Agriculrure Magazine

MISSISSIPPI
AGRITOURISM
IT’S EASY TO SEE
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CONTENTS
MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY
Volume 84 Number 6
4
November/December 2008
Features EDITOR
Glynda Phillips
Graphic Arts Coordinator
Danielle Ginn
TAKE TIME TO VOTE
On Nov. 4, our nation will elect a new leader.
Department Assistant
8
Angela Thompson
Please study the issues, determine the best

qualified candidate, and cast your vote.
FARM BUREAU OFFICERS
President - David Waide
Vice President - Donald Gant
Vice President - Randy Knight
Vice President - Reggie Magee
Treasurer - Charles Cleveland
MISSISSIPPI AGRITOURISM
Agritourism holds promise for Mississippi’s
Corporate Secretary - Ilene Sumrall
16
farmers and rural communities. Come with us
FARM BUREAU DIRECTORS
as we learn more about this growing industry.

Jim Perkins, Iuka
Lowell Hinton, Corinth
Paul Briscoe, Oxford
Ken Middleton, Glen Allan
Mike Ferguson, Senatobia
Kelcy Shields, Mantachie
SOLVE THE MYSTERY L.C. Sanders, Hamilton
As a reader of Mississippi Farm Country

Richard Canull, Brooksville
magazine, you should know a lot about

Betty Mills, Winona
20
Jimmie D. Arthur, Carthage
Mississippi agriculture. Can you answer the six

Kenneth Thompson, Philadelphia
Ricky Ruffin, Bay Springs
questions in our Solve the Mystery contest?

James Ford, Taylorsville
Neal Clinkscales, Anguilla
Jeff Mullins, Meadville
Bill Pigott, Tylertown
E.A. “Pud” Stringer, Foxworth
W.G. Hickman, Wiggins
RURAL LIVING
In this issue, we visit the Ninth Annual Humming-
Terry Estis, Lucedale
bird Migration Celebration in Holly Springs and

Louis Breaux IV, Kiln
Dott Arthur, Carthage
stop by the town of Mendenhall. We also learn

Patrick Swindoll, Hernando
about an award-winning Long Distance Learning

HONORARY VICE-PRESIDENTS
Louis J. Breaux, David H. Bennett, and
Program at Mississippi State University.

Warren Oakley
Mississippi Farm Country

(ISSN 1529-9600) magazine is
published bimonthly by the
*Mississippi Farm Bureau® Federation.
EDITORIAL AND BUSINESS OFFICES
Departments 6311 Ridgewood Road

Jackson, MS 39211
TELEPHONE
601.977.4153
4 President’s Message ADVERTISING

Call Paul Hurst at
6 Commodity Update: Beef 1.800.397.8908
7 Commodity Update: Dairy Farm Bureau members receive this publication

as part of their membership benefit. Periodicals
18 Counselor’s Corner postage is paid at Jackson, MS, and at
additional mailing offices.
Postmaster: Send address changes to

P. O. Box 1972, Jackson, MS 39215.
ABOUT THE COVER *FARM BUREAU®, FB® and all Farm Bureau Logos used in this
Stanley and Shelaine Wise are county Extension directors who know a lot about
magazine are registered service marks owned by the American
Farm Bureau Federation. They may not be used in any
agritourism. Read their story on pages 10-11.

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
or business management decisions.
articles or advertisements that could lead to erroneous personal
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY 3

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Take Time to Vote on
NOVEMBER 4
By David Waide • President, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation
s we approach November, we are all environmental issues in the future. been something that has developed over the
A aware that one of the most important

events happening is the election of
a new president. We all need to closely
I hope you will take the time to read each
senator’s stance on the issues that are
critically important to the production of food,
past few years. It probably resulted as a need
to increase the individual income on the farm.
There are unique problems in the
examine what really impacts us and make a fiber and energy and make a determination agritourism industry. One of the biggest
determination about the candidate we think about which candidate you think best reflects problems facing all agritourism developments
can best fill that office. the individual views you possess. It is time has been the availability and affordability
While we remain the only superpower, it is that we, as Americans, do something about of insurance products. Frankly, this has been
important that the individual who sits in that what I believe to be the greatest problem a difficult area for Farm Bureau because
seat be able to assure American citizens that facing us as an industrialized nation. If we our ability to price a product is based on
we will never take a backseat to anyone. We can solve our energy problem, we can put volume. Our volume has not been adequate
have gained our superiority in the world America on the road to remaining a free and to actuarially price these products in an
because we have based our beliefs on sovereign nation for generations to come. affordable manner. This is a challenge for us.
being able to revere our Creator. In my Quite frankly, I believe the solution will We are not only working within our own state
judgment, the thing that is most important come as the result of a combination of factors, operation but also at the national level to see
in any political election is to make the not just from a single source. It will be a that something is achieved that makes a real
determination whether or not we are electing life-changing experience because we have complement to this industry being able to
a Godly person. been held hostage to the importation of crude flourish in the future.
The importance of this election cannot be oil for so long. Agritourism has great potential in Missis-
stressed enough. We all know that there are In addition to weighing those environmen- sippi. When you think of all the opportunities
heavy economic pressures. We know we have tal policies, we also need to carefully examine that are available for educating our suburban
a huge national debt. We know that there are each candidate’s economic policy. For a long and metropolitan neighbors, our farms do
environmental issues that must be dealt with time, we have had tremendous deficits in our afford a great format to do just that. We have
in a positive way. We know that there are federal budget. These deficits have amounted had producers who have made corn mazes.
issues with the threat of succumbing to the to a huge national debt. The next president We have had producers who have offered all
terrorist activities on our home front that we will chart the course for creating the economic kinds of recreational fishing, hunting and,
have not seen happen since 9/11. base that will cause us, as Americans, to enjoy even, just general outdoor activities.
These issues are all very real and should be a continued quality of life that we do not wish The opportunity continues to exist to charge
one of the things that we use to make our to give up. a very reasonable fee to have people come
decision about who we are going to allow to Please study all of the issues and determine and enjoy the outdoors. I hope that
sit as president of the United States. The first whom you believe will be best to lead this those individuals who have some sort of
thing we can do is weigh the issues that are nation. Certainly, I hope you will take the time recreational event on their farm will take
important to us and make a determination as to go vote and express your desire on Nov. 4. advantage of the huge agritourism potential
to whether or not we believe the candidate that is available in Mississippi. In addition to
that we are prone to vote for will be the very taking advantage of that, I hope they will also
best candidate for president. In addition to the candidates’ views being take the occasion to share what agriculture
MISSISSIPPI AGRITOURISM
included in this issue, we have something else really means to the economy and the
we are focusing on and that is agritourism. well-being of every Mississippian.
In an attempt to help with the decision We have always recognized that agritourism I hope you will take the time to read the
ENERGY PLANS
making process, we outline both Sen. Obama’s played an important role in either various articles in our magazine this month.
and Sen. McCain’s stances on environmental contributing to or subsidizing an economic Certainly, make your contribution to the
issues in this issue of the magazine. This has situation on a farm. electoral process and to the development of
become critically important to agriculture, and Many producers simply try to get the taxes Mississippi agritourism because both have
the leadership our next president provides as rent for whatever agritourism activity they tremendous repercussions on our future as
could well determine how we address the allow to happen on their property. This has rural dwellers in Mississippi.
4 MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

MCCAIN AND OBAMA:
Energy and Environmental Policies By Elizabeth Parsons
MFBF Public Policy Assistant
JOHN MCCAIN BARACK OBAMA FARM BUREAU POLICY

ENERGY: THE LEXINGTON PROJECT ENERGY: NEW ENERGY PLAN FOR AMERICA ENERGY
• Expand domestic oil and natural gas • Allow limited offshore drilling • Support the investment in alternative fuels
exploration in the Outer Continental Shelf • Oppose drilling in the Arctic National and energy using Mississippi grain
• Oppose drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge commodities, animal waste and other
Wildlife Refuge • Tap into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve biomass materials
• Eliminate mandates, subsidies, tariffs and for short-term relief of fuel costs • Promote increased drilling for oil and
price supports focusing exclusively • Establish a 25% federal Renewable natural gas in the Outer Continental Shelf
on corn-based ethanol Portfolio Standard requiring 25% of and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
• Invest $2 billion annually in the research electricity to be derived from solar, • Encourage the research and development
and development of clean coal technologies wind and geothermal sources by 2025 of clean coal technologies
• Construct 45 new nuclear power plants • Double the fuel economy standards within • Support nuclear power plants and the
by 2030 18 years study of their impact on the surrounding
• Enforce Corporate Average Fuel Economy • Put 1,000,000 plug-in hybrid cars on the agriculture community
(CAFE) by creating sufficient penalties for road by 2015 • Oppose increases in the Corporate
noncompliant automakers Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards
CLIMATE CHANGE: CAP-AND-TRADE SYSTEM CLIMATECHANGE:CAP-AND-TRADE PROGRAM CLIMATE CHANGE

• Set specific timetable to reduce greenhouse • Employ a comprehensive market-based • Oppose mandatory restrictions to achieve
gas emissions cap-and-trade program reduced agricultural greenhouse gas
• 2012: Return emissions to 2005 levels • Implement a mandate to reduce emissions emissions or any other mandates that will
• 2020: Return emissions to 1990 levels to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050 adversely affect agriculture
• 2030: 22% below 1990 levels • Establish an overall national cap on carbon • Support the development of a practical,
• 2050: 60% below 1990 levels emissions, which will be lowered annually voluntary market-based cap-and-trade
• Allocate emission permits to businesses and to meet required reduction targets program
give businesses the right to buy and sell • Auction 100% of the pollution credits
these permits for cash, based on their needs • Require businesses to buy permits
• Exempt small businesses from the cap-and- according to the number of tons of
trade system pollution emitted by the organization
• Eventually auction permits and use funding
to support the research and development of
energy efficient technology and clean,
alternative energy
WATER AND AIR REGULATIONS WATER AND AIR REGULATIONS WATER AND AIR REGULATIONS
• Strengthen the regulation and enforcement • Strengthen the force of the Clean Air Act • Support a balanced, science-based
and Clean Water Act implementation of The Clean Air Act
of the Clean Air Act and the Clean
• Restrict federal Clean Water Act jurisdiction
Water Act • Provide full funding for the Clean Water
to navigable streams and waterways
• Compensate citizens when environmental State Revolving Fund for wastewater • Maintain state authority over local water
regulations limit the use of privately-owned treatment and nonpoint source and land
land pollution control • Support locally administered programs to
• Require an independent review of Army • Enforce tougher air and water pollution achieve Clean Water Act objectives
Corps of Engineers’ water projects limits for concentrated animal feeding • Restrict the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’
operations (CAFO) by limiting the release authority to year-round navigable waters
of nitrogen, phosphorus, hydrogen sulfide, • Oppose reducing present federal regulations
ammonia and other pollutants for CAFOs to less than 1,000 animal units
and extending point source regulations to
nonpoint sources such as farm fields
and pastures
COMMODITY UPDATE
Doug Rogers Jon Kilgore

BEEF
Mississippi Homeplace Producers Sale
Doug Rogers, MFBF Beef Advisory Committee Chair
Jon Kilgore, MFBF Commodity Coordinator for Beef
On Aug. 4, a group of beef cattle producers from across the state Beyond the increase in price per pound by marketing through this
tried marketing their feeder calves differently than they had in the sale, revenue was also increased in other ways. Shrink (weight loss) for
past. It was successful by all accounts. The sale was called the most loads was set at 2 percent and two loads were sold with no shrink
“Mississippi Homeplace Producers Sale” and was supported by because they were to be shipped 50 miles prior to taking the pay weight.
several organizations involved in Mississippi’s beef cattle industry, By controlling shrink prior to pay weight determination, fewer dollars
including the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation. will be lost compared to some other marketing strategies. Additionally,
commission for the sale was set at 2 percent. In some cases, this is a
RESULTS significant cost savings and results in yet another increase in revenue.
Weaned and preconditioned steers, including those in split loads, The sale was also broadcast over the internet and was viewed by
sold for an average of $109.05/cwt at an average weight of 695 pounds. many potential buyers across the country. Bids were not taken over the
(Table I) Weaned and preconditioned heifers, including those in split internet, but this will hopefully be another step in demonstrating the
loads, sold for an average of $103.87/cwt at an average weight of 640 quality and value of feeder cattle produced in Mississippi.
pounds. Two unweaned loads also sold 575-pound steers at $107/cwt Calves were consigned from several communities, including Bay
and 540-pound heifers at $99.50/cwt. Full loads of steers averaged Springs, Belden, Carriere, Conehatta, Covington, Ellisville, Forest,
$109.50/cwt at an average weight of 700 pounds, while full loads of Hattiesburg, Louin, Macon, Magee, Mantachie, Morton, Moselle,
heifers averaged $107/cwt weighing an average of 653 pounds. Ovett, Philadelphia, Prairie, Raleigh, Rose Hill, Seminary, Soso,
Results from the MS Homeplace Producers Sale
Starkville, Stringer, Taylorsville, West and Wiggins.
Each group of consigners had the choice to use their local marketing
Price/cwt. Avg. Weight
agent, assuming they would agree to represent the cattle under the same
Steers terms. The producers involved consider this sale to be a great success
(Including split loads) $109.05 695
in capturing full value for the management they put into these calves.
Heifers
(Including split loads) $103.87 640 As they plan for next year, there is plenty of room for improvement.
Steer Loads $109.50 700 Increasing the volume of cattle offered is one of their main objectives
Heifer Loads $107.00 653 that will hopefully attract more buyers. The Homeplace Producers
Unweaned Steers $107.00 575 Sale is open to any producers who agree to the terms and conditions
Unweaned Heifers $ 99.50 540 and can be fitted with a load in their area.
Producers interested in marketing their feeder calves through this
For the week of the sale, prices on feeder steers at Mississippi sale should consider meeting with one of this year’s consigners to dis-
auctions were $1 to $3 higher than the previous week. Mississippi cuss their opinions and how to participate. Several other producer and
feeder steer prices for that weight range (600-700 pounds) were educational groups have helped the Homeplace Producers with their
$96-$106/cwt, while feeder heifer prices for the same weight range sale and are willing to discuss the results or opportunities for
were $88-$96/cwt So, calves in this sale averaged $3/cwt on steers participation. (Mississippi Cattlemen’s Association, Mississippi Beef
and $7/cwt on heifers above the top market prices for all other Cattle Improvement Association, Southeast Mississippi Livestock
feeders sold in the state that week in that weight class. AAL, and Mississippi State University Extension Service.)
Homeplace sale results compared to Please feel free to contact beef commodity representatives from the
MS average for similar weight calves Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation for more information and to
Price/cwt. keep up with the planning for next year. Individual load information,
terms and conditions, more detailed results, and a video of the actual
Homeplace Mississippi sale can be found on the internet at: http://msucares.com
Sale Average /livestock/beef/feedercalf.html.
Steers $109.05 $96-106 Article by Dr. Justin Rhinehart, Mississippi State University
Heifers $103.87 $88-$96 Extension Beef Specialist.

COMMODITY UPDATE
Max Anderson Doug Ervin

DAIRY
Working to Strengthen State’s Dairy Industry
By: Max Anderson, MFBF Dairy Advisory Committee Chair
Doug Ervin, MFBF Commodity Coordinator for Dairy
In 2008, the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) Dairy Advisory Committee
aggressively worked to aid the dairy industry in Mississippi. Mississippi Farm Bureau has
been at the forefront of efforts to help this industry.
Activities of the committee in 2008 again focused on making adjustments to the Federal Marketing Order. Farm Bureau aligned
numerous meetings this year with surrounding states throughout the Southeast and in the West, and we continued to meet with Dana Cole
and Sue Mosley at USDA to discuss concerns and issues facing dairy producers in the Southeast.
This year, the Class I Differentials were increased due to the collective efforts of our committee leadership and collaboration with other
state Farm Bureaus and the USDA. Class I Differentials range from twenty cents in Louisiana to as much as four dollars in Florida.
Farm Bureau has also worked to find potential solutions to higher input costs. Members of the MFBF Dairy Advisory Committee visited
dairy farms in Georgia and Missouri to look at New Zealand
forage-based dairies. Committee members reviewed
production practices and forage options on this system. Farm
Bureau will be hosting meetings later this year to introduce
Mississippi producers to this option.
Stan Welch was appointed the new Director of Dairy
Operations for the Mississippi Department of Health during
2008. Farm Bureau and the Department of Health have
Agri
Agri
Agribusiness
gribusiness
business
recently reactivated a joint committee to maintain a constant
form of communication between the department and
Agribusiness is about more than plows and seeds.
We offer majors that can lead to a variety of
Mississippi dairy producers. fulfilling careers, including:
Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) held a buyout s Financial analyst s Attorney
program in Mississippi in 2008. Five producers in s Bank officer s Manager
Mississippi, 36 producers in the Southeast, and 210 in the
s Policy adviser s Insurance agent
entire nation were accepted.
s Business owner s Government
In August, members of the MFBF Dairy Advisory

s University professor administrator
Committee participated in a media training seminar

coordinated by the American Farm Bureau Federation. Later
that same month, several producers participated in the Ag
Department of
Agricultural Economics
Challenges Initiative Media Training event held in Memphis,

P.O.
P .O. Box 5187
Tennessee. Participants were briefed on interview techniques

Mississippi State, MS 39762
and then participated in live mock TV and radio interviews

about their farm operations.
Undergraduate Coordinator:
Dr.. Randy Little
Dr
The MFBF Dairy Advisory Committee and staff of the

662-325-2884
Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation will continue to work

MSU is an equal
opportunity
opportunity institution. little@agecon.msstate.edu
diligently on issues pertinent to the dairy industry through www.agecon.msstate.edu

www.agecon.msstate.edu
2008 and well into 2009.

Agritourism holds promise for
By Glynda Phillips
Agritourism holds promise for Mississippi farmers.
A unique blending of agriculture and tourism, agritourism in-
vites consumers onto a farm to enjoy activities such as pump-
kin patches, mazes, farm festivals, farm tours, U-pick
gardens and horse trail rides. While they’re having fun, they
are also learning about agriculture, and that’s important.
Why? Because our population is becoming generations
removed from farm life.
A successful agritourism business can also add income and
value to a farming operation. Keeping farmers in business is
not only good for local economies but for our natural
resources. Farmers are excellent stewards of the land.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
“Agritourism is a relatively new concept in Mississippi but
well established in states like Georgia, where the annual
economic impact is about $73 million, and Kansas, where
the annual economic impact is about $78 million,” said Dr.
Daryl Jones, Coordinator, Natural Resource Enterprises
Program, Mississippi State University Extension Service.
“The mean annual gross income for a successful
agritourism business, as reflected by a recent survey, is about
$70,000 or $5,000 per acre,” he said. “Most agritourism
operations are open only four weeks each year.”
INDUSTRY CHALLENGES
For Mississippi’s agritourism industry to grow and
prosper, Jones says the following issues must be addressed:
Farmers must have access to adequate and affordable
special event insurance. Farmers involved in the
industry say this type of insurance is difficult to find
and the premium is high.
“We are working on this issue with the state Legislature,”
Jones said. “We’re also trying to get a law passed that
would protect agritourism business owners against the
inherent risks of nature and normal farming practices.”
Farmers must have adequate training.
“The Mississippi State University Extension Service is
working hard to fill this need with workshops, publications
and a Web site geared toward helping farmers learn about
agritourism,” Jones said. “We’re constantly enhancing our
learning opportunities and materials.”
Some areas of rural Mississippi lack amenities, such as
overnight accommodations, where tourists can stay
while visiting a nearby farm.
Land taxes are yet another issue.
“There’s a fear in some states that land used for
agritourism might be designated commercial land and
charged taxes accordingly,” Jones said “Other states
define the land as a part of the agriculture base instead of
a commercial property base.”

WHAT IT TAKES TO SUCCEED
Mississippi farmers Farmers who operate successful agritourism
businesses agree that hard work is an impor-
tant key to their success. They say you must
also have the following:
Jones recommended to the Mississippi Senate Agriculture Committee and House
of Representatives Agriculture Committee, during a spring briefing, that an A good attitude – You must enjoy hard work
interdisciplinary focus group, comprised of experts and decision makers from diverse, and people.
collaborative groups within the state, meet with the goal of advancing agritourism in
the state. A good location – Ideally, you must have
access to a nearby town or city, but as long as
FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT your farm is easy to reach, that’s a huge plus.
As Mississippi farmers work together to build a strong agritourism industry, Jones
says the future looks bright. A willingness to start small and grow –
“Agritourism is a way to keep farmers on their land,” he said. “Plus, as evidenced by Farmers must be willing to start small and
other states, the economic impact could be very important for both local communities and learn as they grow.
our state as a whole.”
For more information, contact Dr. Daryl Jones at 662.325.5769 or email him at A willingness to invest profits back into the
djones@cfr.sstate.edu. You may visit the agritourism industry Web site at business – Sacrifice is often necessary to grow
www.mississippiagritourism.org. Or you can visit the Mississippi Department of a business, especially in its early years.
Agriculture and Commerce Web site at www.mdac.state.ms.us.
A willingness to network – You must be
FARM BUREAU LAND PROGRAM willing to talk with other agritourism owners
The Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation recently established a Land Program and network with organizations like the
designed to address issues encountered by state farmers and other landowners. This Mississippi Agritourism Association.
program also explores land use opportunities, including agritourism, mineral rights,
hunting leases, recreation uses and government conservation incentive programs. A good attitude about having people on your
For more information about the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Land Program, farm – You must not mind having a lot of
call Doug Ervin at 601.551.5311. FC people on your farm.
Strong business management skills – If you

don’t have strong business skills then you
should take a course or attend a special
MISSISSIPPI AGRITOURISM ASSOCIATION

workshop.
The Mississippi Agritourism Association (MAA) was established in 2005 to promote A willingness to network with the community
our state’s agritourism industry. A nonprofit organization, MAA consists of 15 member – You can direct your visitors to area
farms, each offering some type of agritourism business, ranging from seasonal festivals, restaurants and other businesses. Likewise,
farm tours and corn mazes to U-pick operations with pumpkins, vegetables, Christmas your local Chamber of Commerce or other
trees, fruits, strawberries or peaches. businesses may want to display your
MAA works on issues of importance to the industry, but members also enjoy the agritourism brochures.
networking aspect of the organization.
“We plan to eventually have two meetings each year – one in conjunction with the An understanding of the value of word
Mississippi Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and one that is a tour of an of mouth advertising – Word of mouth
agritourism farm,” said Stanley Wise of Wise Farms in Ecru. Wise is MAA vice advertising from satisfied customers is the
president. Jo Lynn Mitchell of Mitchell Farms in Collins is MAA president. best form of advertising.
Wise says MAA is cooperating with the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and
Commerce in securing a block grant that would enhance our state’s specialty crop A special event insurance policy – Farmers
industry. The grant would also be used to host an MAA conference focusing on must have some type of special event
marketing and management strategies as well as demonstrations on what it’s like to own insurance policy. Those involved in the
an agritourism business. If the grant comes through, the first MAA conference will be agritourism industry say that this is hard to
held in the spring of 2009. find and expensive. They are working with
For more information about the Mississippi Agritourism Association and to see the Legislature to solve this problem and to
a list of agritourism businesses near you, visit the organization’s Web site: get a law passed that would protect them from
www.mississippiagritourism.org. the inherent risks of nature and normal
farming practices.

Telling
AGRICULTURE’S
Story

By Glynda Phillips growing number of Mississippi
farmers are adding agritourism
A activities to their traditional

farming operations. A successful
agritourism business can help
farmers in a number of important
ways.
“Agritourism represents an
additional source of income that can help you during hard times,” says
Stanley Wise of Wise Farms in Ecru. “Agritourism is also a great way
to tell your story. Consumers are becoming generations removed from
farming. This type of business reminds them who grows their food and
fiber.
“Another big plus is that agritourism can involve your entire family,”
he added. “It promises to put the family back into family farms.”
Stanley and his wife Shelaine are well versed in agritourism. They
operate a successful corn maze and U-pick pumpkin patch on their
family’s row crop and vegetable farm near Pontotoc. Their agritourism
business is very popular during the four weekends that it is open each
October.
The Wises would love to be open more often, but they are both
full-time county Extension directors – Stanley in Union County and
Shelaine in Prentiss County. They farm in their spare time with the
help of Stanley’s brothers and sisters.
“Shelaine and I were sold on agritourism from the very beginning,”
Stanley said. “We began telling farmers years ago that they needed to Stanley and Shelaine Wise design and cut their corn maze using a
try this, and they laughed at us. Finally, we decided to start our own GPS system and a mower.
business so we could prove to them that this really does work.”
want to talk to him directly, ask someone there to give you his number.
GETTING STARTED If you want to add a corn or grass maze to your farm but don’t want
Six years ago, Stanley informed his father that he planned to grow to hire someone to design and cut it for you, Stanley and Shaleine want
corn for a corn maze in a field that had traditionally grown purple hull you to know that you can do this yourself. It’s easy.
peas. His father was shocked and dismayed. “You can design and cut your own maze,” said Stanley, who has
“You’re going to leave out a field of peas this year?” he asked. “That helped several farmers do so. “If you are willing to take the time and
will be a mistake.” make the effort, you can do this with a good GPS system and a mower.
But Stanley’s maze drew so many visitors his father’s dismay soon “My goal is to teach people how to do this themselves,” he said. “If
turned to astonishment. He said, “Don’t plant peas next year, plant they have the time and willingness to learn, it’s not hard.”
corn for a corn maze!”
Today, Wise Farms offers two mazes – one that is eight acres in size FUTURE PLANS
and one that is an acre in size. In addition, the farm offers a farm tour, In their retirement years, the Wises plan to build cabins on their
a U-pick pumpkin patch, a 2-acre sunflower field, and camp fire par- farmland and offer a Bed and Breakfast retreat. They would also like
ties. There’s live entertainment and a country store that sells trinkets. to open an ag camp for kids each summer and maybe hold Sacred Harp
No admission fee is charged to visit the farm. However, all visitors singings in an historic church they’ve rescued and brought to their
must pay an $8 fee to take the farm tour, go through the maze and/or farm.
pick a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch. “It all depends on our creativity and how much my family wants to
“We also plant cotton so school kids can pick it and take it back to be involved,” Stanley said. “My brothers and sisters are a big help with
the classroom,” Shelaine said. “We’ve built an outdoor classroom in this. We’d like to eventually be open almost year round like the
one of our fields where we talk to our visitors about agriculture and its Mitchells.”
importance in our lives. “We enjoy interacting with our customers so much,” Shelaine added.
“Today’s kids are five generations removed from farming,” she said. “It’s the most interesting part of this. Anything we’ve learned, we are
“We want to teach them about agriculture and encourage them to happy to share with others if they are interested.”
support our farmers’ efforts. They will be making the decisions in just Stanley says he’d like to see more family farms offer agritourism
a few years.” businesses.
“Some people are scared of the competition, but I think it’s good,”
YOU CAN DO THIS he said. “Every farm can have its own unique “Disneyland,” and
If you are interested in obtaining more information about customers can go from one farm to the next.
agritourism, contact your local Extension office. Stanley says if you “It’s all up to the creativity of the owner.” FC

W
By Glynda Phillips
hen Jo Lynn
Mitchell of
Mitchell Farms
in Collins approached her
family with the idea of
adding a pumpkin patch
and maze to their
Covington County row
crop, peanut and U-pick
vegetable farm, she
didn’t exactly receive an
enthusiastic response.
YOU WANT TO
“They thought I was crazy,” she said with a A GROWING BUSINESS
smile. “But after thinking it over for awhile, my This year, the Mitchells purchased a second
father-in-law Dennis told the rest of the family, cotton trailer, which they outfitted with benches
‘Maybe we should do this.’ ” and a tarp top. Their customer base has quickly
Jo Lynn smiled again. “Dennis, Nelda and my grown to include folks from the Hattiesburg and
husband Don are hard workers. But more than that, Jackson areas as well as kids from schools as
they are visionaries. They can see possibilities. I far away as Alabama. They also get a lot of
knew that they could see that this would work.” church groups.
Group tours are scheduled during the week, and
GETTING STARTED the general public can visit the farm on Saturdays
The Mitchells planted the pumpkin patch and and Sundays. Each visitor is charged a $6
decided to use an historic log cabin they had moved admissions fee. The Mitchells devote 2 ½ to 3
onto their property as their fall activities headquar- hours for every farm tour group. They say they try
ters. Next, they cut an 8-acre Sudan grass maze. hard to make their customers feel a part of their
“The weather is so dry down here that corn family.
doesn’t grow very high,” Jo Lynn explained. “But “We try to offer a wholesome experience for the
Sudan grass grows 12 feet tall.” entire family – from grandparents to parents to
The Mitchells asked Union County Extension children,” Jo Lynn said. “We want our customers
Director Stanley Wise to teach them how to design to feel that they are getting more than they paid
and cut the maze. Their first design was a pumpkin, for, so they will be satisfied and come back to see
which Jo Lynn describes as being “perfect.” us again.”
The Mitchells knew they would also need a way Mitchell Farms offers year-round farm tours, but
to transport visitors around their sizeable farm so the real action begins in May with their U-pick
they decided to purchase a trailer. blueberries. Near the end of June and through July,
“We had initially planned to buy a small flatbed hundreds of visitors visit the U-pick vegetable
trailer,” Jo Lynn said. “But we soon changed our gardens. Peanuts are ready for sale beginning in
minds and purchased a large cotton trailer. We put late August. The pumpkin patch, grass maze and
benches on it and covered the top of it with a tarp.” other fall activities get underway at the end of
Mitchell Farms plants acres of sunflowers every September and go until the first of November.
year for visitors and passersby to enjoy. In
addition, they have a round hay bale maze, a FUTURE PLANS
square hay bale maze and a hay bale pyramid just “We’ve accomplished a lot here, and the
for kids. The farm also offers a “corn pool” made response to it grows each year,” Jo Lynn said.
of corn kernels that kids of all ages can enjoy. “But we see such potential. It’s a great way to
At Mitchell Farms, you will find several antique spread agriculture’s message.
tractors on display as well as three log houses that “Most people don’t know where their food comes
are decorated with turn-of-the-century antiques from,” she said. “Look at all the schools that could
and with paintings and wood carvings by Nelda benefit from touring our farm. And look at how
Mitchell, Dennis’ wife. This year, the farm added much fun this could be while they are learning.”
a grist mill to grind corn meal. For more information, visit the Mitchell Farms
The playground area has swings and a Web site at www.mitchellfarms-ms.com or call
merry-go-round. Picnic tables are available 601.606.0762, Monday through Friday, for group
for those who want to bring a lunch. reservations. FC
DO WHAT?
RECONNECTING
By Andy Whittington, MFBF Environmental Programs Specialist

I can remember it like it was yesterday, but truth be told, it was a The agritourism industry is an opportunity for people to get back to
pleasant morning in the fall of 1986. I was farming for Mr. Eddie the farm. The history of agriculture in Mississippi and America is
Bramlitt and his father-in-law, Mr. James Maxey, and had decided to fading from our memory as fewer and fewer have access to the way of
sit out the fall semester of college to pick cotton. life many of us love.
Mr. Bramlitt dropped me off to wash and grease the picker while I As the children of today grow older, they will become the decision
waited on the heavy dew to lift. As he turned his truck around, headed makers of tomorrow. Using our farms and land as teaching and
to the gin to pull a wagon, he rolled down the window and told me to skip recreational tools will help to ensure that agriculture is understood and
the first twenty rows by the house when I started picking. At the time, I preserved. We produce the safest, most abundant food in the world,
thought it was an odd request, but it wasn’t long until I figured out why. and that story needs to be told.
With the picker serviced and the cotton dry, I settled in for another The farm ecosystem provides food, habitat and breeding grounds to
long day in the seat. I hadn’t been at it long before I saw five yellow a diverse group of species that many people will never get an
dog school buses pull into the driveway of “The Roberts Place.” Mr. opportunity to see. It is also a chance to demonstrate the dedication
Bramlitt’s wife was the principal at Mattie Thompson Elementary and stewardship of farmers and landowners to the environment.
School, and it was Field Trip Day. Agritourism is more than an alternative source of income, it is an
Mr. Bramlitt told the story of how we grow cotton, how it’s picked, opportunity to preserve a way of life, a chance to give access to those
and where it goes after it leaves the farm. The children all giggled as that have none, and an opportunity to educate others about the history
Mr. Bramlitt told them how everything they wore – from their socks and future of agriculture.
and underwear, T-shirts and blue jeans – was all made from the fluffy Agritourism opportunities are as diverse as agriculture itself and can
white fibers. But the best time any of us had was watching these fit into almost every aspect of the farm. Large, modern farms can offer
children run through those first twenty rows with their brown paper field days, demonstrating the advances and technologies in equipment,
sandwich bags, filling them up with fresh cotton bolls. seed and land management practices that allow us to feed not only our-
After the group had filled their sacks, they gathered at the edge of the selves, but many around the world.
field and watched as I headed the picker down a set of rows. Eddie The 40-acre “home place” gives tourists a feel of the good old days
explained how the picker works as some kids listened and others as tales are told of plowing with mules and milking cows before
kicked dirt clods or pitched rocks. All morning, the buses ran back and heading to school. Farms enrolled in conservation programs offer
forth to school with another group of kids to the first twenty rows. visitors a chance to leave the pavement to enjoy the peace and quiet of
It has only occurred to me much later that for some of these children nature and witness wildlife in its natural habitat. Fishing and hunting
it was their first, and possibly their last, visit to a farm. Chances are camps provide an appreciation of nature and wildlife conservation.
even greater that their children and grandchildren might never get the More importantly, it’s a chance for families to spend quiet time
opportunity. together away from the rush of the world.
Farming in America has changed dramatically over the past 50 years. Mississippi will always have a large and diverse agricultural
Industrialization has led to better paying jobs, and technological industry. The question is will the next generation understand it. Will
advances have made larger farms more efficient than smaller farms. they understand that a storm can wipe out a year’s worth of blood and
Many farmers encouraged their children to get a better education and sweat overnight? Will they understand staying awake all night
a better job, hoping to give them a better life than struggling on the waiting for a mare to fowl? Will the next generation understand what
farm. The consequence of these events is that we are generations it takes to get their food from the field to the table?
removed from agriculture and moving farther and farther away. Agritourism is our chance to tell that story. And all it takes is twenty rows.

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SOLVE THE MYSTERY
Another year has come and gone. Pretty soon, we will know the showed up in some 29 counties in September.
2008 value of production for Mississippi agriculture. Last year’s
total was $5.9 billion. Agriculture is our number one industry, 5) Which ag commodity had a difficult year in 2008? Growers were
employing about 30 percent of the state’s workforce – either directly caught off-guard by ever-rising fuel and feed costs and by prices that
or indirectly. Agriculture makes a significant contribution to all never seemed to rise high enough for them to break even. This
82 counties. aquaculture commodity is featured in the Sept./Oct. issue.
As a reader of Mississippi Farm Country magazine, you should
know a lot about Mississippi agriculture. Can you answer the 6) Which industry invites the public to visit farms to learn about
following questions? You may find the answers in past issues of the agriculture? (Think pumpkin patches and mazes.) Read this issue of
2008 magazine. Or you can visit our Web site at www.msfb.com and Mississippi Farm Country for more details.
access Mississippi Farm Country.
If you answer all six questions correctly, then you will have solved
the mystery. Good luck. Here we go:
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
(1) Which ag commodity, featured in our Jan./Feb. issue, contributed FarmCountry@MSFB.com.
over $1 billion to the state’s economy and generated some 38,900 jobs Please remember to include your name and address on the entry. Visit
in 2006? Shows and trail rides are a part of this industry. our Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Web site at www.msfb.com.
When all correct guesses have been received, we will randomly
2) Can you name Mississippi’s top ag commodity? Find out on Page draw 20 names. These 20 names will receive a prize and will be placed
7 of the March/April issue. The majority of ag income for this in the hat twice.
industry is provided by broilers and eggs. At the end of the year, a winner will be drawn from all correct
submissions. The winner will receive a Weekend Bed and Breakfast
3) Which ag commodity had a 2007 value of production of $191 Trip, courtesy of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation.
million? This industry consists of the following segments: (1) purebred Families may submit only one entry. Federation staff members and
breeders; (2) commercial producers; (3) backgrounder or stocker their families are ineligible to participate in this contest.
operators; (4) feeders; (5) packers; (6) retailers; and (7) consumers. The deadline for submitting your entry is November 30.
4) Which Mississippi ag commodity almost doubled in farmgate value

in 2007? Read about it on Page 7 of the July/Aug. issue. This
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
The correct answer for the September/October Solve the Mystery is
industry planted late in 2008 and had problems with wet weather. Rust Indianola.

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COUNSELOR’S CORNER
PEOPLE POWER
By Sam E. Scott/General Counsel, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation
Daily, we see examples of frustration with limitations to amendments proposed by amendments proposed by the Legislature, and
the growth of government at most levels. citizens that do not apply to the Legislature. the limitations are broader than appears
Combined with the widely-held perception As a result, more than 20 initiative efforts because the “Bill of Rights” contains 29
that in today’s representative democracy have been made since 1992 but only one got provisions that run a wide gamut from
profit often trumps principle, it is tempting to on the ballot (term limits). It was defeated prohibiting secession and slavery to freedom
agree with Thomas Jefferson that “a little and the result is that no people-proposed of religion. Much of this limitation is
revolution is a good thing” – though, of constitutional amendments have ever been unnecessary because any constitutional
course, not with bullets but with ballots. enacted, though there have been more than amendment that conflicts with the U.S.
Other than voting them out of office, is 100 amendments to our constitution since it Constitution’s well-known Bill of Rights
there a method for citizens to act when their was adopted in 1890. would be invalid anyhow. Among other
elected representatives fail? One way, To even get an initiative on the ballot, its provisions, Article 3, Section 17 of the
relatively new in historical perspective, is a proponents must get signatures on a petition Mississippi Constitution of 1890 provides:
citizens’ initiative, which varies from state to equal to 12% of the votes cast in the last
state. In California, citizens’ initiatives can gubernatorial election, get these signatures Private property shall not be taken or
be used to enact statutes in addition to certified by all the circuit clerks within one damaged for public use except on due
constitutional amendments. In Mississippi, it year, and they must be evenly distributed compensation being first made to the owner
can only be used to propose constitutional among the state’s four current congressional or owners thereof, in a manner to be
amendments, and even then, on a limited districts. Based upon the votes cast in the prescribed by law; and whenever an attempt
basis and through a difficult and expensive 2007 general election, this would require is made to take private property for a use
process. 85,000-plus petition signatures with at least alleged to be public, the question whether
There are two ways that Mississippi 21,000-plus in each congressional district the contemplated use be public shall be a
constitutional amendments can be proposed: obtained at considerable expense and great judicial question, and as such determined
(1) by the Legislature (proposed by one or effort. without regard to legislative assertion that
more members and approved by a 2/3 vote of If that significant hurdle is cleared, there are the use is public.
both houses) or (2) by a citizens’ initiative. In at least three more formidable obstacles.
either event, it must be approved by the When the certified petition is filed by the Eminent domain reform has become a hot
voters at a general election. secretary of state with both houses of the topic. Though the Mississippi Legislature has
Oddly enough, though the power of the Legislature, it has three options: (1) to failed for three successive sessions to adopt
people to approve constitutional amendments approve it going on the ballot at the next eminent domain reform as 42 other states
has been declared by the Mississippi Supreme general election, which could be as much have done after the Kelo case in the U.S.
Court to be “plenary,” which means exclusive as three years away; (2) to propose an Supreme Court (which allowed the taking of
or final, their power to propose amendments alternative, which would then also go on the private property, a citizen’s home, to be turned
has significant limitations. How can this be? ballot; or (3) to do nothing, which would over to private developers), still, 85,000
In 1922, the Mississippi Supreme Court allow it to go on the ballot as presented. Mississippi citizens cannot propose a reform
held that the power to adopt or reject Second, an amendment by citizens’ if it amends the Bill of Rights.
legislation by initiative and referendum initiative, even with 85,000 signatures, No reasons are articulated as to why the
was unconstitutional and void. In 1990, cannot be proposed to amend any of the people whose power to approve is exclusive
proponents of a state lottery sought to repeal following: (1) modify the Mississippi and final do not also have the equivalent power
a Mississippi Constitution provision which Constitution’s Bill of Rights; (2) amend to propose. There is always the possibility that
prohibits lotteries. This effort failed in the any Public Employee's Retirement System this may be challenged as an unfair limitation
Mississippi Supreme Court but evidently constitutional provision; (3) amend or repeal on the power of the people. Should the power
motivated the Legislature to reconfirm the Mississippi's "Right to Work" constitutional of the people be so restricted?
power of the people to propose constitutional provision; or (4) modify the Mississippi Sam E. Scott is general counsel for Mississippi
amendments. A 1992 amendment resurrected, constitutional initiative process itself. Farm Bureau Federation and practices law in the
in part, the power of the people to enact Finally, even if it gets on the ballot, a law firm of Samuel E. Scott, PLLC, in Jackson.
constitutional amendments that had first been citizens’ proposed amendment must get a The foregoing information is general in nature and
put into the Mississippi Constitution in 1916. greater majority of votes to be approved than is not intended as nor should be considered
The current requirements for a citizens’ if it was proposed by the Legislature. specific legal advice nor to be considered as
initiative are complicated and contain The four limitations noted do not apply to MFBF’s position or opinion.

2008 MFBF ANNUAL MEETING
U.S. Senator Thad Cochran will address the opening General Session of the 87th Annual Meeting of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation
to be held Dec. 6-8 at the Hilton Hotel in Jackson. Jane Jenkins Herlong, a nationally-known professional speaker, award-winning singer,
recording artist and published author, will conduct the Sunday morning Worship Service.
Highlights of this year’s event include the Farm Bureau General Store and Young Farmers and Ranchers Silent and Live auctions; State
Talent and Miss Farm Bureau-Mississippi contests; Safety, Environmental and Farm Bureau Issues conferences; County Recognition Program;
Young Farmers and Ranchers State Discussion Meet and Achievement Award activities; and the Women’s Recognition Breakfast and Business
Session.
Awards to be presented Sunday afternoon include Friend of Agriculture, Ag Ambassador, Excellence in Leadership, and Distinguished
Service. The Blair E. Batson and Pennies for Mississippi presentations will be made Sunday night.
Annual meeting activities close Monday with the Business Session.
IN MEMORIAM
Vernon Oliver Gayle, Jr., 76, died Aug. 27 after an extended illness. Vernon retired in 1997 as Director of Governmental Affairs for the
Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation but continued to do contract lobby work at the Mississippi State Capitol. He was a popular and much loved
figure at the Capitol and was well respected by those who knew him best.
Vernon had worked for the Farm Bureaus in Texas and Louisiana before finding a home at Mississippi Farm Bureau. He served in the National
Guard and U.S. Army Reserves, retiring with the rank of Captain. He was a 32-degree Scottish Rite Mason affiliated with the Clinton lodge and
a longtime member of the Episcopal Church of the Creator in Clinton. He enjoyed life, living, laughter and fellowship. He will be missed.
Our prayers are with his family.
Memorials may be made to the Episcopal Church of the Creator, 1445 Clinton-Raymond Road, Clinton, MS 39056. Online memorials may be
emailed to holland-harrisfuneralhome@comcast.net.
YF & R CONTESTS AGAIN HAVE ATTRACTIVE AWARDS

Entrants in the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) 2009 Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) competitive events will again find
attractive awards to this year’s programs. The winner(s) of the YF&R Achievement Award, Discussion Meet and Excellence in Agriculture Award
will receive a selected 2009 Dodge pickup truck.
The Achievement Award winner will again receive a 2009 Dodge Ram 3500 SLT Quad Cab 4x4 pickup truck with a 5.9L Cummins HO Turbo
Diesel engine. The winner will also receive paid registration to the
2009 YF & R Leadership Conference in Sacramento, California, on
Feb. 5-7.
Each of the four runners-up will receive a Case IH DX compact
tractor.
The top Discussion Meet winner will receive a 2009 Dodge Ram
2500 Quad Cab 4x4 pickup with a 5.7L HEMI Magnum engine. The
winner also receives paid registration to the 2009 YF & R Leadership
Conference in Sacramento, California, on Feb. 5-7.
Each of the American Farm Bureau Discussion Meet runners-up will
receive a $6,000 U.S. Savings Bond and a Farm Boss, courtesy of Stihl
Outdoor Power Equipment.
The winner of the Excellence in Agriculture Award will receive a
2009 Dodge Quad Cab 4x4 1500 pickup, with SLT trim and a 4.7L
Magnum V8 engine, and a paid registration to the 2009 YF&R
Leadership Conference.
Each of the American Farm Bureau Excellence in Agriculture
runners-up will receive a $6,000 U.S. Savings Bond and a Farm Boss
chain saw, courtesy of Stihl Outdoor Power Equipment.
The winners will be determined during AFBF’s 90th annual
convention to be held in San Antonio, Texas, on Jan. 11-14.
All national contestants in these programs will receive an inscribed
plaque and a gift from Dodge. Dodge is also sponsoring these contests
on the state level by providing cash awards for each contest held by
state Farm Bureaus.

A Close Look at
Hummingbirds
Ever marvel at the tiny birds that frequent
By Glynda Phillips
the bright red feeders you so diligently keep

filled with sugar water? They’re beautiful,
but they dart about so quickly it’s often
difficult to catch more than a glimpse of
them, much less satisfactorily study them.
Well, here’s your chance to learn more.
Each September, the Strawberry Plains Audubon Center near
Holly Springs plays host to thousands of ruby-throated
hummingbirds as they migrate through Mississippi on their way
from Canada to Mexico and Central America, where they spend
the winter. On the first weekend after Labor Day, the center holds
its annual Hummingbird Migration Celebration to give visitors a
close-up look at the birds. This year, over 8,100 people attended
the three-day event
HOLD A HUMMINGBIRD?
Visitors are able to watch as members of the Hummer/Bird
Study Group band hummingbirds – using a pair of tiny
needle-nosed pliers, a delicate metal band, and a strong pair of
magnifying glasses – to keep track of their activities. The group
tagged a record 281 birds this year and recaptured one adult
female that had been banded on Sept. 9, 2006.
Banders also take the time to talk about each bird. Some folks
are given the opportunity to feel the heartbeat of a bird while
others are able to hold a hummingbird in the palm of their hand
until it flutters back to freedom.
“Thank you for this experience,” one visitor told hummingbird
bander Bob Sargent. “I will never forget it.”
OTHER PROGRAMS
The Hummingbird Migration Celebration offers educational
programs about a variety of other wildlife, ranging from insects
to bats to snakes, alligators and small mammals. Visitors can
browse through nature arts and crafts booths, tour the center’s
beautiful gardens or take guided history/nature walks to view
birds and look for frogs, spiders and other wild things.
Wagon rides take visitors around the property. A tour of the
historic Davis Home (1851) allows you to view hummingbirds
through large windows as they dart about flowers and feeders.
There’s also a tent with children’s activities.
.
MORE INFORMATION
If you didn’t make it to the migration celebration this year, next
year’s event is Sept. 11-13. Or you can visit the center most days
of the year. It is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through
Saturday, and is closed for holidays. Call for winter hours.
Admission fees are charged for entrance and the house tour. For
group tours over 10 persons, call the Holly Springs Tourism
Office at 662.252.2515. For more information about the
Strawberry Plains Audubon Center, call 662.252.1155.
The Strawberry Plains Audubon Center encompasses 2,500
acres and offers 15 miles of walking trails. The center is home to
diverse wildlife, including 200 species of birds. The center also
offers beautiful gardens of native plants and the historic Davis
House. Madge Lindsay is the Audubon Mississippi Director and
Bubba Hubbard the Center Director.
A new book is available this year entitled “Four Centuries of a
Mississippi Landscape: Strawberry Plains Audubon Center.” FC
A special thanks to Audubon Mississippi Director Madge Lindsay

and to Estelle Gadd and the Marshall County Farm Bureau for
their help with this article.

Mendenhall:
By Glynda Phillips
Mendenhall is a charming, Mayberry kind of town. Quiet and friendly, it’s a place where people care about one another and there exists a
deep and abiding sense of community.
When my family lived there in my growing-up years, my mom did most of her shopping downtown, along the gently inclining Main Street.
The downtown area is still active, but back then, it really bustled with activity. You could find five-and-dime stores, drug stores, grocery stores,
a cafe, a jeweler, a dry cleaner, a barber shop, a bank, a farm equipment dealer, a hardware store, a blacksmith shop, and a furniture store, to
name a few. The town also boasted a movie theater that is now closed.
Sitting at the top of Main Street is a classic revival-style courthouse, which celebrated its 100th birthday last year. It has been refurbished
and is open to the public. At the bottom of Main Street, sits the historic Mendenhall Grocery and Grain. Established in 1928, this business was
once a supply store for area farmers. Now, it is a unique gift shop.
At on time, an ice plant sat near the railroad tracks, and across the tracks, you could find the renowned Mendenhall Hotel and Revolving
Tables Restaurant (both closed), which hosted visitors from across the nation and around the world. Folks gathered to enjoy delicious
Southern-style cooking served on Lazy Susan tables before retiring to the wide front porch to rock.
Each year, Mendenhall holds a Christmas Parade that begins behind the courthouse and marches straight down Main Street, horns blaring,
drums rolling and batons twirling. Football is also big, with the classic rivalry between the Mendenhall Tigers and the Magee Trojans played
out every fall before an enthusiastic crowd.
INSPIRES ARTISTS
Writers and artists have passed through Mendenhall and been inspired.
The writer Patrick Smith is a native. Eudora Welty once stayed at the Mendenhall Hotel and looked out at the downtown area from her room
window. The setting of her novel, “The Ponder Heart,” is said to have been inspired by her stay in Mendenhall.
Scattered around town, you will find the artwork of the late Johnny Knight, whose murals adorn many buildings. Knight also carved the totem
pole that stands in front of the library.
Downtown, at the Alice E. Davis Memorial Park, a mural painted by local artist Gail Herrington depicts historic buildings, businesses that
are now closed, and longtime businesses that are still in operation like McGuffee’s Drugs, Stephens, the Palmyra Shoppe, People’s Bank and

Broadhead Lumber Co. and Manufacturing. This project was sponsored by
local business women and financed by citizens.
Other longtime businesses around town include Mendenhall Marble and
Granite and the Simpson County Farm Bureau. James Williams Sr. operates
a full-service gas station, circa 1910, near the downtown area.
A LITTLE HISTORY
Mendenhall is the county seat of Simpson County. It was established in
1890 by a prominent merchant, planter and landowner named Philip Didlake,
who purchased property in anticipation of the arrival of the Gulf & Ship
Island Railroad. He named the town after his wife Edna. Mendenhall was
renamed in 1905 in honor of Thomas L. Mendenhall, a popular local attorney
and public official.
Today, two lines of the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad pass through town –
the Jackson to Gulfport line and the Columbia Branch line. Mendenhall is
located on U.S. Highway 49, 31 miles south of Jackson. Its population totals
approximately 2,555 with a trade area population of 25,000.
THE TOWN TODAY

In addition to the downtown businesses, Mendenhall boasts a hospital, two
banks and numerous churches as well as excellent schools, including the
Simpson County Technical Center and the Copiah-Lincoln Community
College Simpson County Center.
Restaurants are Country Fisherman, The Lunchbox Café, Smokey Mountain
Grill and Ribs, MG&G Deli (inside Mendenhall Grocery and Grain), and
Mendenhall Deli (on Main Street across from Stephens).
Nearby recreational facilities include Legion Lake, D’Lo Water Park and
Merit Water Park.
Mendenhall merchants are currently working with the Main Street Program
to revitalize the downtown area with an eye toward a future they hope will
look a whole lot like its busy past.
Next time you’re in the area, drive through Mendenhall and experience it for
yourself. Mendenhall really is a charming, Mayberry kind of town. FC
A special thanks to Pam Jones for her help with this article.

Distance Learning - The way of the future?
A great communication and teaching tool
W
Dr. Lelia Kelly and Dr. Pam Collins
By Greg Gibson
Photo by David Morgan

MFBF Member Services Director/Public Relations-Multimedia Coordinator
ith fuel prices threatening to

break the four-dollar
mark, all of us are looking
for ways not to have to drive, or at least not Chef Roland Parny
drive as often, to a meeting or class or

activity. One way that Mississippians can
save on gas is by taking a class or attending
a program online or by going to a nearby
distance learning facility. Dr. Diana Eubanks, Dr. Mark Russak, and Jonah

They’ve even had programs on herb gardening, childcare training, and
Tai-chi. They are on track this year to top 1000 video conferences.
One popular video conference is a program called Quick Bites.

These are lunchtime programs that are available free of charge and can
be viewed at county Extension offices across the state. Quick Bites
programs are popular with retirees, but because they are offered
during the noon hour, working people can bring a sandwich to eat while
they watch the program and be back at work in an hour.
“Some of our Master Cattle Producer programs have been held in

conjunction with LSU and Auburn,” said Dr. Seal. “We’ve had
presenters from Oklahoma, Virginia, Washington, Kansas, all across
Lynette McDonald the U.S. We have the opportunity to get top-notch information without
the presenter having to travel all the way to Mississippi.”
Mississippi State University Extension Service has one of the most
respected distance learning programs in the country. Dr. Susan Seal is The Distance Learning Program has earned national honors for its
the Distance Learning Coordinator for the MSU Extension Service. quality and innovation from the American Distance Education
She oversees a video conferencing network that consists of video Consortium and the U.S. Distance Learning Association, confirming
conferencing units in all 82 county Extension offices and all of the the fact that, in this age of instant communication, agriculture is not
Research and Extension centers across the state. They also work only up-to-date, but in many cases, leading the way.
with partners, including Farm Bureau, the Mississippi Cattlemen’s
Association, the Mississippi Department of Agriculture, and others, “The opportunities continue to increase,” said Dr. Seal. “More
creating an enormous agricultural communications network. meetings, updates, and if we have an emergency situation, like a
drought or soybean rust, we can get that information out immediately.”
“In one of our traditional video conferencing classrooms, there are
TV monitors so you can see the video coming in from a far site and also
what video you are sending out,” said Dr. Seal. “There is also a
computer to show power point presentations or other computer
programs, a DVD player to show videos, and even an overhead
camera to get a good, close-up view of something the presenter is
showing like a floral arrangement or a food item being prepared.”
This is not just a one-way communication system. All the

participant desks have microphones on them so that if someone has a
question, he or she just touches the mike and all the people on the video
conference can hear the question and then respond back and forth.
In 2007, Dr. Seal said that they hosted over 900 video conferences.
Some of them were meetings, some were updates, and some were
educational programs. They range in scope from Master Cattle
Producer to Master Gardener to food safety, nutrition and health.
The MSU Distance

Learning Program
has earned national
honors, including the
American Distance
Education Consortium
(ADEC) Excellence
Award 2007.
Pictured are Dr.
Susan Seal, John
Kelly, Chair of the
ADEC Board of
Directors, and
Steve Hankins.

CALENDAR OF
EVENTS
November 6 State Resolutions Meeting
MFBF Building
Jackson
November 20-27 National Farm-City Week
December 6-8 MFBF Annual Meeting

Hilton Hotel
Jackson
January 11-14 AFBF Annual Meeting

San Antonio, Texas
AG COLUMNIST WILL BE MISSED January 22-23 Winter Commodity Conference

Jackson
Veteran agricultural journalist Edward Leonard “Ed” Blake Sr. died Sept.
February 9-11 Member Tour of the Capital
18 at his beloved Springdale Hills farm near Pocahontas. He was 82.
Washington, DC
A retired Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) employee, Blake
began his 35-year career as Manager of the Cooperative Farmer Publishing February 15-21 National Food Check-Out Week
Company and Managing Editor of the official publications of the
Mississippi Federated Cooperative and the Mississippi Farm Bureau
Federation. He retired in 1988 as Information Department Director, but A GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING
continued to travel the state, writing a popular ag column for Mississippi
Farm Country magazine, the federation’s official membership magazine.
Christmas is a time of giving.
Blake loved agriculture and his home state. He always made sure that his
At this year’s Annual
work not only benefited Mississippi farmers but successfully interpreted
Meeting, you will have several
agriculture for the non-farm public. Through the years, his unique and often
great opportunities to do your
humorous writing style won him both awards and fans.
Christmas shopping while help-
Blake authored two MFBF history books and produced two films and
ing a good cause. The Young
countless slide shows about state agriculture. In the 1980s, his long-running
Farmers and Ranchers Program
feature series, “Ag Affairs,” was carried by newspapers across the state.
will again host silent and live
When he wasn’t traveling our state’s rural roads, he could be found at
auctions and the Women’s Program will host the Farm Bu-
his Springdale Hills Christmas Tree Farm and Arboretum, where he made
reau General Store. Proceeds from these events will help
a park out of his farm and grew Christmas trees and flora from around the
students with tuition costs.
world. He pioneered landscape restoration work that is now recognized
This year, the Young Farmers and Ranchers Scholarship
as essential to sustaining nature’s productivity and health. In 1961, he and
Foundation awarded $10,000 in scholarships to deserving
his wife Charlotte created the first choose-and-cut Christmas tree farm in
college students. The Women’s Program awarded the
central Mississippi and were charter members of the local growers’
$2,000 Berta White Scholarship to two female college
association.
students.
An agricultural stalwart, Blake was also a devoted family man, church
Remember to bring your checkbook to Annual Meeting.
and community leader and World War II veteran. His life touched many.
Do your Christmas shopping and give our ag students a gift
He will be missed.
that keeps on giving.
Ed Blake is survived by his wife Charlotte and their five children, as well
For more information, contact Young Farmers and
as nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and many nieces and
Ranchers Coordinator Greg Shows at 601.977.4277 or
nephews. Memorials can be sent to: The Edward L. Blake Sr. Tree Planting
Women’s Program Coordinator Clara Bilbo at
Memorial Fund, Pocahontas Baptist Church, 4200 Kickapoo Road,
601.977.4245.
Jackson, MS 39209.

BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com Funded by The Beef Checkoff
Mississippi Beef Council

680 Monroe St. Suite A . Jackson, MS 39202
601-353-4520 . www.mscattlemen.org/mbc
FARM BUREAU INTRODUCES DENTAL PROGRAM
Helping you is what Farm Bureau does best! Through products such as Auto,
Home, Life and Health Insurance, we strive to offer the best customer service
as well as products throughout our industry. We are proud to introduce our new
Farm Bureau Dental Program, available Jan.1, 2009. Farm Bureau has
partnered with Delta Dental Insurance Company to provide this coverage for our
members. Delta Dental is the oldest and one of the largest and most recognized
dental carriers in the United States, covering over 23 million people.
This program is only offered to Farm Bureau members in Mississippi!

