FARM COUNTRY

Fall 2019 | msfarmcountry.com

inside
L
FOUR FAL
FAVORITE
RECIPES

FEATURING
Tea Time
Fighting
the Flood
Clarksdale
Blues Legends

Sweet Success
Mississippi sweet potato farms grow with consumer demand

A PUBLICATION OF THE MISSISSIPPI FARM BUREAU FEDERATION

 FALL 2019
CONTENTS

12

8 12 20 28
SWEET TEA TIME SURVIVING DIRTY HANDS
ENTERPRISE Poplarville blueberry THE WATER AND DIPLOMAS
Mississippi sweet potato farm expands to include Flooding displaces Mantachie High School
farms grow with tea production farmers, residents students experience real-
consumer demand and wildlife world agriculture through
hands-on projects

6 FALL AGENDA 19 NOTES FROM THE FIELD In This Issue

Go nuts at the Mississippi Millennials and the future
Pecan Festival of agriculture
1 // Richton p. 6
7
2 // Kewanee p.7 5
14 TRAVEL 32 RECIPES 3
Clarksdale shares its rich traditions Seasonal flavors take center 3 // Vardaman p. 10
with visitors from around the world stage in delicious desserts 4 // Poplarville p. 12
5 // Clarksdale p. 14 6 2
18 GARDENING 36 FARM BUREAU NEWS
6 // Vicksburg p. 21
Succulent-adorned pumpkins Why you should vote in the 2019
1
are a new spin on the classic general election 7 // Mantachie p. 28
PHOTO: ART MERIPOL

4
seasonal décor

ON THE COVER: Adam Wright grows sweet potatoes on his farm in Vardaman. Photo by Art Meripol
msfarmcountr y.com // 3
 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Let’s Make Voting a Priority This Fall

senators, and transportation This issue features one MFBF Women’s Leadership
and public service of my favorite vegetables Program works tirelessly to
commissioners will be – sweet potatoes. I eat do just that. In this issue,
elected. This means every them all year long, but you will hear about some
voting-age citizen has an I especially like them of the education and service
opportunity to exercise during Thanksgiving. work our women members
the sacred right to vote. I Sweet potato farmers complete.
challenge all Mississippians Jamie Earp of Chickasaw Additionally, this issue
to go to the polls on Election County and Adam and will give you an inside look
Day this year and vote. Brittany Wright of Calhoun at the flooding along the
I could give you a list of County will explain Mississippi River and how
reasons to vote, but I have everything from how they it’s impacting the farmers
one specific reason why I grow sweet potatoes to who live near it. Farming
Mike McCormick head to the polls whenever where their sweet potatoes is hard. I learned that at a
President, go after harvest. Make sure young age, but it still breaks
Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation I can. Not long after my
18th birthday, my father you mark your calendar for my heart to see my fellow
and I were headed to one the annual Sweet Potato farmers suffering.
of our fields to work when Festival in Vardaman I implore you to keep
We have all heard he took an unexpected this November! them and their families in
or read the turn toward the Jefferson Another thing I enjoy your prayers as you read of
County Courthouse so as much as sweet potatoes the hardships they continue
preamble to the to face. I encourage you to
I could register to vote. is sweet tea. If you love a
Constitution of My dad was a sailor on cold glass of tea as much as work together and support
the United States a landing craft in the Pacific I do, you’ll love the feature each other so we may
during WWII. Their charge on JD Farms, one of the continue to farm forward. 
of America.
was to invade Japan. He told first farms in Mississippi
“We the people of the me, “I served my country so to grow and process tea. JD
United States, in order to you would always have the Farms’ owners, Jeff Brown
form a more perfect union, right to vote. Promise me and Don van de Werken,
establish justice, insure you will make an effort to package and sell the tea
domestic tranquility, vote to honor me and the under the name Pearl River
provide for the common Tea in an effort to support WOMEN’S
sacrifice I made for this
defense, promote the LEADERSHIP
great nation of ours.” their local economy. PROGRAM
general welfare, and secure The general election this Speaking of local, have
the blessings of liberty to fall is critical, not only for you ever contemplated Turn to page 18 to find
ourselves and our posterity, our farmers, ranchers and the benefits a high school out more information
do ordain and establish rural communities, but agriculture program about Mississippi Farm
this Constitution for the for all Mississippians. provides a community? In Bureau Federation’s
United States of America.” Remember, we must this issue you can discover Women’s Leadership
Our nation and state’s send men and women with how Mantachie High Program.
founders created a republic, character and intelligence School’s FFA students are
meaning the people hold to Jackson to do what is impacting their community MISSISSIPPI RIVER
the power, but God gives best for Mississippi. and learning along the way. FLOODING
them their rights. The As you begin to read this As the agriculture Turn to page 20 to find
greatest power of the people issue of Mississippi Farm community continues to out more information
rests at the ballot box. Country, you will find more age, it becomes extremely about the farmers and
Mississippi will soon hold information about the 2019 important for us to educate ranchers impacted by
a general election where general election, as well as a younger generations on the flooding along the
statewide elected officials, list of fall activities and opportunities within the Mississippi river.
state representatives, state recipes to try. industry. Each year, the
4 // Mississippi Farm Countr y
 FARM COUNTRY
An official publication of the Mississippi
THIS ISSUE ON MSFARMCOUNTRY.COM
Farm Bureau Federation © 2019 MFBF
Vol. 19, No. 3
Connect to your food, farmers and uniquely Mississippi lifestyle

Mississippi Farm
Bureau Federation
msfb.org

PRESIDENT Mike McCormick

VICE PRESIDENTS Donald Gant, Ted Kendall IV, Louis Breaux IV
WOMEN’S COMMITTEE CHAIR Betty Mills
YOUNG FARMERS & RANCHERS COMMITTEE CHAIR
Taylor Hickman
GENERAL COUNSEL Kent Bloodworth
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Brent Wilson
COMMUNICATION COORDINATOR Jon Kalahar
PRINT MEDIA SPECIALIST Alex Lowery
SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST Karen Miller
REGIONAL MANAGERS Craig Hankins, RGN 1; Will Gibson, RGN 2;
Britton Hatcher, RGN 3; Samantha Laird, RGN 4; Kevin Brown, RGN 5;
Jon Kilgore, RGN 6; Doug Ervin, RGN 7; Chris Shivers, RGN 8
MEMBER BENEFITS COORDINATOR Angela Ellis

Mississippi Farm Country is produced for the Mississippi Farm

Bureau Federation by Farm Flavor Media.
EDITOR Hannah Patterson Hill
ASSOCIATE EDITORS Rachel Graf, Kelly Rogers
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jessica Boehm, Andy Brown,
Mary Carter, Jim DelPrince, Jon Kalahar, Jessica Mozo,
Cathy Lockman, Alex Lowery, Joanie Stiers
V.P./CONTENT & MARKETING Jessy Yancey
V.P./CREATIVE SERVICES Laura Gallagher
ART DIRECTOR Amy Hiemstra
SWEET – AND UNIQUE – POTATOES // Tired of cooking
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Emmylou Rittenour sweet potatoes the same way every time? Check out this list of unique
SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER Jeff Adkins
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Nathan Lambrecht sweet potato recipes that you’ve probably never tried before, including
MEDIA ASSET MANAGER Alison Hunter
V.P./DIGITAL OPERATIONS Allison Davis
sweet potato donuts, sweet potato cake and sweet potato butter. Yum!
WEB DEVELOPER Richard Stevens Find these recipes and more at: msfarmcountry.com/sweetpotatoes.
DIGITAL ADS SPECIALIST Susanna Haynes
PRESIDENT Ray Langen
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Molly Morton
V.P./SALES Mary Ann Stafford
AD PRODUCTION MANAGER Katie Middendorf
SENIOR AD COORDINATOR/DESIGNER Vikki Williams
AD TRAFFIC COORDINATOR Patricia Moisan
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EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Kristy Giles
HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER Peggy Blake
For advertising information, contact Mary Ann Stafford, FUN FALL FESTIVALS ENTER TO WIN
(800) 333-8842, ext. 275, or [email protected].
Contact the Mississippi Farm Country editorial team at Looking for some fun activities Calling all those with a sweet
Farm Flavor Media, 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400,
Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-5544, [email protected].
to do this fall? Check out the tooth! If you’re a fan of fudge,
All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be Delta Hot Tamale Festival, which this giveaway is for you. For a
reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.
takes place in Greenville on Oct. chance to win a delectable fudge
MISSISSIPPI FARM BUREAU FEDERATION (USPS No. 12167)
Issued quarterly by the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation 6311 18-20. Learn more about this prize pack from Mississippi-
Ridgewood Road, Jackson, MS 39211, (601) 957-3200. Periodical
permit paid at Jackson, MS and additional entry offices. event and other fun fall festivals based Fudge Etcetera, visit
POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to Mississippi Farm at msfarmcountry.com/ msfarmcountry.com/fudge
Country Executive Offices, P.O. Box 1972, Jackson, MS, 39215-1972.
SUBSCRIBE OR CHANGE ADDRESS Contact your county Farm
fallfestivals. and enter.
Bureau office. Mississippi Farm Country is included in your Farm
Bureau annual dues; no other purchase necessary.
FUDGE: ISTOCK.COM/E ASYBUY4U

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msfarmcountr y.com // 5
 STAFF SPOTLIGHT

Fall Agenda Cindy

Lavender
AUTUMN EVENTS, LOCAL PRODUCTS, In this
issue, we
INTERESTING PEOPLE AND MORE want to
recognize
Mississippi
Farm Bureau
Federation’s
Membership
Clerk, Cindy Lavender.
Cindy began working for
Mississippi Farm Bureau
Casualty Insurance Company
in May 1994 before moving to
her current position with MFBF
in December 1995. On a typical
day, Cindy works with county
secretaries across the state
regarding membership
tracking software. In addition,
she conducts membership
training classes for new
FEATURED EVENT // Go Nuts for Pecans membership secretaries.
“I reconcile and process daily
The Mississippi Pecan Festival celebrates its 32nd year this September at membership dues and reports,
Fulmer’s Farmstead in Richton. Attendees will get the chance to sample a as well as assist the state office
variety of tasty pecan treats, browse over 250 food and craft booths, and listen with other accounting needs,”
to live bluegrass and gospel music beneath the shade of the pecan trees. The Cindy says.
family-friendly event also features several activities throughout the weekend, Cindy says she likes being
including baking contests, craft demonstrations, a mule pull, an antique able to develop relationships
engine show and more. with the membership
The festival takes place Sept. 27-29, and admission is $10. To learn more secretaries across the state.
about the Mississippi Pecan Festival and see a full schedule of activities, “I’ve developed close
visit mspecanfestival.com or call (601) 964-8222. relationships with many of the
membership secretaries over
the years, and I enjoy helping
them on a daily basis,” Cindy
MADE IN MISSISSIPPI // Falling for Fudge says. “It allows me to work with
Owned and operated by vanilla and peanut butter, others who love Farm Bureau
Wallace and Janet Heggie as well as several unusual and what our organization
in Meridian, Fudge Etcetera and seasonal varieties, stands for.”
has been serving delicious such as apple pie, chocolate Cindy places much value on
confections for over 30 years. amaretto, cookie dough, key spending time with her family.
In 1986, the family business lime, pumpkin pie and more. She has been married to her
began manufacturing five For more information or high school sweetheart, Lane,
flavors of homemade fudge. to see a list of all the fudge for 32 years. Together, the
Fudge Etcetera now produces flavors available at the store, couple has three children,
PEC ANS: FR ANK ORDOÑEZ

over 25 flavors, including all visit fudgeloversfudge.com Casey, Ryan and Summer,
the classics like chocolate, or call (800) 218-9033. and one grandson, Beck.

GIVEAWAY // We’ve partnered with Fudge Etcetera to give

away a fudge prize pack to one lucky reader! Enter for your
chance to win at msfarmcountry.com/fudge.
6 // Mississippi Farm Countr y
 Generally Speaking FARM FACTS

Located off Highway 11 in Kewanee, the Simmons-Wright General

Store hasn’t changed much in its 134 years in business. The store was
built in 1884 to serve both travelers along the Old Dixie Highway and
Rice
Rice is a staple in many culinary dishes
local cotton farmers in the area, allowing the farmers to pay for their
across the globe. But how much do you
purchases with the cotton grown in their fields. Although the original
know about the production of it?
wooden building burned down in 1926, the store’s brick replacement
still stands with few changes since its construction.
Today, customers continue to stop in to buy hardware, farm supplies,
groceries, antiques
and collectibles. The
historic general store
even operates as
a restaurant for
breakfast and lunch After corn, rice is the most
Monday through produced crop in the world.
Saturday. To learn
more about the store,
visit thesimmons-
wrightcompany.com
or call (601) 632-1884.
$117 Million
TOTAL VALUE OF MISSISSIPPI
RICE PRODUCTION IN 2018
ASK A FARMER

Why is it important for women

to become involved in
Mississippi Farm Bureau
Federation and the Women’s
Leadership program? 259
We want more people involved step outside of their comfort zone Number of rice farms
in Farm Bureau, including women. and figure out how to voice their in Mississippi
Women have good, powerful thoughts and opinions.
voices. We all have ideas, and Carla Taylor lives in Prentiss
strengths and weakness. We have County with her husband, Bradley,
to figure out how to work together and their three children, Lee, Carl
and how to incorporate everyone’s and Holden. The family operates Rice is grown on every
ideas in order to become a stronger
organization. The Women’s
Taylor Jersey Farm alongside
Bradley’s parents. Carla currently
continent except
Leadership program helps women serves on the State Women’s Antarctica.
Leadership
Committee. She has
previously served on
the Young Farmers
GENER AL STORE: PAMEL APETRUS

& Ranchers State

Mississippi ranks #6
Committee and the
MFBF Board of in U.S. rice production.
Directors. Carla was
named MFBF Farm
Woman of the Year Sources: Mississippi Department of Agriculture,
in 2014. U.S. Department of Agriculture

msfarmcountr y.com // 7
 Sweet MISSISSIPPI SWEET POTATO FARMS
GROW WITH CONSUMER DEMAND

ENTERPRISE
Story by JOANIE STIERS // Photography by ART MERIPOL

S
mothered in brown sugar and has increased 35% in the last decade, POTATOES PICKED BY HAND
marshmallows or sliced and fueled by consumer demand and the Fall has arrived, and so has the
fried to a savory crisp, sweet state’s ideal soils for the crop. In 2018, harvest season – the time of year
potatoes are a favorite on America’s approximately 89 farms planted about when it’s literally “all hands on deck”
dinner tables. In fact, the number 29,000 acres of sweet potatoes in in Mississippi sweet potato fields.
of people eating sweet potatoes has Mississippi, making the state the The labor-intensive sweet potato
doubled since Jamie Earp started No. 3 grower of this root vegetable harvest spans the months of
growing the nutrient-packed vegetable. in the United States. Most of September and October, with each
“One of the biggest changes for Mississippi’s sweet potatoes grow in potato being hand-gathered. Earp
us is consumption is up,” says Earp, a five-county area around Vardaman, estimates the five-county area in
a sweet potato farmer in Chickasaw known as the “Sweet Potato Capital Northeastern Mississippi hires about
County and president of both the of the World.” 3,000 workers, primarily through
Mississippi Sweet Potato Council and “I believe our soils are some the H-2A program, to ride or walk
U.S. Sweet Potato Council. “When of the best to raise sweet potatoes,” through fields to gather literally
my brother and I started farming says Earp, who farms with his tons of sweet potatoes. In 2018
in the late 1990s, consumption brother in an operation his great- alone, Mississippi farmers and their
was about three to four pounds per grandfather started in 1967. “I get employees harvested 540 million
person, and now it is eight pounds calls from people looking to buy pounds of sweet potatoes valued
per person in the United States.” Mississippi sweet potatoes because at $118 million, according to
Sweet potato acreage in Mississippi of their taste.” the Mississippi State University
8 // Mississippi Farm Countr y
 Adam and Brittany Wright with
their daughter, Adalynn, on their
sweet potato farm in Vardaman.

msfarmcountr y.com // 9
 Agriculture, Forestry and Natural crop and treat as needed.
Sweet Potato Facts Resources Fact Book. After harvest, farmers cure and
The Earps gather their 250 acres store potatoes until buyers call for
• The Center for Science with a mechanical harvester, which orders. In 2018, the Earp family grew
in the Public Interest ranks holds up to 10 laborers who pick up just over 5 million pounds of sweet
the sweet potato No. 1 of sweet potatoes and place them in a potatoes they pack and sell in
all vegetables in nutritional bin. Larger farms employ a bucket 40-pound boxes to warehouses
content. crew that walks through the field and brokers.
picking up mechanically surfaced
• Beta carotene acts as an sweet potatoes to fill their buckets. PACKAGING OPERATION
antioxidant in the body and The process of planting sweet DIVERSIFIES FARM
gives sweet potatoes their potatoes begins in April for Adam Wright’s father started
orange pigment. Mississippi’s farmers. Farmers growing sweet potatoes in high
• The sweet potato is grow vegetative shoots from roots school, and in 1983 created the
technically not a potato, produced in the previous year. They partnership today known as N&W
nor even a distant cousin. cut those shoots to make “slips” that Farms in Vardaman. There, Wright
Potatoes are tubers; sweet laborers transplant into the fields. leads the packaging line, where the
potatoes are roots. The plants grow throughout the farm packages upward of 40% of
summer – vegetation above ground its annual harvest off 1,200 acres,
• Both sweet potatoes and
and the sweet potatoes below. as well as the sweet potato harvest
white potatoes are low in fat
Farmers watch for diseases, weeds from nearby farms.
and high in carbohydrates,
and insects that can attack the “I manage the specialty stuff –
fiber, vitamin C and
potassium. But sweet
potatoes also contain
more than five times the
recommended dietary
allowance for vitamin A,
rate high in beta carotene
and provide a source of
complex carbohydrates.
• Sweet potatoes graded Fresh
Market No. 1 sell loose at the
grocery store. The smaller
No. 2 sweet potatoes sell
in bags or trays, while the
processing grade ones
make French fries and
other products.
• The 2019 Sweet Potato
Festival takes place Nov. 2-9
in Vardaman, the “Sweet
Potato Capital of the World.”
For more info, visit
vardamansweet
potatofestival.com.
Sources: Mississippi Farm Bureau
Federation, Mississippi Sweet Potato
Council
SWEET POTATO FAC TS: MATES/FOTOLIA

