july/august 2013

A Publication of Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation • MSFB.org

VOLUME 89 NO. 4

JULY/AUGUST 2013

2 MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY JULY/AUGUST2 MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY MAY/JUNE

BENEFITS OF FARM BUREAU MEMBERSHIP

www.msfb.org

Save 10% off industrial products. Visit at www.grainger.com

GRAINGER INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES DISCOUNTFEATURED BENEFIT

Farm Bureau is a general farm organizationserving farmers and other members through a widevariety of programs, public policies and economicservices. Take a moment to familiarize yourselfwith the benefits listed here. From scholarshipopportunities to hotel rooms, and home securitysystems, these benefits are designed to make yourlife a whole lot easier. For more information,contact your county Farm Bureau office or theMississippi Farm Bureau Federation state office at1.800.227.8244 ext. 4169, or call 601.977.4169, orvisit our Web site at www.msfb.org. Certain restrictions may apply to all benefits.

• ATV VALUES - Got Gear Motorsports of Ridgeland isoffering free installation of a winch (winch notincluded) with the purchase of any ATV. This is a$125 value. For more information, call Dedra Lukeat 1.800.227.8244, ext. 4169. You will need topresent your membership card.

• CHILD SAFETY SEAT PROGRAM – Members can pick uporder forms for $25 car seats and $15 booster seatsat their local county office or visit our Web site atwww.msfb.org

• CHOICE HOTELS - 20% off the published rack roomrate at any participating location of their brand hotellocations. This discount is based on availability atany Comfort Inn®, