July/August-09:Layout 1 - Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation

MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN
MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURE

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Have you heard?
about the many benefits of your Farm Bureau membership?
You may not know that when you pay your annual membership fee, it
includes many valuable member benefits. Highlighted below are a few of
these 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
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SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FARM BUREAU MEMBERS
Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation offers several scholarships to young people
interested in furthering their education in agriculture. These scholarships are
offered through the Young Farmers & Ranchers Program and the Women’s
Program. For more information, including deadline information, visit the Web site
at www.msfb.com/Member_Benefits/scholarships.aspx.
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ACCIDENTAL DEATH BENEFIT
Provides for accidental death benefit of $750 for children and $1500 for adults. Benefit increases $150 each year for
the member and spouse if the current membership year’s dues are paid before November 1. Maximum benefit is $3000.
Benefit does not apply to deaths caused by accident while occupying any vehicle which is required to be licensed
under applicable state motor vehicle laws; arising out of military activity occurring within a combat zone; suicide; or
occurs during, or is the direct or indirect result of injuries incurred during, the commission of a felony by a person
covered under this member service.

CONTENTS
4
26
30
Features
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Mississippi farmers and others work hard to
make a difference in agriculture and the lives of
all Mississippians. Come with us as we learn more.
LEGISLATIVE RECAP
Thanks to a strong grassroots effort on the part
of our members, Farm Bureau was successful
on many fronts this legislative session.
Come with us and learn more.
COUNTRY COOKING
“Country Cooking-Volume IV” is now available
for purchase. This cookbook features recipes
from our members. Read all about it inside.
Departments
Departments
2 FB Member Benefits
4 President’s Message
6 Commodity Update: Cotton
7 Commodity Update: Soybeans
ABOUT THE COVER
Outstanding young family farmers, Preston and Amy Arrington, are pictured
with their daughters, Katie, 3, and Kelly, 8 weeks, in a cornfield on their
Inverness farm. Read their story on pages 8-9.
MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY
Volume 85 Number 4
July/August 2009
EDITOR
Glynda Phillips
Graphic Arts Coordinator
Danielle Ginn
Department Assistant
Angela Thompson
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
Paul Briscoe, Oxford
Bill Ryan Tabb, Cleveland
Mike Ferguson, Senatobia
Dan L. Bishop, Baldwyn
L.C. Sanders, Hamilton
Doss Brodnax, Starkville
Betty Mills, Winona
Weldon Harris, Kosciusko
Kenneth Thompson, Philadelphia
Max Anderson, Decatur
James Ford, Taylorsville
Mark Chaney, Vicksburg
Jeff Mullins, Meadville
Bill Pigott, Tylertown
E.A. “Pud” Stringer, Foxworth
Wendell Gavin, Laurel
Terry B. Estis, Lucedale
Tom Daniels, Gulfport
Dott Arthur, Carthage
Brad Woods, Columbia
HONORARY VICE-PRESIDENTS
Louis J. Breaux, David H. Bennett, and
Warren Oakley
Mississippi Farm Country
(ISSN 1529-9600) magazine is
published bimonthly by the
*Mississippi Farm Bureau ® Federation.
EDITORIAL AND BUSINESS OFFICES
6311 Ridgewood Road
Jackson, MS 39211
TELEPHONE
601.977.4153
ADVERTISING
Call Paul Hurst at
1.800.397.8908
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.
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.
J U L Y / A U G U S T M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y 3

This issue of Mississippi Farm
Country focuses on people making a
difference in agriculture. It is an
almost unlimited topic. I hope that we will
inspire you as a reader to make a contribution
that will offer an improvement in our
productive society.
I am not going to focus on one individual
but rather on groups that make a difference.
This is critically important as we see the
situation that is evolving in our world today.
We know that we are challenged to produce
the amount of food and fiber that will be
needed to feed the ever-increasing population
of the world. We know that the various
regulators will have their hands full as they
decide what access producers will have to
production aids that will ensure an adequate
and abundant food supply. The challenge
farmers have in today’s society is being able
to have access to the production tools
necessary to ensure an abundant supply of
high quality, safe food.
My belief is that the Environmental
Protection Agency has gone way beyond their
boundaries in trying to ensure food safety. In
addition, those individuals pushing for
climate change measures are beyond the
realm of reality in what is necessary and good
for society.
It is time that we as Americans stand up and
say enough is enough. It is time that we
assert what we think is important. We need
reasonable assurance that those factors
these agencies are trying to regulate can
be accomplished in a way that will provide
for safe consumables and yet allow our
economy to grow and prosper.
This is quite a challenge. It is a challenge
that the present administration will have to
revisit unless we totally stymie the growth
of our nation and we are willing to accept a
lower living standard than we have had in
the past.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Our Challenges Are Numerous
But Our Resolve is Greater
By David Waide • President, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation
REGULATORY FIELD
Those people who could make a difference
in your life, probably more so than the
legislators in Jackson and in Washington, are
in the regulatory field. They are the drivers of
what agriculture will be like as we continue
into the future.
To allow them to be over-assertive in their
regulatory power is going to cause us to pay a
price that we as Americans do not want to pay.
Regulatory decisions must be based on sound
science, not on emotion.
Food and energy production are the areas
we will have to focus on most as we move
toward the future. There is no way we can
survive as a nation if we do not become selfsufficient
in energy production because we
are going to be held hostage to those nations
we are dependent on for those vast resources.
In attempting to put all of this in
perspective, we must realize that the safety
of every person in the world is dependent
on our addressing, in a realistic manner,
those things that impact our environment
negatively. Any negative impacts of what we
in agriculture do must be weighed and offset
by the positive impacts of agriculture.
It is always astounding to me to see that
some of the very radical animal rights groups
and the radical environmentalists believe that
the world can actually exist by allowing it to
revert to its state of 13.7 billion years ago.
Technological advancements are necessary
to see that we provide the basic needs for
every citizen and allow them the opportunity
to make positive contributions, both economically
and in food sustainability, that this
nation and the world will need in the future.
A STRONG VOICE
When we think about people making a
difference in agriculture, I trust that each
individual who wants to see that our mission
statement is accomplished will take an active
part in moving our agenda forward. Our
success or failure in the challenges we face in
the immediate future with eminent domain,
regulatory agencies, and the legislative
agenda will all be determined by the response
of the consuming public.
I hope that each person reading this
magazine will become involved and at least
voice your opinion about what you believe
makes us better as a nation. I also trust, as you
make your decision on what you think will
improve our quality of life, you will take the
time to make the powers that be aware of your
position. This is the only way our Farm
Bureau system can work because we are a
grassroots organization and our grassroots is
made up of those individuals who elect the
people who are the decision-makers.
OUR LAND-GRANTS
What does the future hold? Only God
knows. If we are going to remain a nation of
independence, we will have to ask for God’s
blessings to see that we prevail in the
endeavors we undertake in this organization.
If we are going to be successful, we will have
to depend on those things that have caused us
to be successful in the past.
A very viable part of that success has been
the independent research that agriculture has
always had available. Yes, it is from our
land-grant colleges and universities. But
remember, the agrarian society we have today
was built because we as a nation were willing
to invest to see that we had independent,
publicly-funded research.
That has been a successful tool in the past. It
will continue to be a very successful tool
for the future because the only way we
are going to be able to solve this nation’s
energy crisis is through the development of
new technologies.
Also, the only way we are going to be able
(Cont’d on page 5)
4 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y J U L Y / A U G U S T

to sustain this mass population is to continue
the productivity of every farm and ranch that
produces not just enough to feed themselves
and 143 other Americans but to also export
in a competitive manner over 30% of our
production.
Our challenges are numerous but our
resolve is even greater. With God’s help, we
will not only sustain this nation economically,
we will make a huge contribution to the world
How Farmers Make a Difference
American farmers make a difference in the lives of consumers. Here’s how:
• America’s farmers are the world’s most productive. Today, each U.S. farmer produces food
and fiber for 143 people in the United States and abroad.
• Thanks in large part to the efficiency and productivity of America’s farm and ranch
families, Americans enjoy a food supply that is the most affordable and abundant and among the
world’s safest.
• U.S. consumers spend just 10 percent of their disposable income on food each
year, while consumers in other countries spend much more. Consumers in
Indonesia spend 55 percent. Consumers in the Philippines, China, France and
Japan spend 38 percent, 26 percent, 15 percent and 14 percent, respectively.
• It takes about 36 days for most Americans to earn enough disposable income to
pay for the food they consume at home and away from home for the entire year. They must
work much longer each year to pay for other things, including taxes, health and medical care, and
housing/household operation.
in its ability to feed, clothe and house those
inhabitants who will be coming in the next
centuries.
U.S. Figure is for food consumed at home
and away from home. Figures from all other
countries are for food consumed at home.
As food consumed at home is less expensive,
the gap between these countries and the U.S.
would be even greater if food consumed away
from the home was added.
• Farmers and ranchers receive only 19 cents
out of every dollar spent on food at home
and away from home. The rest goes for
costs beyond the farm gate: wages and
materials for production, processing, marketing,
transportation and distribution. In 1980,
farmers and ranchers received 31 cents.
• U.S. farm programs typically cost each American just pennies per
meal and account for little more than one-half of 1 percent of the
total U.S. budget.
• More than 21 million American workers (15 percent of the total
U.S. workforce) produce, process and sell the nation’s food and
fiber.
• Renewable fuels – including ethanol and biodiesel – made from
corn, soybeans and other crops are beneficial to the environment
and promote energy security.
• In 2006, nearly $69 billion worth of American agricultural products were exported around the world. The United States sells more food
and fiber to world markets than we import, creating a positive agricultural trade balance.
Information and graphics from “Farm Facts,” produced by the American Farm Bureau Federation ®
Public Relations Team, using the
following resources: Economic Research Service-USDA; National Agricultural Statistics Service; and Agricultural Research Service-USDA.
J U L Y / A U G U S T M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y 5

COMMODITY UPDATE
Clint Tindall
Justin Ferguson
Boll Weevil Eradication: A Success Story
Clint Tindall, MFBF Cotton Advisory Committee Chair
Justin Ferguson, MFBF Commodity Coordinator for Cotton
At that time, major infestation areas mostly included Natchez and
other cotton-growing parts of southwest Mississippi. However, by 1915,
the boll weevil had reached all the way to northeast Mississippi,
essentially covering the entire state in less than seven years.
In the 1980s, the average yield loss caused by the boll weevil reached
7 percent at times. To the individual producer, the intense management
and cost to rid their crop of the boll weevil was a tremendous burden.
Producers in infested areas could potentially make 8 to 12 sprays in an
individual growing season just for boll weevil control. Costs to control
this pest could range anywhere from $20 to $50 an acre, depending on
the infestation and frequency of treatment. By the mid-1990s, it is
estimated that Mississippi producers were spending some $21 million
annually just to control this pest.
Fortunately, in 2009, the boll weevil is much less of a worry for
Mississippi cotton farmers thanks to the work of the Mississippi Boll
Weevil Management Corporation. Through the efforts of many
fore-sighted individuals, a producer-driven eradication program was
started in Mississippi around 1994, following several devastating crop
years caused by the boll weevil and other pests.
In 1997, the program was off to a strong start, and the state was
broken down into five major cotton-growing regions: Regions 1A, 1B,
2, 3, and 4. Eradication efforts took place in Regions 3 and 4 initially. An
intense trapping system was established to monitor the intensity of the
infestation of the pest throughout the state.
Annual fees were assessed per acre and varied by region according to
boll weevil numbers as the program continued through the years. When
eradication efforts first began within a region, farmers were assessed as
much as $24 per acre for program expenses. As a region's boll weevil
numbers decreased, the annual per-acre fee assessment was lowered. In
2008, the highest assessment paid was $6.50 an acre in Region 3.
This year, just twelve years after active eradication efforts began in
COTTON
Around 1907, a small insect called the boll weevil made its way from Mexico into
Mississippi, setting its sights on the state’s dominant cash crop at the time, cotton.
Cotton is also the only host plant in Mississippi where the boll weevil can reproduce.
this state, the board members of the Mississippi Boll Weevil
Management Corporation, having declared the boll weevil eradicated,
expect no weevil infestation, assuming normal weather patterns, and
have announced grower assessments at $3 per acre, the lowest
assessment since the program’s inception and a small price to assure
Mississippi cotton growers remain weevil-free.
From these facts, there are obvious factors that point to the success of
this program. However, the most significant item is the fact that a group
of your peers, Mississippi cotton farmers, manages the overall structure
of this program.
Annually, producers are elected from the regions to sit on the
Mississippi Boll Weevil Management Corporation Board of Directors.
Assuring that growers’ assessments are managed in the most efficient
manner while maintaining an adequate safety net in the event of a boll
weevil re-infestation in the state have been cornerstones of all
management decisions made by this group of cotton farmers who
guide the direction of the program.
Mississippi’s cotton growers have an estimated $194 million invested
in this program. This group of farm leaders, many of whom have been
involved since the program’s inception, assure the program continues to
provide a sustainable means to protect our state’s cotton acres against
the devastating impacts of the boll weevil.
The Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation supports the work of the
Mississippi Boll Weevil Eradication Program and applauds the impact
the program has made on cotton production in this state. And although
the boll weevil is eradicated in Mississippi, states to our west still have
significant boll weevil infestations.
It is for this reason that cotton growers in Mississippi must
acknowledge the success this program has experienced. Additionally, it
is for this same reason and many others that cotton growers must remain
diligent in protecting and supporting this vital program into the future.
6 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y J U L Y / A U G U S T

COMMODITY UPDATE
Bill Ryan Tabb
Paul Chamblee
Soybean Acreage Tops 2 Million Acres
By: Bill Ryan Tabb, MFBF Soybean Advisory Committee Chair
Paul Chamblee, MFBF Commodity Coordinator for Soybeans
Early predictions were that soybean acreage in Mississippi would
increase by 5 percent in 2009. However, due to the wet spring we are
experiencing, many farmers are adjusting their planting intentions,
which could potentially increase total acreage to more than 2.4 million
acres, a 20 percent increase over 2008. Nationally, in 2009, they are
predicting that over 76.1 million acres of soybeans will be planted
compared to 75.5 million acres in 2008.
Soybean Rust
Soybean rust was found in 74 counties in Mississippi in 2008.
However, the crop was to the point of maturity and the rust had little
or no effect on yields. Federal funding for soybean rust monitoring
ended Dec. 31, 2008. Mississippi, along with the other Southern states,
was allowed to carry over funds from 2008 to 2009. However, this
was not enough to fully fund the number of sentinel plots and the level
of scouting we had done in the past.
The Mississippi Soybean Promotion Board funded the soybean rust
proposal for the 2009 crop season, allowing the program to continue
this year as it has in the past. As a result of this funding, by the first
week of April, all 22 sentinel plots had been planted in the state and
scouting had already begun.
Soybean Grading
Each harvest season, the issue of grading soybeans is a topic of
SOYBEANS
Soybeans proved to be the crop of choice for many producers for the 2008 crop year.
In 2008, over 2 million acres of soybeans were planted, which is a 40 percent
increase over 2007. Two major factors contributed to this dramatic increase. One was
a lower cost of production compared to other crops like cotton and corn, and the other
was stable prices. Over 83 million bushels were harvested in the state in 2008 with
a value of $604 million up from $511 million in 2007.
discussion. This year, clinics dealing with the grading process are
being planned around the state for late July and early August. The
clinics will be sponsored by the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation,
along with the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce
in cooperation with Mid-South Grain Inc., an agent of the Federal
Grain Inspection Service.
Tentative plans include having a full certification class in the
morning for employees of state elevators. This class will take 3-4 hours
to complete and is limited to 20 people. After lunch, there will be a
short course that will last approximately 1½ hours.
This class is open to anyone, but is designed for farmers so they can
better understand the grading process and what options they have if
they disagree with the grade their grain receives. Dates, times and
locations of these meetings will be announced later.
Soybean Chairman
In November 2008, Keith Morton, a soybean producer from Tippah
County, rotated off as chair of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation
Soybean Commodity Advisory Committee. He has served in this
position for the last four years. During that time, he also served on the
American Farm Bureau Soybean Advisory Committee.
Bill Ryan Tabb of Bolivar County, who has served as the
committee’s vice-chair, will take over as its chair. Brian Killebrew
of Holmes County has been named the new vice-chair.
J U L Y / A U G U S T M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y 7

INNOVATIVE
YOUNG AG LEADERS
PBy Glynda Phillips
Preston and Amy Arrington were recently recognized for their outstanding contributions to Mississippi
agriculture. As recipients of the 2008 Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers and Ranchers
Achievement Award, the Arringtons were cited for their farming innovations, leadership skills and
involvement with Farm Bureau and their community.
Mississippi is lucky to have innovative young ag leaders like the Arringtons. Here is their story.
Fourth Generation
Preston is a fourth generation Delta farmer who says he is blessed to be able to farm for a living. In fact, he doesn’t
remember a moment in his life when he didn’t want to farm. As a kid, Preston regularly followed his father around the
farm, helping him out in small ways and gradually assuming more and more responsibility. As a young adult, he majored
in agricultural engineering technology and business at Mississippi State University.
“When I returned home from college in the winter of 1999, my dad knew that I was set on farming,” Preston said. “He
could very easily have taken me in under his operation, but he felt it pertinent for me to start out on my own.”
8 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y J U L Y / A U G U S T

Preston’s dad allowed him to sub-rent two of his farms. Over
the next few years, Preston gained and lost some rented land then
had the opportunity to buy 200 acres of farmland adjoining his
farm in 2004. Also during that season, he and his father changed
from a traditional cotton/grain operation to one of only grains. He
says it was one of the best moves they could have made.
Preston currently grows 1,100 acres of corn and soybeans
and helps with his father’s 2,300-acre row crop operation
near Inverness. In addition, Preston and his father own a
310,000-bushel grain storage facility, where Preston spends a lot
of time in the fall and winter handling deliveries and ensuring
grain quality.
Amy, whose mother is a bookkeeper for several large Delta
farms, keeps the books for her own family farm. She is very much
involved in the day-to-day decision-making process. She and
Preston have two daughters,
Katie, 3, and Kelly, 8 weeks old.
Farming Challenges
Some of the challenges
with which the Arringtons
have had to deal in recent years
include a lack of willing and
qualified employees and the
new technological age. Recently,
they added two GPS guidance
systems to their farm equipment.
Looking back, Preston says he
doesn’t know how they managed
without them.
“They have made our field
operations even more efficient
and effortless than I could have
ever imagined,” he said. “These
systems allow us to do 12 rows of
work with 10-row equipment,
saving time and fuel.”
One increasingly important
responsibility for Preston is
studying markets and making
decisions about whether to buy
or sell.
“I spend a lot of time with the
marketing aspect of farming,” he
said. “It used to be that if you made a crop then you made money.
Now, if you don’t market correctly, this is as big a factor as
producing the crop.
“A lot of people give the markets a passing glance,” he said. “I
look at them ten times a day.”
Access to adequate, productive farmland is yet another
challenge. With that in mind, the Arringtons say they take good
care of the land they already own, ensuring they will be able to
remain in agriculture for many years to come.
“I tell people that I plan on farming for 20, 30 or 40 more years,”
Preston said. “I try directly and indirectly to do all that I can to
ensure that we have a productive environment in which to work.
“I want a safe and plentiful water supply since the land that I
am associated with is 91 percent furrow-irrigated,” he added.
“Where applicable and feasible, I utilize the Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) Equip programs. Under their
guidelines, my dad and I have installed numerous underground
transfer lines, substantial pads and culverts, and several tailwater
recovery systems with relift stations.
“We want to use as much surface water and as little
groundwater as we can,” he said. “All of this has made our
farms very efficient and environmentally friendly.”
A major obstacle that the Arringtons managed to sidestep was
the need for numerous semi trucks to haul grain away from the
farm at harvest. Most of their corn and beans are hauled in grain
carts to the bins and never see a truck until late fall or winter.
“I think a major reason why we’ve
been so profitable with the grain is
we can get the crop out in a timely
manner,” Preston said. “We are
not subjected to long lines at the
elevator, and we don’t have to
take docks for moisture.”
In 2008, four Arrington
fields produced 50,000 bushels
of soybeans each and one
field produced 110,000 bushels
of soybeans.
Future Plans
As for future plans, Preston says
he’d like to improve the grain
handling facility since it is a very
integral part of the operation.
“Eventually, I would like to
incorporate a set of scales so I
can monitor what comes in and,
more importantly, what goes
out,” he said. “Another improvement
will probably be a continuous
flow dryer for corn. It might be a
stretch, but someday when all these
things are in place, I might consider
buying grain from the public on a
small scale.
“From a production standpoint, I am always trying to fine-tune
the furrow irrigation process,” he said. “That entails more
underground pipe, pads cut to grade, and square fields. All of
this makes it more efficient and easy to manage because we
normally put out about 120 quarter-mile rolls of polypipe a year.”
More Information
For more information about the Mississippi Farm Bureau
Federation Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) program,
contact YF&R Coordinator Greg Shows at 1.800.227.8244,
ext. 4277. Or call 601.977.4277. FC
J U L Y / A U G U S T M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y 9

Ag Career Comes Full CircleBy Glynda Phillips
Dr. Mark Keenum brings to his tenure as the 19th president of
Mississippi State University (MSU) a lifelong love of MSU and state
agriculture. In fact, the MSU graduate’s distinguished agricultural
career seems to have come full circle.
“Looking back, I can see that I was blessed with a career path that
prepared me for my present position and led me straight back to
Mississippi State,” he said. “I can’t say enough about this university.
It not only educated me, it propelled my career.
“I owe everything to Mississippi State University.”
AG INFLUENCES
Dr. Keenum’s grandfather was a Tallahatchie County row crop
farmer. Both his grandfather and father were employees of the
USDA Soil and Water Conservation Service (now the Natural
Resources Conservation Service). His father was a graduate of
Mississippi State University. In fact, Mark and his parents lived in
student housing on the MSU campus when he was just a baby.
As a child, Mark and his family were regulars at MSU football
games. Mark would also often accompany his father as he carried
out his work responsibilities with farmers. The family moved around
with the elder Keenum’s job, and as a teenager, Mark would often
work on farms within the different communities where he lived.
“I grew up as a big fan of the Bulldogs,” he said. “And I grew up
with a deep and abiding respect for agriculture.”
As he began to think about what he wanted to do with his life, Dr.
Keenum knew that he enjoyed business and finance and that he
wanted to apply this to agriculture. Ultimately, he made the
decision to major in Ag Economics with a minor in Finance. Upon
receiving his Associate Degree from Northeast Mississippi
Community College, where he met and began to date his future wife,
Rhonda Newman, he enrolled at MSU.
“Mississippi State was everything I’d dreamed it would be,” he
said. “It had a good environment, excellent teachers and professors,
and wonderful fellow students. I made many lifelong friends during
my years there.”
HIS CAREER
Dr. Keenum had thought that he wanted a career in farm credit,
and when he finished working on his master’s degree, he had the
opportunity to go down that path. But he also had the opportunity to
join the faculty at Mississippi State University, working with the
Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service. In the end, he chose to
teach, and that decision shaped the course of his career.
After working with the Extension Service and then the
Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Dr.
Keenum, who had continued his post graduate work at MSU,
received his PhD in Ag Economics and joined the faculty of the Ag
Economics Department. In 1989, he received an offer to join Sen.
Thad Cochran’s staff in Washington, D.C.
“I was very honored by the offer but apprehensive about
changing jobs,” he said. “But after I began working with Sen.
Cochran on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and
Forestry, I could see how revered he was by the members of the
Senate, and I could see that he truly wanted to be an advocate for
what is best for Mississippi agriculture. I learned that very quickly.
“I joined Sen. Cochran on the eve of the passage of the 1990 Farm
Bill, and that was a big and important piece of legislation,” he said.
“I also worked with the 1996 Farm Bill and the 2002 Farm Bill.
Later, as an under secretary with the USDA, I had input into
the 2008 Farm Bill from the standpoint of the executive branch of
government.”
In December 2006, Dr. Keenum was appointed USDA Under
Secretary with oversight for the Farm Service Agency, the Risk
Management Agency and the Foreign Agricultural Service. The
job involved managing a $2 billion budget and more than
16,500 employees.
“My time in Washington with Sen. Cochran and the USDA was a
great experience,” Mark said. “I learned about the legislative process
and about working with people. I also learned how to manage a large
organization.
“Looking back, I can see that all of this was preparing me for
my present position, and I feel so blessed to have had those
opportunities.”
MSU PRESIDENT
As he begins his presidency, Dr. Mark Keenum has several
priority goals for Mississippi State University. Foremost, he wants
to bring a sense of stability to the university, which has had five
presidents in the past 10 years. He also wants to lift the university in
the eyes of the nation.
“I want Mississippi State to be listed in the top tier of the top
flight universities in our country,” he said. “We are already superior
to some of those schools. We’re ranked fifth in the nation in
agricultural research. We have one of the few presidential libraries
in the nation. We’re ranked 34th in the nation in engineering
research. We just need to get our message out to the people who
make the decisions.”
Dr. Keenum also wants to grow the university.
“We currently have nearly 18,000 students, which is the largest
student body of any Mississippi public institution of higher learning.
We also have the best retention and graduation rates,” he said “I
want to encourage more young people to take advantage of our many
excellent programs and resources.”
Dr. Keenum recognizes the importance of every program offered
by the university, including the strong and nationally-recognized engineering
program. But he is especially interested in those young
people who want to make careers for themselves in the ag industry.
“Agriculture provides 29 percent of all jobs in Mississippi, and
24 percent of all revenue generated in Mississippi comes from ag,
forestry and natural resources,” he said. “Mississippi State is a big
part of servicing an industry that generates over $6 million annually
for our state’s economy.
1 0 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y J U L Y / A U G U S T

MSU President Mark Keenum, wife Rhonda, triplets Katie, Mary Phillips and Rett and young
Torie pose with Bully. Photo by Russ Houston
“We want to do everything we can to help young people who want to farm or work in the
ag support industries,” he said. “We want to continue to give them quality professors, cutting
edge technology, and a strong investment in research. We want our students to be able to
succeed in a competitive environment.”
Dr. Keenum says not everyone is aware that Mississippi State also provides outreach
expertise to the manufacturing and industrial sectors of our state. He says that this is one of
the reasons these types of companies choose to locate here.
“We are making our resources accessible to them, and that helps to attract industry to our
state,” he said. “In our teaching, research and outreach efforts as a land-grant university, we
will continue to prepare our young people for successful careers in agriculture and other
sectors while servicing the industrial sectors as well.”
FARM BUREAU CONNECTION
Dr. Keenum, who received the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation’s (MFBF) 2003
Distinguished Service Award, also intends to continue his relationship with our state’s largest
general farm organization. It is a strong relationship that dates back to his years with the
MSU Extension Service.
“Farm Bureau introduced me to farmers when I was doing Extension research so I would
be effective in my work,” he said. “I would also regularly attend the commodity conferences
that Farm Bureau holds each year. These conferences bring together farmers, scientists,
Extension Service personnel and other MSU staff so we can develop personal relationships.
“Farm Bureau is a forceful advocate in the Mississippi Legislature and Congress,” he said.
“I was reliant upon the counsel of its leaders when I was working in Washington. I would never
make a suggestion to Sen. Cochran without first checking with the Farm Bureau leadership.
“Receiving Farm Bureau’s highest honor in 2003 was the highlight of my career,” he said.
“It is a wonderful organization.”
As Dr. Keenum begins his presidency of Mississippi State University, Mississippi Farm
Bureau Federation wishes him well.
“We are excited about Mark serving as president of Mississippi’s largest land-grant,” said
MFBF President David Waide. “With the challenges we have in energy and domestic
food production, we look forward to working with him to solve these two important issues
favorably for ag producers and consumers in Mississippi.” FC
MSU SUPPORTS ALL
AGRICULTURAL NEEDS
Mississippi State University’s (MSU)
support of farmers ranges from basic
soil testing to researching the genomes
of chickens, cattle, plants and other
living organisms. Nationally, MSU
ranks first for federally-funded agricultural
research expenditures and fifth
for agricultural science research.
While most people think of
Mississippi State as the 4,200-acre
campus in Starkville where future
agricultural experts are educated, the
majority of the university – 18,000 acres
– is located throughout the state. MSU’s
Extension Service has offices in all 82
Mississippi counties, and MAFES has
16 branch experiment stations and
research units under the guidance of
four regional Research and Extension
Centers located in Verona, Stoneville,
Raymond and Biloxi.
The university’s diagnostic laboratories
in Starkville, Stoneville and Pearl
respond quickly to thousands of requests
from every corner of the state.
• MSU’s soil testing lab processes
25,000 soil samples each year.
• The nematode lab receives 4,000
samples annually and runs 4,300 tests
for the microscopic plant parasites.
• The plant disease lab receives 700
samples a year and runs 1,400 tests.
• The veterinary diagnostic laboratory
system received 70,000 submissions
in 2008 and conducted 350,000
individual tests.
Mississippi farms depend on the 200
new publications developed annually
by MSU faculty for advice related
to agriculture and families. One of the
annual publications, available in print
and on the Internet, is crop variety
recommendations compiled from MSU
tests of hundreds of varieties of
agronomic crops on thousands of
plots across the state.
(Information provided by MSU Ag
Communications Department)
J U L Y / A U G U S T M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y 11

A Commitment to Small-Scale Farmers
ASU President Dr. George Ross visits with students.
Oakland Memorial Chapel
ASU University Relations
ASU University Relations
By Glynda Phillips
Alcorn State University (ASU) was established in 1871 as the
nation’s first state-supported institution for African-Americans. The
school received its land-grant designation in 1878. This status was
further strengthened by the second Morrill Act of 1890.
A GROWING SCHOOL
Alcorn started out as primarily a technical institution with only
three buildings, eight faculty members and 179 mostly male
students. Today, its facilities include more than 80 modern
structures with an approximate value of $350 million. Academically,
ASU boasts over 700 professors and staff and seven schools that
offer degree programs in more than 96 areas, including agriculture,
education, psychology, business, arts and sciences, nursing,
counseling and graduate studies.
The school’s 1,700-acre main campus is located in Lorman and its
satellite campuses can be found in Natchez and Vicksburg.
In the area of agriculture, Alcorn offers the School of Agriculture
and Applied Sciences, which includes the Department of
Agriculture, Department of Human Sciences and Department of
Advanced Technologies. The Alcorn Cooperative Extension Service
offers programs in Ag and Natural Resources, Community Resource
Development, Family and Consumer Science, Nutrition and Fitness,
and 4-H and Youth Development.
Alcorn State University is home to the Mississippi Small Farm
Development Center, which offers broad-based technical assistance
to small-scale farmers and limited-resource farmers throughout the
state, with an emphasis on the southwestern, northeastern and north
Delta regions of Mississippi.
ASU is proud of its approximately 3,300 students, who come from
all over the world. Graduates include farmers, doctors, lawyers,
dentists, teachers, managers, administrators, principals and
entrepreneurs. Alcorn State University has awarded more than
20,000 degrees since it opened, and alumni include author Alex
Haley, civil rights leader Medgar Evers, actor Michael Clarke
Duncan and NFL All-Star quarterback Steve McNair. Miss
Mississippi 2007 Kimberly Morgan is an ASU graduate.
VISIONARY PLANS
On Jan. 3, 2008, Dr. George Ross became Alcorn State
University’s 17th president. Dr. Ross brings to his position over 20
years of experience in college administration, most recently as Vice
President for Finance and Administrative Services for Central
Michigan University.
A visionary leader, Dr. Ross plans to build upon Alcorn’s past
accomplishments and its strong reputation for academic excellence.
For two years, U.S. News & World Report has ranked Alcorn State
University in the top 25 for academic reputation among historically
black colleges and universities.
Dr. Ross says he would like to see Alcorn become a premier
comprehensive land-grant university, developing a diverse student
population into competitive leaders. He would also like to see the
1 2 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y J U L Y / A U G U S T

school conduct research through collaborative
partnerships that will benefit the surrounding
communities, state, nation and world.
As far as agriculture is concerned, Dr. Ross
would like to see Alcorn offer the very best
programs in plant science; animal science;
agricultural economics and agribusiness;
nutrition; health and community development;
and diverse advanced technologies.
Other goals include:
• To be acknowledged as a topnotch and
leading land-grant university for small-scale
agriculture and related programs in the
southern region of the U.S.
• To be recognized for contributing
significantly to building and sustaining
vibrant agribusiness industries that function
as key drivers for robust economic activity in
the state’s small-scale agricultural sub-sector.
• To have effectively infused appropriate and
progressive technologies in all aspects of
agriculture, with biotechnology leading
the way.
RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Some of Alcorn’s recent accomplishments
in the area of agriculture include:
• Development of the first disease-resistant
transgenic sweet potato line;
• Development and market testing of
cholesterol-reducing food products made
with soy;
• Production of 10 new value-added products
from medicinal herbs grown under the
Mississippi Natural Products Initiative;
• Establishment of the Mississippi Natural
Products Association, a producer cooperative
that currently sells about $65,000 worth
of shiitake (mushrooms) per year. This
association is on an expansion path and plans
to diversify by adding value to selected
medicinal herbs such as echinacea, valerian
and feverfew;
• Improvement in genetic lines of livestock for
farmers, especially swine and goats;
• Promotion of alternative agricultural
enterprises that have increased small farm
income. This entails diversification in nontraditional
agricultural enterprises such as
vegetables, spices, medicinal herbs, small
fruits, pastured poultry and meat goats. This
offers small-scale, limited-resource producers
alternatives to traditional commercial crops
and livestock enterprises such as cotton,
soybeans, swine and beef. By adopting
alternative enterprises, thousands of smallscale
producers have been able to survive;
• The awarding of a U.S. patent to four
Alcorn State University scientists for an
agricultural invention, the discovery of a
non-pharmacological means of reducing
cardiovascular disease risks by the use of a
component of a vegetable crop, Waterleaf
(Talinium triangulare). One of the claims of
this patent is the use of a Waterleaf field
supplement to reduce tissue cholesterol and
total lipid in pork products;
• Existence of a Small Farm Loan Program
that has approved and serviced approximately
270 loans for small-scale farmers, averaging
about $10,000 for a total of $2.7 million,
since 1996. The multiplier effect of these
loans in terms of economic impact is
estimated at $10,000,000;
• Operation of a vegetable processing plant in
Marks that was recently USDA certified to
pack and process leafy vegetables grown in
Mississippi primarily and elsewhere;
• Work in the area of biotechnology. This
field is growing at Alcorn and has the
potential to revolutionize agriculture and the
quality of life of the state’s residents. At the
present, research is being conducted on
value-enhanced sweet potato cultivars for
value-added foods (chips and fries) and
industrial applications (alternative feedstock
for production of biofuel such as ethanol).
• 19th Annual Statewide Small Farmers,
Families and Women Conference was held
this year. The conference is held each year in
different areas of the state.
BUDGET CUTS
Because of the economy, Alcorn State
University will face challenges in certain areas
during the current fiscal year. Some examples
of negative impacts to small farmers, farm
families and their communities include:
• Dairy, beef, swine, meat goat, and
aquaculture research and Extension operations
have been suspended or reduced.
• Cooperative Extension offices to serve
hurricane-stricken small farmers, farm
families, and their communities have not
been opened on the Mississippi Gulf Coast
as planned in FY2004.
• Alternative energy research and application
using poultry, cattle, swine waste, and other
biomass feedstocks have been placed on
hold, and Alcorn’s fuel cell power plant is in
shutdown mode.
• Agricultural field days have been drastically
reduced in each service county and at Alcorn’s
Agricultural Experiment Station.
• Value-added product development through
handling and processing at Alcorn’s Vegetable
Processing Plant in Marks has been slowed.
Despite the budget cuts, Alcorn will
continue to work hard to administer to
the needs of our state’s small and limited
resource farmers.
FARM BUREAU TIES
Alcorn State University has a strong
relationship with the Mississippi Farm Bureau
Federation, which is proud of the school’s
work with Mississippi’s small family farmers.
As Dr. George Ross begins his tenure as
president of Alcorn State University, Farm
Bureau wishes him well.
“We look forward to working with Dr. Ross
as he leads Alcorn State University,” said
Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation President
David Waide. “We will continue to endeavor
to see that ag budgets are adequately funded
because this means more to rural Mississippi
than any other single influencing factor.”
For more information, please contact:
School of Agriculture, Research, Extension
and Applied Science; Alcorn State University;
1000 ASU Drive #690; Alcorn State, MS
39096 or call 601.877.6137. Or visit our Web
site at http://www.alcorn.edu/AREAS. FC
J U L Y / A U G U S T M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y 1 3

Swindolls, from left, Chase, Deniese, Tommy, Kim and Patrick.
1 4 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y J U L Y / A U G U S T

Family Farmers
By Glynda Phillips
Tommy Swindoll and his family take time from their busy
northwest Mississippi row crop operation to participate in a variety
of Farm Bureau programs. They believe in the organization and what
it accomplishes each year for Mississippi agriculture.
“We love Farm Bureau,” said Tommy, who has farmed in the
upper Mississippi Delta since 1976. “It means a lot to farmers, and
we want it to remain strong well into the future. That’s why we
participate.”
“It’s great to have an organization where everyone has the same
passion and interests, because not everyone understands about
farming,” Patrick said.
Tommy is president of the DeSoto County Farm Bureau and has
served on the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) Board of
Directors. Deniese is chair of the District One Women’s Committee
and chair of the DeSoto County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee.
Patrick, his wife Kim and his brother Chase are participants in the
DeSoto County Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) program.
Patrick serves as chair of that committee and has also served a
term as chair of the State YF&R Committee. Kim is co-chair of the
DeSoto County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee.
MORE THAN INSURANCE
When Tommy and Deniese joined Farm Bureau back in 1980,
they weren’t aware of the many programs that it had to offer. They
thought Farm Bureau was just an insurance company.
“Like a lot of other farmers around here, we joined for the
insurance. We didn’t understand what Farm Bureau was about,”
Tommy said. “It wasn’t until I began to serve on the county board
in 1990 that I began to see that there are other programs that are just
as important.
“For example, if more Mississippi farmers were aware of our
Public Policy program and how much clout Farm Bureau has in the
Mississippi Legislature, every single one of them would join,” he
said. “Farm Bureau is our best and strongest voice on issues that
matter to everyone. Eminent domain is a good example.”
Urban encroachment and a lack of good, available farmland is a
challenge that faces many farmers, especially those in DeSoto
County and neighboring Tunica and Tate Counties, where the
Swindolls also farm.
“Eminent domain was a very big issue for Farm Bureau this
session,” Tommy said. “We worked hard to get the word around that
Mississippi needs strong laws protecting the rights of private
property owners. We got a bill passed, but it was vetoed by the
M a k e A
D i f f e r e n c e
governor. We will continue to work hard on eminent domain.”
Right to farm is another important issue.
“People are moving into this area from Memphis,” Tommy said.
“We welcome them as neighbors as long as they respect our rights
as farmers. We were here first, many of us for generations. Luckily,
Farm Bureau was successful this legislative session in getting a
strong right-to-farm law passed and signed into law.”
AG IN THE CLASSROOM
The importance of teaching the consuming public to appreciate
farmers brings up another important Farm Bureau program … Ag in
the Classroom.
“Ag in the Classroom is one of our best programs for educating
children about agriculture,” Deniese said. “That’s why I’m involved
in Farm Bureau. I want people to understand that farmers are
more than important, they are essential.”
Deniese, who has a degree in Social Work from Delta State
University, has often worked with children. She says it’s amazing
the misconceptions that kids – and even adults – have about
agriculture.
“They think that chocolate milk comes from brown cows or that
food just miraculously appears on grocery store shelves,” she said.
“And they believe that all farms are alike.
“Farming is diverse and broad,” she said. “Yes, my family farms.
No, we don’t have cows and horses. We are row crop farmers. We
grow rice, corn, soybeans, wheat and milo. We have challenges that
are unique to row crop farmers. We also have challenges that are
unique to row crop farmers in this area of the state.”
Patrick can’t wait for a Farm Bureau-sponsored agricultural image
program to gear up later this year. He serves on the program’s
steering committee.
“Agriculture desperately needs a program like this,” he said. “We
need to show consumers how important agriculture is in their daily
lives and to the economies of our small towns.”
YOUNG FARMERS
Keeping young adults involved and interested in Farm Bureau is
something that is also important to Patrick, Kim and Chase.
“There’s a period of time between when young farmers serve on
their county or state Young Farmers and Ranchers committees and
when they are allowed to serve on some county boards,” Patrick
said. “There’s a gap there. Some young people lose interest. We need
to keep them involved and interested.”
J U L Y / A U G U S T M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y 1 5

From one generation to the next, Swindoll family farmers have worked hard to make a
difference in Mississippi agriculture. Top photo, Patrick and his grandfather Tom
discuss farm matters. Left photo, Kim and Deniese prepare to mail Ag in the Classroom
workshop information. Bottom photo, Tommy Swindoll catches up on paperwork.
“We aren’t trying to take away the leadership roles of the older, established
members,” said Kim. “We just want to help.”
“A lot of talented young farmers are interested,” Chase said. “They have a
lot to contribute.”
Tommy says one solution might be a county mentoring program. The older
members could take the younger members under their wings and show them
the ropes.
“Older people have experience and wisdom,” he said. “We could bring
the younger ones onboard and let them observe and learn. If this is not
addressed, we will lose them, and these young people are our future. Ten
to twelve years down the road, we will have a big problem.”
A PERFECT WORLD
The Swindolls say that in a perfect world every farmer–and every
Mississippian – would understand the value of a Farm Bureau membership.
The benefits are obvious.
“Farm Bureau truly is the Voice of Agriculture ®
in the Mississippi
Legislature,” Tommy said. “Statistics reflect that we are losing our farms. It
is crucial that we unite through this organization so that our voice continues
to be heard.
“I want to see our organization continue to grow and strengthen. I want
to see everyone working together on legislative issues that make a difference,”
he said. “If we can do that successfully, there will be no stopping us.” FC
When Tommy Swindoll’s grandfather moved his family from Webster County to
the Delta many years ago, Tommy’s father, Tom, began working for other
farmers, saving his money and gradually acquiring farmland. The Swindoll
family now farms approximately 12,000 acres of row crops in DeSoto, Tunica
and Tate counties. Tommy and Deniese will celebrate their 30th wedding
anniversary in August.
1 6 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y J U L Y / A U G U S T

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PUBLIC POLICY
By Elizabeth Parsons
MFBF Public Policy Department Painting a Positive Image of Agriculture
With a new administration settling into
the White House, Washington is pushing new
priorities, many of which may directly affect
agriculture. President Obama and members
of Congress have expressed their determination
to pass legislation promoting energy
efficiency, addressing climate change, and
protecting the environment and wildlife. Also,
with a national debt of $1.8 trillion, Congress
must consider where to make budget cuts and
how to allocate its budget to the respective
sectors of the economy.
While Congress and the administration’s
objectives have good intentions, each
objective has the potential to negatively affect
certain areas of the agricultural industry. To
avoid this scenario, farmers and ranchers must
tell their side of the story.
TELLING AG STORY
It is critical that the agricultural industry
proactively seek positive publicity and remind
Americans of the significant role that
agriculture plays in our national economy.
No one understands the day-to-day operations
and struggles of producers better than
the producers themselves. So, farmers and
ranchers should take the opportunity to tell
about the daily struggles that they face to
provide an abundant and affordable source of
food for all Americans.
While this positive publicity will start at
the local and state level, it will eventually
trickle up to our nation’s lawmakers and will
influence their decisions in ways that will
benefit agriculture.
There are many methods and venues
for farmers to positively publicize what
they do locally and statewide, but it will take
considerable time, effort and, sometimes,
training. According to the Center for Profitable
Agriculture, a farmer can successfully
generate positive publicity using the
following strategies:
• Write an article about your day-to-day
operations or a special event at your farm and
send it to a local newspaper or magazine.
• Take the opportunity to speak at local
functions, such as a Rotary Club or a Boy
Scout banquet.
• Meet with your state legislators and U.S.
congressmen to tell them about the issues
you face in your business.
• Host or sponsor a function at your business
and include the media at the event. For
example, invite a class from the local school
to learn how food moves from the farm to
the dinner table.
• Write a blog which documents exciting
events that arise on the farm and current
legislative or regulatory issues facing
your operation.
• Take the lead on a community project or
support a local charity.
Each of these methods provides effective
ways for farmers and ranchers to convey their
positive message to the public and their state
and national leaders. Last November, the
Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, in
conjunction with Mississippi State University,
invited state legislators who served on the
agriculture committee to visit the farms of
several Farm Bureau members.
Many legislators who attended stated
that the tours provided them with a visible,
concrete image of the daily tasks faced by
producers of all commodities. These tours also
showed legislators the efforts put forth by
Mississippi producers to provide healthy food,
protect the surrounding environment, and use
energy efficiently.
Often, it only takes a visit by phone or an
invitation to tour your farm to reshape a state
or national leader’s view of agriculture, and
these leaders find this communication most
valuable when they hear concerns directly
from the farmer himself.
FARMERS MUST UNITE
So, as our state and national leaders
consider legislation to address global
warming, energy efficiency, the state and
national budget, and other important issues,
it is time for farmers and ranchers to join in
a united voice and tell agriculture’s side of
the story.
Proactively seeking opportunities for
positive publicity, even at just the local and
community level, will help to educate the
public and our leaders about the efforts taken
by Mississippi farmers to provide healthy,
affordable food while also working to protect
the environment and conserve energy.
Americans are listening, and if we don’t tell
our story, someone else will.
Dairyman Randy Knight takes visitors through his Rankin County operation.
Knight, who also raises stocker calves, is the MFBF Central Mississippi Vice President.
1 8 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y J U L Y / A U G U S T

ADVERTISEMENT

Building A Strong
By Glynda Phillips
Gloria and Morris Richardson of G & M Goat Farm in Wiggins are helping Mississippi build a strong goat industry. The couple generously
gives of their time and expertise because they want folks to know that hard work and dedication do pay off and that working with goats can be
very satisfying.
From their humble beginnings seven years ago with only nine goats and a very small customer base, Gloria and Morris now annually
maintain a herd of about 150 goats, including South African Boer meat goats and Spanish dairy goats. Their farm is one of the best providers
of quality caprine products and live animals in the state and specializes in brood stock, a variety of custom-processed meat cuts, and value-added
byproducts such as cheeses and skin care items.
THE PRODUCTS
Each year, the Richardsons buy goats from four to six area farmers to be processed at a
facility in Sandy Hook. It is the only facility in Mississippi licensed by the Department of
Agriculture to process and package goat meat for wholesale and retail sales.
Last year, the Richardsons processed about 179 meat goats. They believe this number will
double in the coming year. Cheese is another super seller. Gloria and Morris sell 400 to 500
containers of goat cheese a month. In addition, they sell soap and lotion products made from
goat milk.
“Goat products are healthy,” she said. “The saturated fat molecules in the meat and milk are
smaller and more easily digested, and most people are not allergic to goat milk. Goat milk is
2 0 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y J U L Y / A U G U S T

Goat
similar to human milk. I bet you didn’t know that 72 percent of the milk consumed in
the world is goat milk.”
MARKETING EFFORTS
Gloria and Morris sell their products at a small market on their farm. They also take a
concession wagon to farmers’ markets and festivals along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
“Farmers’ markets have been very good to us,” Gloria said. “We serve them in Pass
Christian, Ocean Springs and Hattiesburg. In June, we hope to add one more in Laurel. We
do all of the festivals on the Coast, and we’re trying to incorporate more.”
The Richardsons would love to sell over the Internet and in other states. They are
working toward becoming federally inspected so that this will be possible. They have had
help in their efforts from Dr. Gregory Reed of the Small Farm Development Center at
Alcorn State University. Dr. Reed founded the Southwest Meat Goat Project and uses G
& M Goat Farm as a model for the project.
“Alcorn has a very good program, and we have received many benefits from it,” Gloria
said. “But we have also learned a lot on our own by networking.”
In addition to product sales, the Richardsons breed goats.
Gloria and Morris have appeared in numerous publications, including Mississippi
Tourism and South Mississippi Living magazines. They offer tours of their farm
sponsored by the Stone County Economic Development Foundation.
“We are very busy. We work very hard,” Gloria said. “Summer is our peak busy time
followed by the holidays.”
HOW TO BEGIN
If you would like to become a goat farmer, Gloria and Morris advise you to start out
small and grow slowly. They say, “Don’t put the cart in front of the goat!”
“Make sure you have your facility and property set up before you begin,” Morris said.
“Goats need shelter and pasture. They need to be rotated off of different fields. They must
be grass-fed, but they also need grain. Goats need a high protein diet and high copper. I bet
you didn’t know that one of the healthiest places for goats to graze is in the woods on
leaves.”
The Richardsons try to separate their goats by size and gender and rotate their grazing
every couple of weeks or, depending on the size of the herd, every 28 days. Smaller herds,
they say, are easier to manage.
“Everything on the farm needs to be goat-proof because the animals climb,” Morris said.
“Also, you need to make sure that where you keep them is easy for you to clean. And,
finally, you need a good vet on standby who is interested in and knows goats.
“This is very challenging and interesting,” he said. “Goats have different personalities
but they are basically very social animals. If handled correctly, they are very docile and
easily trained.
“Goats are used in some countries as pack animals,” he added. “They can also be used
as guards. If spooked, they make a sound. In addition, you can tell by how goats react if
the weather is about to change.”
The Richardsons say that problems with the economy haven’t hurt them, but the cost of
feed and fuel has definitely gone up.
“If you want to do this, do your research and start out slow,” Morris said. “You
will make mistakes, but you will learn. Gloria and I love working with goats. If
you do this correctly, you will find that raising goats can be both satisfying and profitable.”
For more information, contact the Richardsons at 601.928.4020 or goatlady40@
bellsouth.net FC
Industry
J U L Y / A U G U S T M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y 2 1

By Glynda Phillips
Bloom Where You’re Planted
Bloom where you’re planted.
That’s the meaningful message
presented by “Charlie the Peanut,” a new
children’s book written by Holmes County
farmers, Keath and Alyssa Killebrew. The
book’s title character yearns for greener
pastures and has his wish come true –
through a series of misadventures down on
the farm – only to discover that he was
much happier in his own backyard.
Along with Charlie’s philosophy, the
book familiarizes readers with some of the
different commodities grown in the
Mississippi Delta. Charlie visits fields
of cotton, sunflowers, wheat, soybeans
and corn. He meets a blue jay, a bumblebee,
crows, a scarecrow, an owl, ants and
a raccoon.
The bright and colorful book is
illustrated by Delta State University art
student Chris Jenkins.
GENERATIONS REMOVED
“I’m a psychotherapist, and I have
worked with children. I wanted to get
across to them that they should be happy
where they are in the present moment,”
said Alyssa. “But I also wanted to teach
them about Mississippi agriculture.
“Our children are so removed from farm
life,” she said. “When I speak to school
children about my book, I take along a
picture of a combine and samples of rice,
cotton, peanuts and corn. I let students
2 2 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y J U L Y / A U G U S T

touch the samples, and I’m amazed at how many children have
never touched a real cotton boll.”
Alyssa says the reception the book has received has been
phenomenal. Children are always excited to hear her read.
She’s made appearances at schools, libraries and bookstores
across the state, and she always presents a book to the
libraries. She also gives back a portion of the money she
receives from sales of the book. Many schools use her book to
raise funds for projects.
Alyssa receives requests to appear at festivals and other
events across the Southeast, and she loves to do so because
she is a people person. She has attended peanut festivals in
Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. She’s been written up
in Delta Magazine, Delta Farm Press, The Clarion Ledger
and other publications.
“People have been very helpful,” she said. “Newspapers
have used our press releases. Schools and bookstores have
invited us for readings. I’ve sold a lot of books, and I’ve been
able to donate a portion of the sales back to schools. So far,
Madison-Ridgeland Academy has raised the most money
through sales of my book”
A LONG WAY
Good ol’ Charlie has come a long way from his beginnings
as a dream.
“My husband had a dream about a peanut named Charlie,
and he told me about it the next morning. He said that we
needed to write a book,” Alyssa said. “I sat down and wrote
the storyline, and he added the farm trivia at the back of
the book as well as a recipe for how to make homemade
peanut butter.”
The Killebrews wondered who would illustrate their book.
They found the answer in their own backyard (so to speak).
Alyssa shared an office at a regional health center with an art
student’s wife. His work covered her walls.
Keath and Alyssa Killebrew are pictured with their Great Dane, Charlie,
who makes an appearance in the book.
“My husband had a dream about a peanut nam ed Charlie,
and h e told m e about it th e next morning. He said that
we needed to write a book,” Alyssa said.
“Chris’ art was so bright and pretty,” Alyssa said. “I asked if she thought he would be interested in illustrating the book. When he said
that he was, I was thrilled.”
Alyssa drew every picture herself to show him what she wanted on each page, and she left the colors up to him.
“The only request I had was that Charlie have a hat and red shoes,” she said. “I also wanted him to be happy. I wanted him to have
emotions because, from my work with children, I knew that this would appeal to them.”
HOW TO GET A COPY
If you are interested in getting a copy of “Charlie the Peanut,” you may find the book at Turnrow Books in Greenwood, Cotton Row
Books in Cleveland, Barnes and Noble, Borders and The Olde Tyme Commissary in Jackson. Or you can visit the Web site at
www.charliethepeanut.com, where you can order online. FC
Keath and Alyssa Killebrew are Holmes County Farm Bureau members. Keath’s family has farmed near Tchula for generations.
J U L Y / A U G U S T M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y 2 3

SOLVE THE
MYSTERY
This town is home to a park that boasts a nice recreational walking trail. It is also home to a new town hall and many thriving businesses.
Opposite page, top, is the historic and beautiful United Methodist Church. Bottom right, Mayor Russ Espiritu and Abbie Patrick stop to
talk on a bridge in the park.
Our mystery town is located in Rankin County on Highway 18
about 20 miles south of Brandon. According to the signs you see as
you enter and exit this town, it is home to “300 friendly folks and a
couple of old soreheads.”
This town grew up around water and wood mills and agriculture.
Still today, the surrounding area boasts poultry and livestock farms
and at least one tomato farm. This town has one of the state’s few
remaining farm stores, Burnham’s Grocery and Farm Store.
This town rhymes with bucket.
Here are more clues.
SHOW TOWN
A Burnham man applied for a post office in this town in the 1800s
and asked that the town be named Burnham. Because there was
already a post office named Bornham, it was decided the town would
be named in honor of another area pioneer.
Back in those early years, during the winter months, this town was
home to traveling show people. One writer humorously called this
town “the biggest little show town in America.”
TODAY
Today, this town has approximately 354 citizens, according to the
2000 census. It boasts a new town hall and a nice park with a lighted
ballfield, playground, recreational walking trail, pavilion and splash
pad. This town has a library, volunteer fire department and police
department. It has three churches and several historic houses.
This town is proud of its high school football team, which won
the State 1A Championship title in 2008. The Wolves also won the
championship in 2002 and 2006. They were runners-up for the title
last year. There is a lot of support for this football team among
area residents.
This town is home to R-Squared, an industry that makes aluminum
radiators and employs 150 local citizens. It is also home to a bank,
two doctors, one veterinarian, one auto supply store, two auto sales
lots, one custom woodworking shop, one dentist, one home furnishing
business, an embroidery business, a farm store, two burger places,
three gas stations, a Dollar General, a home décor shop, three hair
salons, and a jewelry and clothing store.
“We have big plans for our town. We hope to one day add a
pharmacy, grocery store and restaurant,” said Mayor Russ Espiritu.
“This is a close community, and the people work together for the
2 4 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y J U L Y / A U G U S T

enefit of the whole community. I know that we will continue to grow.”
This town has residents whose ancestors were among the original
pioneer settlers. Some of the older names include Burnham, Calhoun
and Means.
Name this town.
A special thanks to Mayor Espiritu and to Abbie Patrick of Peoples
Bank 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 July 31.
MAY/JUNE
The correct answer for the May/June Solve the Mystery is Merigold.
J U L Y / A U G U S T M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y 2 5

PUBLIC POLICY
2009 Legislative Recap
By Samantha Cawthorn, MFBF Public Policy Director
Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation is only as successful as our ability to get
important issues addressed through a strong grassroots effort. Farm Bureau was
successful during this past session of the Mississippi Legislature on a variety of
fronts, thanks to our members and their willingness to stand up for what they
believe in.
Eminent Domain
For the first time in our four-year battle, we managed to get a strong eminent
domain reform bill on the governor’s desk. Even though the governor vetoed
the bill, we are proud to have gotten it this far considering the number of
organizations that worked against it. These organizations stand to benefit
financially from the use of eminent domain for economic development and have
been successful in the past at stopping the bill from progressing.
Without the calls, letters, emails and personal visits that were made on this
issue, we never would have gotten this far. Thank you for all the support and help
you have given to Farm Bureau and to protecting private property rights. We will
continue our work with eminent domain.
Other Successes
In other legislative action this session, we were able to accomplish the following:
• Strengthen our right-to-farm law, which will allow the state’s heritage to
continue to be passed down from generation to generation.
• Get the Milk Producers Transportation Cost Loan Fund continued through
2012, which is designed to help producers with transportation costs incurred
in milk production.
• Create the Agricultural Aviation Licensing Law of 2009, which moves
Agricultural Aviation under the authority of the Bureau of Plant Industry.
• Extend the Harvest Permit through 2013 at the current weight limit of 84,000
pounds with the permit.
• Decrease the sales tax on farm equipment from 3 percent on self-propelled
implements and 7 percent on parts and labor to 1.5 percent across the board.
The sales tax on tractors was raised from 1 percent to 1.5 percent to offset
some of the cost of lowering the other sales tax.
National Level
Beginning with the 2009 crop year, producers who lease federal land would
have no longer been eligible for payments that had been authorized under the
2008 Farm Bill. This was effective immediately and left many producers to face
their lenders with no safety net coverage for the crop production on that land.
Fortunately, USDA decided to reinstate base acres on all federal lands, which
is a big win for Mississippi. Our congressmen and senators were very influential
in this process.
Contact Info
If you would like to talk with someone in our Public Policy Department,
please call Samantha Cawthorn at 601.977.4020. Or email Samantha at
scawthorn@msfb.com.
CALENDAR OF
EVENTS
July 1 Honeybees Commodity Conference
MFBF Building, Jackson
July 2 Peanuts Commodity Conference
Monroe Extension, Aberdeen
July 7 Corn, Wheat & Feed Grains/
Soybeans Commodity Conference
Stoneville
July 8 Cotton Commodity Conference
Grenada
July 9 Region 1 YF&R Meeting
Warehouse Restaurant, Cleveland
July 16 Region 5 Contest
Day’s Inn, McComb
July 17 Rice Commodity Conference
Bolivar Cty. Extension Auditorium
Cleveland
July 20-23 Youth Safety Seminar
Timber Creek Camp, Scott County
July 21 Poultry Commodity Conference
Simpson County Jr. Livestock Bldg.
Mendenhall
July 25 Region 3 Contest
Hinds Cty. Extension Office, Jackson
July 28 Equine Commodity Conference
Reunion Farms, Gluckstadt
August 3 MS Homeplace Feeder Calf Sale
Southeast MS Livestock
Hattiesburg
August 7 Region 1 Contest
Morrison Chapel Baptist Church
Cleveland
August 8 Region 8 Contest
MFBF Building, Jackson
August 15 Region 2 Contest
Tombigbee Bldg., Tupelo
August 15 Region 6 Contest
East Central CC, Decatur
August 22 Region 4 Contest
Bost Building, MSU
September 19 Region 7 Contest
Gulf Coast CC, Perkinston
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FARM BUREAU
EVENTS
(Clockwise, from left) 1.) Amy Tuck addressed the 2009 Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Secretaries’ Conference held in Jackson in April. Her topic was “It’s
All About Attitude.” County Farm Bureau secretaries from around the state attended the conference. A former lieutenant governor, Tuck now serves as a special
assistant to the president of Mississippi State University. 2.) Working on an Ag in the Classroom activity during the 2009 Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation
Women’s Leadership Conference are Peggy Palmer, Webster County Women’s Chair; Joan Thompson, Neshoba County Women’s Chair; and Rhonda Jolly,
Chickasaw County Women’s Chair. 3.) Miss Farm Bureau-Mississippi Katie Vanderslice is pictured with the Farm Bureau insurance-sponsored Nascar on
display during Super Bulldog Weekend at Mississippi State University. 4.) County Farm Bureau women’s chairs who attended the Mississippi Women in
Agriculture Conference held in Jackson included, from left, Virginia Mathews, Yazoo County; Jeannie Leach, Newton County; Jan Holley, Itawamba County; and
Sylvia Clark, Calhoun County. They are pictured with Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation President David Waide. A special guest for the dinner, Waide also
served on a conference discussion panel. 5.) The 2009 Magnolia Beef and Poultry Expo in Raleigh enjoyed a great turnout as farmers and other industry experts
took advantage of seminars and exhibits focusing on the beef and poultry industries. Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation always contributes a popular exhibit.
2 8 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y J U L Y / A U G U S T