10 // Mississippi Farm Countr y

3-pound bags, single wraps,
and microwave and steamer bags,”
says Wright, a member of the “When my brother and I started farming in
Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation
Young Farmers & Ranchers State
the late 1990s, consumption was about three
Committee, Calhoun County Farm to four pounds per person, and now it is
Bureau Board and Mississippi Sweet
Potato Council. eight pounds per person in the United States.”
The sweet potato packs some
serious health benefits, like providing - JAMIE EARP, SWEET POTATO FARMER
beta carotene, high fiber and low
calories, to name a few. While these
benefits drive sales, it’s the demand
for cooking convenience that has microwave, and it cooks all five sweet major retailers or distributors.
changed packaging options. potatoes in just minutes,” Wright At dinnertime, Wright prefers
Sweet potatoes still sell in bulk, says. “Everybody is looking for an his sweet potato simple: baked with
but often in smaller quantities, like easier way to cook when they get butter. He has, however, tested his
2-pound and 3-pound bags sorted off work.” mettle in the sweet potato pie-eating
by machine to length and ounce, Wright and his staff of 20 contest at the Sweet Potato Festival,
Wright says. Machines at N&W employees on the packaging side which starts the first Saturday
Farms also individually wrap of the farm business also hand-select of November in Vardaman.
8- to 12-ounce sweet potatoes sweet potatoes for their shrink- Sweet potato pie is Earp’s favorite
for store shelves. In the last three wrapped trays. way to eat the vegetable any time
years, the farm added steamer bags, The farm’s specialty packaged of year.
which are 1.5-pound packages of products sell under several brand “Sweet potatoes are not just a
double-washed sweet potatoes in names, such as Hillbilly and Lady holiday food,” Earp says. “And we’re
convenient microwavable bags. Hillbilly Sweet Potatoes or N&W excited about people purchasing
“You can put them in the Farm Sweet Potatoes. Most sell to and eating it every day.” 

Board of Registration for Foresters

It is the mission of the Board of Registration for Foresters to benefit and protect the general public
and the forest resources of the State of Mississippi by regulating the practice of forestry and
requiring that persons practicing or offering to practice forestry be lawfully registered to do so.
The Board will promote the highest standards of professional conduct among the Registered
Foresters of the State of Mississippi through Mississippi Law and the Code of Ethics for Foresters.

Howard L. Jones III Scott Smith John Mitchell Clint Rounsaville

Chairman Past Chairman (NE) Continuing Education Chairman
Natchez, MS Collinsville, MS Corinth, MS Brookhaven, MS
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
601.442.7471 601.626.8088 662.284.8104 601.384.7433

Brad Campbell Jeff Stewart Randy Shaw Russell Bozeman

Vice Chairman Secretary (WC) Complaint Chairman State Forester, Ex Officio
Starkville, MS Carrollton, MS Perkinston, MS Jackson, MS
[email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
662.323.9103 662.417.3340 601.749.9969 601.359.1386

Please visit our website at www.borf.ms.gov to view all of the services

the Board provides including finding a registered forester in your area.

msfarmcountr y.com // 11
 Tea Time
POPLARVILLE BLUEBERRY FARM EXPANDS
TO INCLUDE TEA PRODUCTION

Story by JESSICA BOEHM // Photography by ART MERIPOL

growing tea plants, but we did our

ESTABLISHED IN 2004, research and decided it made sense
Poplarville’s JD Farms for our operation,” van de Werken
says. “We’ve traveled across the U.S.
– named for its owners, and to China and India, and we’ve
Jeff Brown and Donald made connections in Australia, all
so we could perfect this art form
van de Werken – has of growing and producing tea. It’s
long been known for its been a fun, wild ride.”
According to van de Werken,
bounty of blueberries, but shortly after being inspired by the
recently, the operation radio show, he purchased 800 tea
cuttings from an operation in North
launched a new venture Carolina and planted them in a have gotten where we are today
that’s already proving greenhouse. Two short years later, without a lot of help.”
they were ready to be planted in As they were honing their tea-
successful: Pearl River Tea. a field on JD Farms. making process, van de Werken and
Next, van de Werken connected Brown looked to their customers at
STEEPED IN RESEARCH with Dr. Guihong Bi, a Mississippi the Crescent City Farmers Market in
In 2006, Brown and van de Werken State University (MSU) research New Orleans for help. They offered tea
were searching for a crop to cultivate professor in ornamental horticulture, samples to those purchasing their
during their blueberry crop’s as well as former MSU research blueberries and asked for feedback,
dormant season. The business associate Judson LeCompte, both and after listening, they were finally
partners found their answer as they of whom helped the business ready to launch Pearl River Tea in 2017.
listened to Felder Rushing discuss partners learn how to make tea.
Camellia sinensis plants (also known “We purchased all of our PLANTED IN THE MARKETPLACE
as tea plants) on his Mississippi equipment from China and had Commercial tea production
Public Broadcasting Think Radio no idea what to do with it – even officially began for Pearl River Tea
program, The Gestalt Gardener. getting it to work was a challenge in 2017, and today JD Farms comprises
There, they learned tea was originally – and Dr. Bi and Judson LeCompte 120 acres with 10,000 tea plants – a far
grown in southern Mississippi – and it graciously gave us a quick course cry from the 800 plants van de Werken
just so happens the plants thrive in a in tea making,” van de Werken says. began with – as well as 25 acres
similar soil as blueberries. So, they “Over time, we’ve learned to make of blueberries.
decided to give it a shot. it our own way, which we call the The company currently offers
“We had never even considered ‘Mississippi way,’ but we couldn’t 11 varieties of tea, including their
12 // Mississippi Farm Countr y
 If You Go

JD FARMS
574 Slade Woodward
Rd., Poplarville, MS
39470
(601) 799-8961
jdfarms.us
U-pick, farm tours
and limited
camping
available. JD Farms

Please call ahead

to arrange a visit.

Pearl River Tea offers many varieties,

including an iced version that incorporates
blueberries grown on JD Farms.

a Black/Blue variety with products are produced, packed,

dried blueberries and handled and stored as safely as
lemon that’s especially possible. In the future, they plan
popular as an iced to continue serving customers
beverage during warm locally and beyond, working to
weather months. broaden their scope to include
“Adding in blueberries international markets.
is just one way we’ve made “Our products are very consistent
our stamp on tea making,” and reliable because we do it all – we
van de Werken says. “We grow, harvest, cut, roast and process
classic Pearl River Black variety, also use pizza ovens to the tea ourselves – and our customers
an assortment of green teas, a roast our black tea. It’s certainly not always know they’re getting fresh,
gingerbread-flavored tea featuring the norm, but it works well for us.” high-quality products when they do
orange peel and cinnamon, and JD Farms also became the first business with us,” Brown says. “Plus,
an Earl Grey. tea company in the U.S. to be Mississippians love supporting their
In addition, van de Werken GAP-certified (Good Agricultural fellow residents; that’s been a huge
and Brown have incorporated their Practices), which means they’ve been help as we’ve grown and evolved
blueberries into their teas, creating audited by the USDA to verify their over the years.” 
msfarmcountr y.com // 13
 Clockwise from top: Terry
“Harmonica” Bean performs at
Red’s Blues Club; the “Pinetop”
Perkins suit is on display at the
Delta Blues Museum; Anna Welch
enjoys the french toast at Yazoo
Pass, a local favorite for delicious
coffee and food.

14 // Mississippi Farm Countr y

 TRAVEL

Hitting all the

Right Notes
CLARKSDALE SHARES ITS RICH TRADITION OF THE
BLUES AND THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA WITH VISITORS
FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Story by CATHY LOCKMAN Academy Award-winning actor

Photography by ART MERIPOL
Morgan Freeman. Red’s Blues

T
Club, another authentic juke joint,
here’s no music quite like also serves as an unofficial meeting
the blues, and there’s no spot for blues travelers visiting
place quite like Clarksdale Clarksdale from around the world.
to listen to it. Other venues include Levon’s,
This musical gem of a city, located Bluesberry and the New Roxy,
on the banks of the Sunflower a former movie theater turned music
River in the Mississippi Delta, was club, which is located in Clarksdale’s
established in 1858. At that time, historic New World district.
cotton was king, and Clarksdale’s “Blues music is performed 365
fertile soil and thriving cotton trade nights of the year across a variety of
earned the city recognition as “the venues,” says Bubba O’Keefe, tourism
golden buckle on the Cotton Belt.” director for Clarksdale and Coahoma
But today, thanks to its colorful County. “And we have local stores,
mix of Delta characters, unique blues restaurants and galleries that extend
venues, and fascinating literary and that blues culture, places like the
musical history, the county seat Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art
of Coahoma County is known and Hambone Gallery, where artists,
as “the crossroads of American musicians and storytellers often
music and culture.” gather. Plus, you can experience
A heavy dose of the blues Delta tamales and barbecue at
reverberates throughout the area, places like Abe’s, Hick’s or
from the clubs across Clarksdale, Larry’s Hot Tamales.”
to the city’s Delta Blues Museum While you can find music every
and the county’s 15 markers on night in Clarksdale, “there are times
the Mississippi Blues Trail. when music fans from across the
The city provides visitors with world flock to town to attend more
the opportunity to bask in sounds than a dozen of our music festivals,”
of local blues artists while snacking O’Keefe says.
on a fried green tomato sandwich at They include the Juke Joint
Ground Zero Blues Club, owned by Festival in April, the Sunflower River
msfarmcountr y.com // 15
 The Shack-Up Inn, where blues pianist Joe Willie “Pinetop” Perkins
worked. Bottom: Keith Johnson & the Big Muddy Band perform at Ground
Zero Blues Club. Johnson is billed as the great-nephew of Muddy Waters.