Our plan coverage includes:
• Diagnostic and Preventive Services

• Crowns, Inlays/Onlays, Bridges
• Periodontics
• Complete Oral Surgery
• Dentures and Denture Repair
Farm Bureau Dental will offer two PPO plans. When you enroll in our program, you can visit any dentist of your choice; however, there
are advantages in visiting a dentist inside your PPO.
PLAN FEATURES:
• Only available to Mississippi Farm Bureau members and their dependent children under the age of 25 who are full-time students.
• Available to members over the age of 65.
• No waiting period.
• Online registration.
• Electronic filing.
To apply for Farm Bureau Dental or any other coverage with our companies, you must be a member of the Mississippi Farm Bureau
Federation. As the largest general farm organization in the state, Mississippi Farm Bureau provides numerous benefits to farmer and
non-farmer families across our state.
Contact your local Farm Bureau agent directly or go to msfbins.com and register online for our Farm Bureau Dental Product.
CELL PHONE DRIVE

Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation will conduct a Cell Phone Drive during this year’s Annual
Meeting. Members are encouraged to bring old cell phones to be donated to the Hinds County
Sheriff’s Office.
These phones will be distributed to area senior citizens, who may need a cell phone for emergency
service, and the Center for Violence Prevention. The cell phones will only be able to dial 911.
IN MEMORIAM
Longtime Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) board member Jack Warner died Aug.
11 at his home in Louisville. Warner served on the MFBF Board of Directors from 1973 to 2002,
a total of 29 years
Born and raised in Winston County, Warner was a cattle farmer and a retired teacher and coach,
who had coached in Philadelphia, Brandon, Kosciusko and Louisville. He also served as Winston
County sheriff and supervisor. For many years, he owned and operated several local businesses.
Warner was a Mississippi 4-H Club director, a member of Louisville Lodge #75, and a Yorkrite
Mason. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church.
Our prayers are with his family.

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
our benefits. To see a complete list, visit our Web site at www.msfb.com.
Take advantage of these benefits available to Farm Bureau members ®
ONLY. If you are not a member, joining is simple. Contact the Farm
Bureau office in the county where you live, pay your membership dues,
and start enjoying these benefits today!
www.msfb.com
A D T H O M E S E C U R I T Y S Y S T E M Southern Security Services is offering an ADT Basic

Home Security System installed at no charge (36-month monitoring contract
required) to members of Farm Bureau. Some restrictions may apply.
For more information, call 1.800.960.9119.
The Choice Hotel Savings Plan offers any member of Mississippi Farm Bureau
C H O I C E H OT E L D I S C O U N T S
Federation 20% off the published rack room rate at any participating location of
their brand hotel locations.This discount is based on the availability at any
Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Main Stay Suites,
Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn.
To get the Mississippi Farm Bureau discount number or for more information,
contact your local county Farm Bureau office or Dedra Luke at 601.977.4169.
www.agristar.com
A high-speed internet service that can reach all parts of the state – even rural areas.
A G R I S TA R G L O B A L I N T E R N E T
Please call 1.888.777.0440 or you can visit www.agristar.com.
The following ATV discounts are available to

ATV D ISCO UN TS
Farm Bureau members:

Got Gear ATV of Ridgeland—$500 discount on ATVs,
motorcycles and 4-wheel utility vehicles. $500 DISCOUNT COUPON
Greenville Motorsports— Receive up to $750 in free MISSISSIPPI FARM BUREAU FEDERATION
accessories or $500 discount coupon.

& OXFORD OUTDOORS, INC.
Oxford Outdoors—$500 discount off MSRP on the purchase of

This coupon entitles the Farm Bureau Member a $500 discount coupon off MSRP on the purchase of ATVs and
Utility vehicles with engine sizes of 400 cc or larger , also the $500 discount off MSRP on any motorcycles with engine
sizes of 800 cc or larger. Units sold under this program do not qualify for any other special programs that may be in
ATVs, utility vehicles, and motorcycles. OTHER EXCLUSIONS

effect and cannot be used in combination with other promotions in effect. These coupons cannot be used on previously
discounted or sale items.
DO APPLY.
Oxford Outdoors is a full service Kawasaki and Yamaha dealership located in Oxford, Mississippi with a complete
service, accessory and new vehicle sales departments servicing north Mississippi. We do not charge freight and setup
fees in addition to our selling price, so please always get an out the door price when shopping for a new vehicle.
500 Highway 6 W • Oxford, MS 38655 • 1.866.611.9302 Phone • (662) 234.4017 Fax • www.oxfordoutdoors.com

2008 REGIONAL
CONTESTS
REGION 2 Rebecca Cleveland, Itawamba County, Talent Contest, Division II;

Anna Kate McEllhiney, Tishomingo County, Talent Contest, Division I; Brenda Prince,
Marshall County, Talent Contest, Division III; Katie Lynn Mitchell, Alcorn County,
Miss Farm Bureau.
REGION 1 Kateland Barr, Bolivar County, Talent Contest, Division II;

Sloan Garner, Panola County, Talent Contest, Division I; Courtney Smith,
Bolivar County, Talent Contest, Division III.
REGION 3 Drew Herring, Scott County, Talent Contest, Division III;

Dakota Rogers, Smith County, Talent Contest, Division I; John Howell, Yazoo County,
Talent Contest, Division II; and Holly Webb, Scott County, Miss Farm Bureau.
REGION 4 Nikki Baird, Chickasaw County, Talent Contest, Division II;

Jacey Eldridge, Montgomery County, Talent Contest, Division I; Amanda Hill, REGION 5 Laura Lewis, Lincoln County, Talent Contest, Division II; Lindy Lewis,
Grenada County, Miss Farm Bureau; Chrissy Hill, Grenada County, Talent Lincoln County, Miss Farm Bureau; Jamie Sproles, Lincoln County, Talent Contest,
Contest, Division III. Division I; and Angela White, Amite County, Talent Contest, Division III.

REGION 6 Alex Goldman, Lauderdale County, Talent Contest, Division II; Leah
Virginia Moore, Clarke County, Miss Farm Bureau; Melissa Jones, Lauderdale County, Tal-
ent Contest, Division III.
REGION 7 Kayla Patterson, Jones County, Talent Contest, Division II; Lauren Bullen,
Stone County, Talent Contest, Division I; Katie Vanderslice, Jones County, Miss Farm Bureau;
Belinda McNair, Harrison County, Talent Contest, Division III.
REGION 8 Maddie Miller, Madison County, Talent Contest, Division II; Jessica
Harthcock, Holmes County, Talent Contest, Division I; Haley Thomason, Madison County,
Miss Farm Bureau; Juli Anna Wynne, Holmes County, Talent Contest, Division III.


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MISSISSIPPI

Henry Golden Boy Lever Action

Thousands of Henry rifles will be found under Christmas trees

For a FREE color catalog

Please study the issues, determine the best

as we learn more about this growing industry.

As a reader of Mississippi Farm Country

magazine, you should know a lot about

Mississippi agriculture. Can you answer the six

questions in our Solve the Mystery contest?

bird Migration Celebration in Holly Springs and

stop by the town of Mendenhall. We also learn

about an award-winning Long Distance Learning

Program at Mississippi State University.

Mississippi Farm Country

EDITORIAL AND BUSINESS OFFICES

Departments 6311 Ridgewood Road

4 President’s Message ADVERTISING

7 Commodity Update: Dairy Farm Bureau members receive this publication

Postmaster: Send address changes to

agritourism. Read their story on pages 10-11.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY 3

A aware that one of the most important

4 MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

JOHN MCCAIN BARACK OBAMA FARM BUREAU POLICY

CLIMATE CHANGE: CAP-AND-TRADE SYSTEM CLIMATECHANGE:CAP-AND-TRADE PROGRAM CLIMATE CHANGE

Doug Rogers Jon Kilgore

6 MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

Max Anderson Doug Ervin

In August, members of the MFBF Dairy Advisory

Committee participated in a media training seminar

Challenges Initiative Media Training event held in Memphis,

Tennessee. Participants were briefed on interview techniques

and then participated in live mock TV and radio interviews

The MFBF Dairy Advisory Committee and staff of the

Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation will continue to work

diligently on issues pertinent to the dairy industry through www.agecon.msstate.edu

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY 7

8 MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

Strong business management skills – If you

MISSISSIPPI AGRITOURISM ASSOCIATION

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY 9

10 MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

A activities to their traditional

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY 11

By Andy Whittington, MFBF Environmental Programs Specialist

14 MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

A daughter is Heaven’s gift ... a precious blessing

Genuine Swarovski® Crystals

With our exclusively designed Italian charm bracelet,

a great value and you can pay for it in 4 installments

4) Which Mississippi ag commodity almost doubled in farmgate value

16 MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY 17

18 MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

YF & R CONTESTS AGAIN HAVE ATTRACTIVE AWARDS

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY 19

the bright red feeders you so diligently keep

A special thanks to Audubon Mississippi Director Madge Lindsay

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY 21

22 MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

THE TOWN TODAY

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY 23

1-800-627-9276 City_____________________ St_