RECIPES
BAKED EGGPLANT SLICES
1 med. eggplant, peeled and sliced ½-inch thick
salt to taste
½ c. mayonnaise
1 c. soda cracker crumbs
½ c. grated Parmesan cheese
Sprinkle eggplant with salt. Let stand 20 minutes, then pat dry. Mix
mayonnaise and onions and spread on eggplant. Mix cracker crumbs
with Parmesan cheese. Dip eggplant slices into
mixture. Place on cookie sheet and bake at 375
degrees until golden brown, about 20 minutes.
By Margaret Davis, Grenada County
From Country Cooking, Vol. IV
LOW SUGAR DOUBLE LAYER PIE
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 T Splenda ®
1 T cold milk
2 c. cold milk
8 oz. Cool Whip ®
sugar-free whipped topping, thawed
2 pkg. Jell-O ®
sugar-free instant pudding, any flavor
1 graham cracker crust
Beat cream cheese, one tablespoon milk and one tablespoon Splenda ®
in a large bowl until well-blended. Gently stir in 1 ½ cups whipped
topping. Spread onto bottom of crust.
Pour two cups milk into another large bowl. Add pudding mixes. Beat
until well-blended. Immediately stir in the remaining whipped
topping. Spread over cream cheese layer in crust. Refrigerate four
hours or until set.
By Beth McCorkle, Winston County
From Country Cooking, Vol. IV
SWEET POTATO COBBLER
1 stick margarine
1 c. sugar
2 c. sweet potatoes
½ c. brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla flavoring
1 c. self-rising flour
1 c. milk
1 c. sugar
1 ½ c. water
1 tsp. cinnamon
Melt margarine in a 9x13 baking dish. Mix flour, one cup sugar and
milk together. Pour into center of melted margarine. Do not stir.
Mix sweet potatoes, 1 cup sugar, ½ cup brown sugar, 1 ½ cups water,
1 tsp. vanilla and 1 tsp. cinnamon.
Pour this mixture into the center of the melted margarine and batter.
Do not stir. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until brown.
By Clara Bilbo, Madison County
From Country Cooking, Vol. IV
APPLE CHEDDAR SCONES
2 c. all-purpose flour
¼ c. sugar
1 T baking powder
1 tsp. salt
¼ c. butter, chilled and diced
1 med. Gala apple, cored, cut into ¼” pieces
½ c. shredded sharp cheddar cheese
¾ c. milk
1 lg. egg, lightly beaten
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
In bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. With pastry
blender, cut in butter until coarse crumbs form with some pea-size
pieces. Stir in apple, cheese and milk until ingredients are moist and
dough starts to form. On lightly-floured surface, gently knead dough
until it comes together. Shape into 7-inch-wide disk. Brush with egg
and cut into 8 wedges. Arrange wedges 2 inches apart on baking sheet.
Bake 15 minutes or until golden brown.
By Beverly Woods, Winston County
From Country Cooking, Vol. IV
COMING SOON
At presstime, “Country Cooking, Volume IV,” had arrived. It
should be available in county Farm Bureau offices by July. The
cost is $15. If you order from the state office, it will cost $15 plus
postage. Proceeds from sales of this cookbook go into the Berta
White Scholarship Fund. For more information, contact Women’s
Program Coordinator Clara Bilbo at 1.800.227.8244, ext. 4245.
3 0 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y J U L Y / A U G U S T

LARRY BREWER RETIRES
Larry Brewer was honored recently with a retirement reception
at the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Building in
Jackson. Larry was employed with the Mississippi Farm
Bureau Federation for 34 years. He worked as a regional
manager in Region 4 and, in recent years, also coordinated
the swine and forestry programs. He is pictured with his wife
Peggy.
ANNUAL MEETINGS
NEW DAIRY SPECIALIST
A Mississippi State University Extension Service employee
with 22 years of experience in county-level programming for
agricultural and natural resources, 4-H, consumer education and
community development is the new statewide dairy specialist.
Lamar Adams, who was Extension director in Walthall County,
began his new job May 1. Adams will develop educational
programs for dairy producers throughout the state as a faculty
member in MSU’s Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences.
Adams, who is finishing his doctorate course requirements,
said he will be involved with regional and national Extension
programming for milk marketing and herd management strategies.
He also said he plans to network with Louisiana State University
personnel as part of a long-standing agreement between the two universities to share research
and educational resources.
Adams said he wants to help dairy producers improve cost efficiency by addressing such
management issues as herd health and nutrition, pastures and forages, milk quality, reproduction,
environmental stewardship, biosecurity, financial analysis, labor and recordkeeping.
At presstime, these county Farm Bureau annual meetings had
been scheduled. More annual meetings will run in the next
issue of Mississippi Farm Country.
CALHOUN COUNTY FARM BUREAU
Thursday, August 20 - 7:00 p.m.
Multi-Purpose Building
Pittsboro
DESOTO COUNTY FARM BUREAU
Tuesday, August 11 - 7:30 a.m.
Hernando Regional Library
Hernando
LEE COUNTY FARM BUREAU
Saturday, August 29 - 6:00 p.m.
North MS Research & Extension Center
Verona
MARSHALL COUNTY FARM BUREAU
Thursday, August 6 - 6:30 p.m.
Wall Doxey State Park
Holly Springs
PERRY COUNTY FARM BUREAU
Thursday, August 13 - 6:30 p.m.
Catfish Wagon
Runnelstown
STONE COUNTY FARM BUREAU
Thursday, August 13 - 5:30 p.m.
Farm Bureau Office
Wiggins
3 2 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y J U L Y / A U G U S T

SUMMER INTERN
Tyler Flowers, a junior majoring in
Agricultural Economics and Political Science
at Mississippi State University, is currently
serving a summer internship with the Mississippi
Farm Bureau Federation. Tyler will spend
six weeks learning all about our organization.
Tyler is the son of Webb and Jane Flowers of
Hillsville, Virginia. Webb is a former president
of Oktibbeha County Farm Bureau.
Students interested in the summer internship
should visit www.msfb.com to download an
application and instructions for applying.
WIN A NEW DODGE RAM
AT YF&R COMPETITIONS
Most accolades come in the form of
flimsy ribbons or cheap pieces of plastic…
but the American Farm Bureau Federation’s ®
Young Farmer and Rancher competitions give
you the chance to win a legendary Dodge truck.
Show off your agricultural know-how at the
National Convention in Seattle, WA, Jan.10-13,
2010, and you could win a brand-new Dodge
Ram. The contest is open to all Young Farmer &
Rancher members, so contact your local Farm
Bureau ®
for all entry details.
For more information about Dodge Ram
trucks, visit dodge.com or call 800-4ADODGE.
For information about the Mississippi Farm
Bureau Federation Young Farmers & Ranchers
(YF&R) contests, which also offer great prizes,
contact YF&R Coordinator Greg Shows at
1.800.227.8244. ext. 4277.
Farm Bureau is a federally-registered collective
membership and a registered service mark of the
American Farm Bureau Federation. Dodge is a
registered trademark of Chrysler LLC.
J U L Y / A U G U S T M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y 3 3

www.dougamb.com
FLEET VEHICLES FOR SALE
If you are interested in
purchasing a used
federation vehicle, please
visit our Web site at
www.msfb.com for more
information. Click on About
Us link, then click the Fleet
Vehicles for Sale on the
drop down menu or
contact Merlene Partridge
at 1.800.227.8244, ext.
4233. These vehicles
are late model, usually
one - two years old.
NADA retail, wholesale,
and loan values are used
to calculate price.
Members of the Mississippi Farm
Bureau Federation are a part of
one of the most influential
organizations in the world.
3 4 M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y J U L Y / A U G U S T

If you are interested in
advertising in Mississippi
Farm Country magazine,
please contact Paul Hurst
at
1.800.397.8908
Farm Bureau offers many
benefits that you may
not know about. For more
information, see page 2.
Start taking advantage
of the valuable benefits
offered by your Farm
Bureau membership!
J U L Y / A U G U S T M I S S I S S I P P I F A R M C O U N T R Y 3 5