Blues & Gospel Festival in August

and the Deep Blues Fest in October.

LEGENDS LIVE HERE

After taking in the local talent,
immerse yourself in the history of
the blues by exploring the Delta
Blues Museum.
Here, you’ll be transported to the
past through memorabilia, including
the childhood cabin of Muddy
Waters and guitars played by
B.B. King, Big Joe Williams and
Clarksdale native John Lee Hooker.
Exhibits also provide opportunities
for visitors to learn about the lives
and music of legendary blues artists,
as well as how blues music grew
and changed during the Great
Migration from the South.
“When guests visit Clarksdale, they will Visitors will also gain a new
appreciation for the area that gave
find a historic small town that offers a birth to the blues while ambling
down the Mississippi Blues Trail.
unique experience ... rooted in the blues The 15 trail markers in Clarksdale
and Coahoma County tell stories of
and the Delta tradition.” blues artists and how their music was
influenced by the area. You can learn
- BUBBA O’KEEFE, CLARKSDALE AND about Ike Turner, who was born in
COAHOMA COUNTY TOURISM DIRECTOR the Riverside neighborhood and
16 // Mississippi Farm Countr y
began his career playing blues and fans and scholars enjoy film
boogie woogie piano in Clarksdale. screenings, porch plays, expert panels Fall Events in Clarksdale
Another marker details the life and tours of historic Clarksdale.
of Sam Cooke, who was born in A Tennessee Williams trail marker You can experience live music
Clarksdale and went on to popular will be unveiled at this year’s festival, in Clarksdale 365 nights a year,
acclaim for songs like “You Send Me.” O’Keefe says, and visitors will be able and this fall you can enjoy a
The Hopson Planting Company to tour the Tennessee Williams variety of festivals highlighting
marker is another stop on the Rectory Museum, which opened the music and literary history
Mississippi Blues Trail. Blues pianist earlier this year. of Clarksdale and Coahoma
Joe Willie “Pinetop” Perkins worked County.
at the cotton gin and later played RICH HISTORY, STRONG FUTURE
with Muddy Waters. The former While Clarksdale has a rich link DEAK’S HARMONICA
site of the planting company and to the past, it is also a thriving BLOCK PARTY
plantation is now the Shack Up community that encourages the next Oct. 5 from 12 to 9 p.m. on
Inn, which provides visitors with Muddy Waters or Tennessee Williams. Third Street in Clarksdale
unique accommodations featuring “For many years, the community
modernized sharecropper shacks. has supported the Delta Blues SUPER BLUES SUNDAY
Museum’s Arts & Education Oct. 13 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
You can also enjoy live music on
program, where young people are at venues across Clarksdale
site in the Juke Joint Chapel.
taught to play blues,” O’Keefe says.
TENNESSEE WILLIAMS
HOME OF A LITERARY GREAT “They come after school and are
FESTIVAL
Clarksdale also claims a chapter coached and mentored. It’s a living,
Oct. 17-19 at the Cutrer
in literary history. As a child, breathing program that encourages
Mansion and locations across
playwright Tennessee Williams blues legends in the making,
Clarksdale
called the town home. including Christone ‘Kingfish’
“He lived in the St. George Ingram, a Delta Blues music program DEEP BLUES FESTIVAL
Episcopal rectory, where his participant who is now touring Oct. 17-20 at the Shack Up Inn
grandfather was the church director,” with Buddy Guy.” and the New Roxy
O’Keefe says. “Williams’ work is He also points out that the
filled with references to Clarksdale Tennessee Williams Festival, which is HAMBONE FESTIVAL
and neighboring towns, and he sponsored by Coahoma Community Oct. 24-27 at the Hambone
even used the names of some local College, inspires area students in the Gallery and venues
residents in his plays, including literary and performance arts by across Clarksdale Clarksdale
Blanche Clark Cutrer, thought to be including a student acting competition. For more
the inspiration for Blanche Dubois “When guests visit Clarksdale, information and a
in A Streetcar Named Desire.” they will find a historic small town complete calendar
In celebration of this revered that offers a unique experience,” of events, visit
literary icon, Clarksdale hosts the O’Keefe says. “It’s an experience visitclarksdale.com
annual Tennessee Williams Festival that is rooted in the blues and the or call (662) 627-
each fall. The weekend kicks off with Delta tradition, but that also has 6149.
a celebration at the historic Cutrer a vitality that engages people and
Mansion. For three days, Williams’ draws them back.” 

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 GARDENING

A Playful Pumpkin
SUCCULENT-ADORNED PUMPKINS ARE A NEW SPIN ON THE CLASSIC SEASONAL DÉCOR

TO CREATE THIS PROJECT, ASSEMBLE:

Newspapers or a drop cloth
Adhesive such as Liquid
Nails or hot glue
Pumpkins
Succulent cuttings
Additional trims such as
natural pods, nuts/acorns,
small pine cones or pine
cone segments, dried
leaves and moss
1. Wash and dry the surface
of the pumpkin to remove dirt.
2. Add glue to the cut end of
succulent or natural material,
then adhere it to the pumpkin.
Hold it in place for a few seconds.
I have used hot glue from a glue
gun with good results, but home-
repair-type glues may be safer
with young designers present.
3. Alternate succulents with
Fall is my favorite traditional pumpkin with succulent other materials to make a
plant materials – various types of
season of the year. plants evolved from arid regions
pleasing, quilt-like pattern.
I especially love growing materials of the planet with little rainfall. 4. Once completed, mist the entire
to use in seasonal floral design for This project is creative and easy design with water. Succulents like
the home, church and workshops. to make. But be prepared, because sunny locations, but keep in mind
But don’t worry if you don’t grow when others see it, you may get that this design is not a planter,
your own fall ornamental materials requests to make them a replica! but a cut-plant-decorated
such as gourds, pumpkins or corn, One tip for keeping the cost of this pumpkin! As the season changes
it is still possible to make beautiful project in check is to use cuttings and fall decorations give way to
decorations with wild materials from rather than entire plants. It is evergreens, cones and berries,
the great outdoors and add in some possible to purchase cuttings remove the succulent cuttings and
purchased materials from your of multiple types of succulents compost the remaining materials.
local store or internet sources. less expensively than plants. You can plant the succulents in
Everyone loves to see jolly Some common groups sandy potting soil and place them
pumpkins displayed on the front of succulents include aloe, in a window with full sun for the
porch or as the centerpiece at dinner. crassula, echeveria, haworthia winter. Once temperatures rise
One recent trend is to dress up the and kalanchoe. above 40 degrees, these tough
plants can make their way into
an outdoor planter or window
PHOTO: ISTOCK.COM/MCC AIG

ABOUT THE AUTHOR // Dr. Jim DelPrince is a Horticulture box for another full season
Specialist with the Mississippi State University Coastal Research and of enjoyment. 
Extension Center in Biloxi. With the MSU Extension since 2015, he has
written nine Extension publications, two funded grants, and developed
four programs benefitting flower growers, florists and floral enthusiasts.
He has taught floral design to over 6,000 students, professional florists
and floral enthusiasts, and served on two industry design teams.

18 // Mississippi Farm Countr y

FARM FORWARD
educate now
 Making an Impact
FARM BUREAU WOMEN EDUCATE AND SERVE DURING WOMEN’S DAY
AT THE CAPITOL

Story and Photography by ALEX LOWERY Representative Price Wallace. Executive Director Ruth Ann Allen
Mississippi Farm Bureau Although the Women’s Leadership says. “They are not just from the
Federation’s Women’s Leadership Committee used the day as an metro area. They truly are from
Committee traveled to Jackson to opportunity to educate, it’s the the entire state of Mississippi.”
educate and serve during Women’s service opportunity some 20 years The Ronald McDonald House
Day at the Capitol. in the making that meant the most. in Jackson serves as a “home away
The committee spent their Each year, following their activities from home” for families of seriously
morning hosting a reception in the at the Capitol building, MFBF’s ill children who travel to Jackson
Capitol Rotunda for the legislature women visit the Ronald McDonald for specialized medical care.
and their staff. The opportunity House. They collect food items and “We want their focus to be simply
allowed MFBF’s women to answer cleaning supplies to deliver on this on helping their child get out of the
questions and share information day, as well as a homemade lunch. hospital,” Allen says. “These children
on the impact women have on the “Our relationship with Ronald are in intensive care and the families
Mississippi farming community. McDonald House has just are under a lot of stress. Groups that
To conclude their activities at blossomed,” Women’s Leadership support us – they really take care
the Capitol building, the group of Committee member Peggy McKey of these families’ everyday needs.”
women heard from Commissioner says. “They have been so welcoming MFBF President Mike McCormick
of Agriculture and Commerce every year and I love meeting the says he proudly supports the work
Andy Gipson, Senate Agriculture families. I only met one today, the Women’s Leadership Committee
Committee Chairman Billy Hudson, but I love hearing the stories does each year.
House Agriculture Committee and praying for the children.” “Our people give back to a lot of
Chairman Bill Pigott, Senate “What’s really nice about the different causes, but this certainly
Agriculture Committee Vice Women’s Committee is that they is one that people in need around
Chairman Russell Jolly, House represent the entire state, and that’s the state of Mississippi can use,”
Agriculture Committee Vice where our families come from,” McCormick says. “I commend
Chairman Vince Mangold, and Mississippi Ronald McDonald House our women for being a part of it.”
 Educating Consumers
DESOTO COUNTY FARM BUREAU WOMEN TEACH DURING SUMMER FAIR

Story by ALEX LOWERY AND JON KALAHAR Inside the small DeSoto County as seen in the last several years.
Photography by ALEX LOWERY
Farm Bureau parking lot, visitors “We used to be a large dairy area,
Fairs across the country have can milk a cow, see how cotton is but all of those dairy farms have fallen
become an American tradition, right ginned, find out how rice is grown by the wayside,” Swindoll says. “I feel
up there with baseball and apple pie. and discover all the products made like a lot of the children today are far
Every year, fairs pop up throughout from soybeans. Visitors also have removed from the farm. It is really
the small towns and larger urban the opportunity to see and pet important to get into the schools
areas in Mississippi. chickens, rabbits and cows. and to do events like this to educate
A’Fair on the Square, the Hernando “We try to bring the farm to the children and adults about where we
craft show held each May, grows each city with this demonstration because get our food, fiber and shelter from.”
year in not only craft vendors, but so many people are so far removed The DeSoto County Farm Bureau
agriculture education. The DeSoto from the farm,” Swindoll says. “We women have turned a day of shopping
County Farm Bureau is lucky to have try to educate both children and adults or a family day together into an
an office in a prime fair location. That about agriculture. We do this by opportunity to brag about agriculture.
means an opportunity to showcase having lots of hands on activities for “So many times, the children who
farming and agriculture to thousands the children to see and participate in.” visit us have never even seen a real
on this day in DeSoto County. Swindoll’s family grows soybeans, cow, so it’s an exciting experience for
Denise Swindoll, the DeSoto County rice and corn in DeSoto, Tunica them,” Swindoll says. “They get to see
Farm Bureau Women’s Chair and and Tate counties, so she knows the chickens, watch cotton being ginned,
a member of the State Women’s importance of educating the general lip balm being made from soybean oil
Leadership Committee, organizes public about agriculture. She believes and beeswax, and we talk about rice.
DeSoto County Farm Bureau’s the task is even more important due Every opportunity we have to educate
A’Fair on the Square booths. to the many changes her home county is all worth it.”
 Teaching Agriculture
FARM BUREAU WOMEN’S PROGRAM HOLDS AITC WORKSHOP

Story and Photography by JON KALAHAR “I always have noticed many times children to know where their things
Science, math teachers where something is planted, for come from and how it grows and
and everyone in between who teach instance, corn,” Whitfield says. “I why it grows.”
students from first grade to high thought how neat would that be if The Ag in the Classroom workshop
school know adding fun activities I could pull that into my classroom consists of two full days of classroom
to their curriculum proves to be and pull statistics from that to educate instruction, including hands-on
the perfect formula to increase the children on how that is grown learning, so teachers can make
knowledge of agriculture in the and what the importance is? That classroom learning fun and interesting
classroom across Mississippi. is a direct implementation that can for students. During the second day
Led by the State Women’s Leadership be used in my room.” of the workshop held in Verona,
Committee of the Mississippi Farm Even though farms cover the state, teachers learned about drones used
Bureau Federation, Ag in the many students do not seem to notice. in agriculture and farming, the
Classroom workshops bring teachers Linda Anglin volunteers in Lee County importance of preventing soil erosion,
from around the state together to schools teaching Ag in the Classroom and even toured a farm using
earn continuing education credits activities taught in the workshop. sophisticated technology to
while gaining new activities to engage “A lot of these kids live in apartments grow tomatoes.
their students with agriculture. and subdivisions. They might pass Noxubee County teacher Felix Russ
Crystal Whitfield, a sixth-grade a bean field or a cotton field or hopes the technology used in farming
math teacher in Blue Springs, wasn’t something, but they don’t actually now will open his students’ eyes to
sure what the two-day workshop know where their food comes from,” a possible career in agriculture. Russ
would hold for her. Anglin says. “It’s important for these teaches introduction to agriculture
to ninth and 10th graders.
“Most students, when they come in,
they strictly want to be a professional
football player or want to be a scientist,
but they never think about actually
going into agriculture or what different
avenues agriculture opens up,” Russ
says. “It’s such a broad field – you
almost can relate agriculture to
anything that’s going on.”
For teachers like Mallory Moss,
whose farm has been in her family
for three generations, farming is
a lifelong passion, and the lessons
learned in this workshop help her
pass on her passion for farming to
her students. She also knows not all
teachers take farming as seriously
as she does, but that’s OK.
“Just like when I want to do the egg
hatch experiment in the classroom.
I know my neighbor is not going to
do that, but she will gladly send her
kids to my room, and we will swap
classes,” Moss says. “I will have the
opportunity to share my passion for
that with her and her students. So,
I mean it’s just spreading it across
the board.”
 Learning to Lead
A LOOK AT THE 2019 WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Story and Photography by ALEX LOWERY hosted its Women’s Leadership

More than 36 % of farmers Conference in Biloxi in an effort
in the United States are women, to accomplish this goal.
according to the United States “It’s an honor for the Women’s
Department of Agriculture’s 2017 Leadership Committee to host a
Census of Agriculture, making it leadership conference to educate
ever more important for women and inspire the women of
in the agriculture industry to agriculture in Mississippi,” says
learn to lead. Betty Mills, MFBF State Women’s
With this statistic in mind, Leadership Committee Chair.
the Mississippi Farm Bureau “We were please to host women
Federation Women’s Leadership from across the state.”
Program continually strives to The conference consisted
equip Mississippi’s women farmers of several keynote speakers,
and agriculture decision makers including Harrison County
with tools to lead the agriculture Supervisor Connie Rockco,
industry forward. This year, the break-out sessions, a silent
Women’s Leadership Program auction and time of fellowship.
 NOTES FROM THE FIELD

Millennials Misunderstood
DESPITE NEGATIVE PERCEPTION, MILLENNIALS BRING VALUE TO THE AG INDUSTRY

I have admitted that a dose of realism. Millennials have their Baby Boomer father or mother,
street smarts, promote diversity and the future independence of their
I am a lobbyist to you, and are loyal to their peers.” Generation Z sons and daughters,
the reader. This narrative gives me hope. As and I think you have a brighter future
What could be worse? Admitting the world continues to grow and the in agriculture than ever before.
that I am a millennial, perhaps? Please farmable land continues to shrink The question that remains for
don’t stop reading. I promise I am not to urban sprawl, it will be up to me is not will agriculture rise to the
writing this from my “safe space.” millennials to face the challenge of challenge, nor is it will the planet have
Every generation thinks the next feeding more with less. This is not the resources to sustain us. Rather, I
oncoming generation will be the in the distant future either, as multi- believe the biggest generational hurdle
downfall of the world. At least that generational family farms, first time we are facing is whether or not we
is what I have observed. I am sure farming millennials, and even Baby will over-regulate and under-pay our
when the Traditionalists saw the Baby Boomers and Gen X’ers are rising farmers to a point where we suffocate
Boomers turning into “hippies” and to this call today. an otherwise thriving industry.
changing social culture, or when the Conservation, sustainability, The United States of America rose
Baby Boomers saw Generation X land and resource stewardship (or to prominence largely in part to its
introduce computers and recession any other buzzword referring to the ability to feed, clothe and shelter itself
into their economy, there were longevity of our planet) is something while profiting off of the surplus that
surely some questions raised. that is consistent across generations it could supply to the world. Founding
The same goes today for us for the rural-living, farming and
millennials. According to the news, we fathers, presidents and philosophers
ranching population of this country. have said this, not just me. Statistics
are just self-centered, lazy, phone crazy It is simple economics: we need the
consumers that want to be handed show that we continue to produce
land, and without it remaining a surplus in many commodities in
everything – as long as everyone fertile, we cease.
benefits globally. Achievable? Unlikely. the U.S. today. With more free trade,
The wide-scope discussions on
Broad-stroke stereotype? Definitely. less burdensome regulation and the
agriculture in the national media
Under this narrative, in a recent technologies of the next generation,
revolve around climate change,
training on generational influence in my millennial optimism kicks into
biosecurity and food trends. The
the work place, my fellow Farm Bureau high gear for what could be in this
discussions on the farm revolve more
staff and I were reluctant to even raise state, the country and the world.
around things like how to yield more
our hands when our own birth year Agriculture is ready for the challenge.
with less water, or how to keep an
was called aloud. So it got me thinking Are you? 
animal more comfortable to produce
(since I am a millennial with all the more. Trends, niche markets and
time in the world while playing on my buying local are great things that Farm FROM THE
phone), what does agriculture look like Bureau can support. Overall, however, AUTHOR //
in the future when millennials are we as consumers have to match our It has been a pleasure
at the helm? to share my thoughts
conversations about global issues with with you through
Let me share some positive sides real life solutions on the family farm. Mississippi Farm
to the research on my generation Enter the dreaded millennial. This Country as an employee
with you that you don’t often hear. inherent desire to serve our neighbor of Mississippi Farm
Bureau Federation. What started with
According to the American Farm with what we do for a living, balanced
an internship at MFBF years ago has
Bureau Federation, “Millennials are with a social or civil service and our now led me to a new role tackling farm
achievers, who find power in serving understanding and use of technology, issues as the Commodity Coordinator
their neighbors through civic duty, makes for a Farm Bureau member and National Affairs Coordinator with
social cause, and are members of a that gives me hope. Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation.
Thanks for reading Notes from the
global community. They are the most Combine that with the traditions Field and thanks for being a Farm
educated generation, extremely and sacrifice of their grandfather, the Bureau member. God bless.
technology savvy; optimistic, with hardknocks and survival tactics of - Andy Brown

msfarmcountr y.com // 19
 Surviving
the Water
FLOODING DISPLACES FARMERS, RESIDENTS AND WILDLIFE

20 // Mississippi Farm Countr y

 Story by ALEX LOWERY

S
tanding water has become a
part of the scenery along U.S.
Highway 61 from Natchez to
the South Delta. Stagnate, murky
water floats in homes and businesses,
displacing citizens across the western
part of the state.
Roads, forests and fields are
covered with water, preventing
families from returning to their
homes and pushing wildlife from
their habitats. Farmers are waiting
for waters to recede so they can go
back to work. Business owners are
waiting for the farmers and other
citizens to begin spending money
with them again. Wildlife are
starving. Mississippi is hurting.
Since the beginning of the year,
more than 1.5 million acres of land
in Mississippi has been flooded at
some point, impacting farmers and
ranchers, wildlife, business owners
and the everyday citizen.
Flooding along the river can
be attributed to multiple different
causes depending on the location
relative to Vicksburg.

