I P P I FA R M C O U N T RY
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Instead, Try a Delicious Beef Dish Be ef T e nde rl oin W ith E as y Cran be rry Bal s ami c Sa uc e Ingredients: 1 whole beef tenderloin roast (about 4 to 5 pounds) 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme 1 tablespoon pepper 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar 3 tablespoons finely chopped shallots 1 can (16 ounces) whole berry cranberry sauce 1/4 teaspoon salt Instructions: 1. Heat oven to 425°F. Combine thyme and pepper; reserve 1 teaspoon seasoning mixture for sauce. Press remaining seasoning mixture evenly onto all surfaces of beef roast. 2. Place roast on rack in shallow roasting pan. Insert ovenproof meat thermometer so tip is centered in thickest part of beef. Do not add water or cover. Roast in 425°F oven 50 to 60 minutes for medium rare; 60 to 70 minutes for medium doneness. 3. Remove roast when meat thermometer registers 135°F for medium rare; 150°F for medium. Transfer roast to carving board; tent loosely with aluminum foil. Let stand 15 to 20 minutes. (Temperature will continue to rise about 10°F to reach 145°F for medium rare; 160°F for medium.) 4. Meanwhile prepare sauce. Combine vinegar and shallots in small saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 3 minutes. Stir in cranberry sauce; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 6 minutes to blend flavors, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in reserved seasoning and salt. 5. Carve roast into slices; serve with sauce. Total recipe time: 1 to 1-1/4 hours Makes 8 to 10 servings
For the latest beef recipes contact the Mississippi Beef Council 680 Monroe St. Suite A • Jackson, MS 39202 (601) 353-4520 www.msbeef.org Sponsored by Mississippi’s Beef Producers through the Beef Checkoff Program
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