IMPACT ON THE SOUTH DELTA

North of Vicksburg, in the South
Delta, hundreds of families and
thousands of wildlife have been
displaced by the numerous months of
flooding. Much of the flooding in this
area is due to heavy rainfall and the
unfinished Yazoo Backwater Project.
Warren County Farm Bureau
President Mac McKnight’s farm sits
off Highway 61. While sandbags are
in place as a precaution for the city
of Vicksburg, McKnight’s land looks
more like a lake than farmland.
“This year, the water has gotten
hundreds of homes and farmland
that didn’t even go under in 1973,”
McKnight says, referring to one of the
Mississippi River’s most severe floods
PHOTO: ALE X LOWERY

of the 20th century. “Folks that have

never had water in their houses and
shops or over their farmland are
experiencing it this year.
Unfortunately, it’s just another
year for me.”
msfarmcountr y.com // 21
 For 25 years, the Jones family has
owned and operated Wellspring
Fisheries in Sharkey County with “Folks that have never had water in
few setbacks. This year, however,
co-owner Bobby Jones says the family their houses and shops or over their
has taken measures to protect its
102 catfish ponds.
farmland are experiencing it this year.”
“We’ve had to pull levees to increase
- MAC MCKNIGHT, WARREN COUNTY FARM BUREAU PRESIDENT
our exterior levee height to keep water
from coming in on us,” Bobby Jones
says. “We’ve also had to stage on what
pond we’re stocking for the baby fish President Mike McCormick believes that have not been able to farm or
based on where the floodwater is the duration of this year’s flood plant. They have gone from buying
and where we think we might get will have an enormous impact lunches to feed seven or eight workers
floodwater. Overall, our production on Mississippi’s economy. to sometimes not buying at all.”
hasn’t stopped through all of this; “This flood has had an impact on Karl Holcomb, owner of Holcomb
it has just been difficult to strategize the farmers and their ability to get Flying Service in Flora, and his family
where we will be placing our baby fish their crops in the field,” McCormick built a successful crop-dusting
coming out of the hatchery because says. “It’s going have a huge impact company servicing farmers along the
we don’t want to place them in a pond on the towns up and down the Mississippi River. Since the beginning
that will potentially flood.” Mississippi River and in the Delta.” of the 2019 flood, he has flown
On average, Jones’s family fisheries Business owners in towns along multiple aerial tours to document
hatch 75 million fish annually. This the Mississippi River, including the massive impact flooding is having
year, though, he predicts they will Tracy Harden, owner of Chuck’s on farming, wildlife and rural living.
be lucky to hatch 50 million. Dairy Bar in Rolling Fork, have “To actually get in the air and fly
Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation already begun experiencing the over a house that’s sitting with four
negative effect of the floods. feet of water in it opens your eyes
“We are supported by planting to the situation,” Holcomb says.
Wildlife, including deer, have been forced season, harvest season and hunting “To know that a family lives in that
from their natural habitat by flood water season,” Harden says. “So, that’s three house and has been displaced by
to search for food. knocks in a row. We have farmers these waters is heartbreaking.”

22 // Mississippi Farm Countr y

 “When you start looking at the
economic impact of all of the farm
acres not in production, the timber
being deteriorated and the wildlife
being displaced, it makes you wonder
why something hasn’t been done,”
he continues.

MANAGING THE MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI

41% of the continental United
States drains down the Mississippi
River to the Gulf of Mexico, according
to the Mississippi Levee Board.
Because of this, Congress granted the
federal government the responsibility
to manage Mississippi River flooding
under the Flood Control Act of 1928.
Claiborne County farmer David Doyle
Under this Act, Congress also
cannot access his fields due to flooding.
established the Mississippi River
& Tributaries Project which issued
the federal government to build levees
and floodwalls, floodways, channel
improvement and stabilization, and
tributary basin improvements. When
work began on this project, it became
clear the construction cut off drainage
outlets for interior basins. To
compensate for this, Congress passed
the Flood Control Act of 1936, which
authorized the federal government
to manage river basins flowing into
the Mississippi River, including the
Yazoo Basin.
Congress issued the Yazoo
Backwater Project in the Flood
Sharkey County catfish farmer Bobby Jones has
Control Act of 1941 following the
built levees around his catfish ponds (right) to
removal of the Eudora Floodway
keep flood water (left) from entering them.
from the Mississippi River &
Tributaries Project. The plans for
the Yazoo Backwater Project include
four major components – levees,
a connecting channel, drainage
structures and pumps.
In 1969, the Steele Bayou and Little
Sunflower Drainage Structures were
completed. When water stages on the
Mississippi River side of the levee are
lower than stages on the basin side,
these gates are opened, allowing
storm water to pass through. When
water stages on the Mississippi River
side of the levee are higher than stages
PHOTOS: ALE X LOWERY

on the basin side, these gates are

closed, preventing flood waters
More than 1.5 million acres of land in
from entering the South Delta.
Mississippi experienced flooding in 2019,
The Yazoo Backwater Levees,
displacing farmers, residents and wildlife.
completed in 1978, run along the
msfarmcountr y.com // 23
 west side of the Yazoo River from in farmers’ income will decrease what’s to come.”
the Mainline Mississippi River her income, as well.
Levee to the West Guide Levee. The “I’ve had employees ask for more LASTING EFFECTS ON THE
hours because their boyfriends or BATTURE LAND
connecting channel of the Yazoo
Backwater Project, also finished husbands work for some of the South of Vicksburg, in the batture
in 1978, connects Big and Little farmers and are not needed,” land, farmers are facing flooding
Sunflower Rivers, Deer Creek and she says. “The extra money they problems for a different reason.
Steele Bayou in order to push water normally make is not going to be “We’ve noticed a change in the
from the Delta to one point at the there for them. Next year could river,” Jefferson County farmer Louis
Steele Bayou Drainage Structure. be a catch-up stage for the farmers. Guedon says. “Every spring at some
The original Yazoo Backwater This could hurt the businesses in time, when you plant below the
Project plan called for pumps to the community because the farmers 50-foot line, you’re starting to roll
be installed at this point to pump will be paying for other things. I the dice (against the Mississippi
excess rainfall trapped on the have employees counting on me and River). It didn’t used to be like that.”
landside of the levee and drainage I want to take care of them. I want In the past, farmers could plant
structures over the closed Steele to support the community, as well. crops along the Mississippi River
Bayou Drainage Structure gates Yet, I am even hesitant to give as without worrying about flooding
into the Mississippi River during much because I don’t know every year, according to Guedon.
high water situations.
Unfortunately, the Yazoo
Backwater Project pumps have
yet to be installed. In 2008, the
Environmental Protection Agency
vetoed the Yazoo Backwater Project
under the authority of the Waters of
the United States rule, halting any 41% of the
proceedings to install the pumps. continental United
If installed now, the Yazoo States drains down
Backwater Project pumps would the Mississippi River
cost approximately $220 million
and take four years to complete.
to the Gulf of Mexico.
The Mississippi Levee Board
believes more than $372 million
in damage would have been
prevented from 2008 to 2018 1.5 Million
if the pumps had been in place. ACRES OF LAND IN
WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS MISSISSIPPI HAVE BEEN
With every passing day, water FLOODED SINCE THE
still in the fields means less crops BEGINNING OF 2019.
and less income for farmers.
“Sadly, I don’t see an end in
sight,” Bobby Jones says. “I believe
this will be a major issue for years
to come. We need to continue
talking to the legislators so we
can get the pumps finished.” The amount and
“We still make a crop every year,”
McKnight says. “But to put it in
intensity of rainfall
basic terms, the longer this water over a short period of
stays around, the less time our crops time received by areas
have to grow, the more our salary around the Mississippi
gets cut. Eventually, it trickles down
River each year is 8%
from us to the consumer. It might
take a while, but no matter who you higher now than
are, it will affect your pocketbook.” 40 years ago.
Harden knows the decrease
24 // Mississippi Farm Countr y
 “Now, it seems as though farmers need to look at this because you’ll survived the Mississippi River floods
are battling floodwaters every single never see it again.’” of 1927, 1973 and 2011. Now, the fight
year,” the fifth-generation farmer says. Howard Jones, vice president against the river happens almost
Guedon and his family farm of J.M. Jones Lumber Company every year.
approximately 12,500 acres of corn, in Natchez and fourth-generation Howard Jones and his family began
cotton and soybeans, in addition forester, says the flooding does not building their own levee system
to raising several hundred head only impact Mississippi’s farmland, around their lumber yard in 1997.
of cattle. The family has lived in but also its timber industry. It holds the river out, but with the
the Mississippi batture land for “My major concern from the river vibration caused by the sawmill and
150 years, so they are extremely is all the batture land that’s (planted) the soaked ground from the rainfall,
familiar with the nature of the in timber land,” Howard Jones says. the family has to shut the mill down
Mississippi River. “The frequency of the water and the for days at a time so the ground won’t
“When I was a young man, we had duration of the floods is killing the crumble out from underneath them.
backwater every once in a while,” timber. The timber is degrading. “The ground, the seepage, is
Guedon says. “In ’73, we had a huge The farm land is degrading. The tremendous now because the river has
flood that reached 57 foot on the sand deposits are making our been up for so long,” Howard Jones
Natchez (Mississippi River) gauge. ground sterile. It is a huge problem.” says. “I don’t know if this is just going
At the time, my uncle said, ‘You J.M. Jones Lumber Company to be the new norm, you know. They
PHOTO: ALE X LOWERY

msfarmcountr y.com // 25
 talk about having 100-year floods and regarding the Mississippi River since Atchafalaya and the Mississippi.
500-year floods, well, we’re having the 1970s, according to Maj. Gen. We are working to finish that study to
them every other year now.” Richard Kaiser of the Army Corps find solutions to reduce the flooding
Claiborne County Farm Bureau of Engineers. The amount and that we experience in this region.”
President David Doyle is among intensity of rainfall over a short McCormick does not believe
the many farmers waiting for period of time areas around the flooding in the batture lands will be
floodwaters to recede. Doyle Mississippi River receive each year an easy fix, but hopes steps are being
currently has hundreds of acres is 8% higher now than 40 years ago. made to help farmers affected by it.
under water and cannot even access “We’re seeing the channel filling “The Army Corps of Engineers
his fields due to the flowing river in with sediment,” Kaiser says. “So, understands this is a problem and
water creeping inland. you’ve got less capacity to carry the they’re willing to work on it,”
“It’s a bad feeling when you see water. We’re aware of that and we’re McCormick says. “That’s a huge
all of this,” Doyle says of the water working to figure out what is the best step forward.”
rushing across his access road. “When way to move all this stuff out of here Guedon believes the Army Corps
I first started leasing this farm back and reduce some of the problems of Engineers will eventually find
in ’96, it would flood like one out of (farmers are) seeing.” a solution to the flooding in the
seven years. Now, if it doesn’t flood Kaiser says the Army Corps Mississippi batture land, but hopes
one out of 10 years, you’re lucky. of Engineers must study what is the government will assist farmers
It’s every year now. Every year.” happening in order to address losing crops to the floodwaters
“If this year is anything like in the flooding problems. in the interim.
2011, I probably won’t plant at all,” “We recognize that there are things “None of us want to be insurance
he continues. “I didn’t plant a crop going on with the river,” he says. “In farmers,” Guedon says. “But we are
then. You’ve got to draw the line the past, we have done some studies asking for some help to stay afloat
somewhere.” in this area that really revolve around until the Corps figures out what
Several factors have changed the Red River, the Washita, the they’re going to do with the river.” 

PHOTO: ALE X LOWERY

Warren County farmer Mac McKnight’s

land has flooded eight of the last 10 years.

26 // Mississippi Farm Countr y

 FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY
PHOTOS: STORMY DEERE; VIC TORIA DARDEN; MORGAN ROGERS PRUDEN; MELISSA LUM LYONS

JUNE

Farmers, residents and wildlife along the Mississippi River are suffering due to months-long flooding.
msfarmcountr y.com // 27
 Dirty Hands &
Diplomas
MANTACHIE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS EXPERIENCE REAL-WORLD
AGRICULTURE THROUGH HANDS-ON PROJECTS
Story by JESSICA MOZO // Photography by STEVE JONES

28 // Mississippi Farm Countr y

W
hen sophomore Aubrey
Jones walks into his
agriculture class at
Mantachie High School, he isn’t sitting
at a desk listening t­ o a lecture. On
any given day, he might be driving
a tractor, harvesting sorghum or
watering plants in the school’s
greenhouse. Aubrey is one of 136
students at Mantachie High School
who participate in the school’s thriving
agriculture program and FFA chapter.
“I’ve enjoyed learning how to drive
farm equipment like tractors, cutters,
planters and sprayers,” he says. “I also
like learning how to start seeds in the
greenhouse. Our agriculture classes
give us a lot of hands-on projects.”

FALL SORGHUM SALE

Mantachie High School’s
agriculture program is best known
in the community for its annual fall
sorghum sale. Every May for the last
14 years, students have planted three
acres of sorghum on land
adjacent to the school. The
following October, over a three- FFA students at
week period, students harvest Mantachie High School
the crop, crush it to separate use a vintage harvester
the juice, cook the juice in a large to gather sorghum, for Christmas. exposed to agriculture.”
stainless-steel pan and bottle the which they cook We’ve also The school even has its own meat
resulting sorghum to sell to eager and bottle for sale. mailed it to processing facility and a 40-by-80-foot
buyers waiting to drizzle it on a troops overseas FFA barn, where students can care
hot biscuit. The sorghum sells and as far away as Alaska.” for cattle they show in regional cattle
for $6 per pint or $12 per quart. The money students earn goes shows. In the meat processing facility,
“The students make 50 to 60 gallons toward helping pay for trips to FFA students help process deer, hogs and
of sorghum every year. It’s kind of competitions or materials they need. beef, which also generates money
a lost art – you have to learn to boil for the ag program.
the juice until it gets to just the right GREENHOUSE PLANT SALE “People bring us animals they kill
thickness,” says Joe Rogers, who has Every spring, Mantachie FFA hunting, and we cut it into steaks,
been teaching agriculture at Mantachie members switch their focus from hamburger meat and all the other
High School since 2005. “Our students sorghum to their annual greenhouse cuts you’d find in a grocery store,”
typically earn about $2,000 from the plant sale. They start planting seeds says Matt Spradling, who teaches
sale. We don’t even have to advertise in the school’s two greenhouses in agriculture and two meats courses
– the sorghum sells itself. Last year, January, and over the next several at Mantachie High School. “I have
we sold out in two weeks.” weeks water and fertilize them. By 17 students in meats class, and this
Students record their sales each late March, students have tomato and year we have [processed] 547 deer
day and track their net profits. pepper plants, and all kinds of flowers and hogs, and eight beef cattle.”
“The sorghum project teaches them ready to sell to the community. Deer season runs from October
business skills like interacting with “The greenhouse plants sell out through January, and community
customers and making change. They by mid-May,” Rogers says. “Many of members pay $25 for students to
get to see the whole process, from our students have never been around process a deer. Every student has
planting to harvest,” Rogers says. plants or animals at home. Only a few the opportunity to process two of
“We have one customer in Arkansas come from full-time farm families, their own deer for free each season.
who always buys 10 gallons of our so for the majority of our kids, these “Mantachie is the only high school
sorghum and gives it to his employees projects are the only way they are meat processing facility in the state,”
msfarmcountr y.com // 29
 Senior Cameron Thompson loads cut
sorghum onto a trailer for transport
to the Mantachie High School kitchen.
Below, students trim deer meat at their
on-campus meat processing facility.

Spradling says. “It helps us raise money

to take kids to contests and trips.”
It also can lead to future careers.
“I have one student who is in my
meats class and is already working
at a local grocery store cutting meat
for them,” Spradling says.

A LABOR OF LOVE
For Spradling and Rogers, teaching
agriculture at Mantachie High School
is a labor of love – and it brings back
memories of their youth. Both men are
graduates of Mantachie High School.
“It’s home, and I’m thankful to be
here,” Spradling says. “Traditional
agriculture is a dying thing, and many
people don’t know anything about
it. I love showing students what it’s
about and the places it can take them
in life, and giving them the same
school earns a fee for each foot
opportunities I had.”
While Spradling specializes in
of board they cut. SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
meats, Rogers specializes in forestry. “If it wasn’t for our community, To order products from the
In addition to agriculture, he teaches we wouldn’t be able to do all the Mantachie High School’s
two forestry courses and oversees the projects we do,” Spradling says. agriculture program, call the
school’s sawmill. Forestry students “Our community supports our Mantachie High School Ag
learn to cut lumber from logs brought agriculture program year round, Shop at (662) 282-4510.
in by community members, and the and we thank them for that.” 
msfarmcountr y.com // 31
 32 // Mississippi Farm Countr y
 FOOD & RECIPES

Falling for Dessert

SEASONAL FLAVORS TAKE CENTER STAGE IN DELICIOUS DESSERTS

Finally! Fall is in Pumpkin spice alert! It is not

PUMPKIN SPICE CUPCAKES
going away, so we might as well
the air – and on embrace it. I added pumpkin WITH CRANBERRY ICING
our plates. spice to an old favorite recipe Prep Time: 20 MINUTES
Cook Time: 15 MINUTES
We love our sweet potatoes, and am delighted with the result. Servings: 12
especially in autumn. Mississippi I borrowed this Pumpkin Spice
Cupcakes with Cranberry Icing ICED CRANBERRIES
soil and weather offer prime
growing conditions for this recipe from my niece. The two- 1 cup fresh cranberries
vitamin A-packed vegetable. ingredient cupcake seems too 1 tablespoon corn syrup
Lately, I’ve explored the pretty simple to actually work, but it’s ½ cup sugar
purple sweet potato, also known not. These bake beautifully every
as ube (pronounced “ooh-beh”). time. Plus, they are quick and easy CUPCAKES
Have you seen them? They are to prepare if you need to whip up 1 box spice cake mix
just as nutritious and taste just a dessert at the last minute. 15 ounces (1 can) pumpkin purée
as rich as their orange-hued After enjoying butter pecan ice (or 2 cups fresh purée)
cousins. The flavor of ube is cream all summer, I wanted to
transfer the flavor into a non- ICING
slightly nutty, and tends to be
a bit sweeter than traditional melting dessert for fall. After a ½ cup butter
orange sweet potatoes, which few attempts, the Butter Pecan 1/3 cup fresh cranberries
is why you’ll find it used more Cake took shape. I set out to 2 cups powdered sugar
often in dessert recipes. The develop a cake that celebrates
vibrant purple color of ube will Mississippi pecans and is also 1. For the iced cranberries, roll berries
stop you in your tracks once easy to transport. This cake in corn syrup until well coated. Place in
you see it. These vegetables are is sturdy enough to travel a deep-sided dish with sugar. Roll back
infinitely Instagrammable and to any gathering. and forth until cranberries are well
look like so much fun to eat! I decided to expand the fall coated and allow to rest for 2 hours
If you can find them, try them baking options by pairing early, in the refrigerator.
out in Sweet Potato Tarts. crisp apples with sorghum in 2. For cupcakes, heat oven to 350
If not, orange sweet potatoes Sorghum Apple Walnut degrees. Spray 12 full-size cupcake cups
will not disappoint. Carotene- Cookies. Fresh apples, tart or 36 mini cups generously. Combine
imbued foods, such as carrots, sorghum and walnuts make cake mix with pumpkin purée until well
RECIPE: JEFFRE Y S. OT TO; CR ANBERRIES: ISTOCK.COM/REPUBLIC A

pumpkins and sweet potatoes, a nice combination. These are combined. It will be very thick. Spoon
remind us of the warmth of light. pedestrian enough for school into prepared muffin tin and bake for
Harvest time is full of nostalgia lunches and elegant enough 15 minutes if using full-size cups, or
and bonfires to rekindle for high tea. 9 to 12 minutes for mini cups.
traditions and ties to each Enjoy these fall flavors with 3. For icing, place all ingredients in a
other. We love to decorate with a steaming cup of coffee or a food processor. Process until creamy
pumpkins. Maybe it’s a reminder warming cup of tea, and celebrate and well combined, using a spatula at
of the harvest moon itself. the season.  intervals to scrape the sides. Spoon a
generous dollop on top of each cooled
cupcake. Top with iced cranberries.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR // Mary Carter is a food stylist,
food writer and recipe developer. Whether she is promoting
a cookbook on QVC, baking her signature cookies for the local
farmers market or teaching cooking classes, she is dedicated
to preparing delicious and beautiful food.

msfarmcountr y.com // 33
 5 cups powdered sugar then sides, then top of cake. Decorate
BUTTER PECAN CAKE
5 -6 tablespoons milk with the remaining ½ cup chopped
Prep Time: 30 MINUTES
Cook Time: 30 MINUTES 1 teaspoon vanilla pecans and pecan halves.
Servings: 12 SERVINGS
½ cup toasted pecans
PECANS SWEET POTATO TARTS
For the pecans: Heat oven to
2 cups pecans, well chopped, 350 degrees. Combine all pecan Prep Time: 15 MINUTES
plus 1 dozen pecan halves ingredients and toss well to coat. Cook Time: 30 MINUTES
Servings: 18
4 tablespoons butter, melted Bake in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish
2 tablespoons brown sugar for 12 minutes, stirring several times Crust for a double-crust pie

½ teaspoon salt
to prevent burning. Set aside to cool. 2 cups cooked sweet potato
Keep oven on. pulp, well mashed*
CAKE 1 cup evaporated milk
For the cake: Beat together eggs,
4 eggs, beaten sugars, sour cream and butter until 1 1/3 cup sugar
¾ cup white sugar creamy. Gradually add flour and 2 eggs, beaten
¾ cup brown sugar baking powder, alternating with milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
until well combined. Stir in vanilla
8 ounces sour cream 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
and 1 ½ cups toasted pecan pieces.
½ cup butter, softened (Reserve pecan halves for 2 tablespoons flour
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour decorating.) Grease and flour three ½ teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons baking powder 8-inch round cake pans. Divide
Whipped cream for garnish
½ cup milk
batter into pans and bake for
18 to 20 minutes. Set aside to cool. *Can use half purple and half
1 teaspoon vanilla orange sweet potatoes, if
For the icing: Beat together butter, desired. If using both, divide all
ICING AND GARNISHES sugar, milk and vanilla until icing is remaining filling ingredients
10 tablespoons butter, softened thick and creamy. Ice between layers, into two mixing bowls.

PHOTOS: JEFFRE Y S. OT TO

34 // Mississippi Farm Countr y

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Divide pie
crust into 18 muffin tin holes. Press
dough up to the rim to make a “cup.”
2. Whisk together all remaining
ingredients until well blended and
pour batter into pastry bag. (If using
two colors, separate each color into
two pastry bags.) Pipe potato
mixture into crusts and bake for
30 minutes. If desired, add whipped
cream on top for garnish.

SORGHUM APPLE
WALNUT COOKIES
Prep Time: 15 MINUTES
Cook Time: 15 MINUTES
Servings: 18

COOKIES
½ cup butter
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 medium apples, grated and
excess juice squeezed out
2 tablespoons sorghum
1 ½ cups self-rising flour
½ cup ground flaxseed meal
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup walnuts, chopped (plus
more for decoration, if desired)

ICING
2 tablespoons sorghum
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon water
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cream
together butter, sugar and eggs. Add WHAT’S
all remaining ingredients and stir
until well combined. Drop by the COOKING
spoonful onto insulated baking IN YOUR
sheets to make 18 cookies. Bake for
10 to 12 minutes. Cookies will be STATE?
puffy and still soft in the middle.
Set aside to cool.
2. To make icing, combine sorghum,
melted butter and powdered sugar.
Stir water in gradually to make a
thick but spreadable icing.
3. Ice each cooled cookie and
decorate with additional walnuts,
Find recipes using ingredients grown and raised in your state at FarmFlavor.com.
if desired.
msfarmcountr y.com // 35
 FARM BUREAU NEWS

We Farm. We Vote.
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD IN THE 2019 GENERAL ELECTION

The Founding Fathers With the help of Speaker Philip

Gunn, Mississippi House Agriculture
of the United States
Chairman Bill Pigott, Lt. Gov.
viewed voting as one of Tate Reeves and Mississippi Senate
the biggest privileges Agriculture Chairman Billy Hudson,
granted to Americans. the bill passed with resounding
support. Gov. Phil Bryant also
This year, Mississippians will have
supported the measure from
the opportunity to vote in the 2019
the beginning.
general election on Nov. 5. To
participate, you must be registered RURAL BROADBAND
to vote and bring a form of At the 2018 MFBF Annual
identification to the polls. Convention, members adopted two
Since the last election, MFBF has policies supporting electric cooperatives
been working with the state’s elected being granted the ability to provide
officials to influence legislation broadband service. During the 2019
impacting our members, specifically Legislative Session, Speaker of the
addressing property taxes, right House Philip Gunn authored House
to farm, rural broadband, rural Bill 366, which removed the prohibition
infrastructure and seed preemption. of electric cooperatives’ ability to
provide broadband service.
PROPERTY TAXES The bill passed both ends of the
In 2017, Mississippi Rep. Robert Capitol with resounding support.
Foster authored a bill to help slow
the growth of property taxes on RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE
agricultural land. The Mississippi During the 2018 Special Legislative
Department of Revenue uses a formula Session, the Mississippi Infrastructure
created by MSU to determine the Modernization Act of 2018 was passed.
value of agricultural land. The formula The Act is projected to provide $120 to
considers crop prices over a three-year $130 million a year for infrastructure.
average, the soil type and other factors. A portion of the money will be used
Previously, the cap of the valuation on county roads and bridges.
rate was up or down 10%. With help
from Senate Finance Chairman Joey SEED PREEMPTION
Fillingane, the cap was lowered to 4%. In 2016, Appropriation Chairman
Buck Clarke helped pass seed
RIGHT TO FARM preemption legislation to thwart local
During the 2018 Legislative Session, ordinances from conflicting with state
Rep. Chris Johnson and Sen. Jenifer seed laws. While this has yet to happen
Branning both authored legislation in Mississippi, municipalities across
that eliminated duplicative regulation the U.S. are passing local ordinances
by prohibiting local governments to prevent the use of GMO seeds. This
from restricting agricultural new law is similar to the pesticide law
operations, traditional farm practices, already on the books preventing local
or forestry activity on land zoned ordinance from contradicting state law.
agricultural or not zoned at all. To find a list of 2019 general
Further, the legislation required election candidates, maps of districts,
that rules from MDAC, MDEQ voting precincts and registration
and MFC have priority on ag land deadlines, visit msfb.org/public-
or unzoned land. policy. 
36 // Mississippi Farm Countr y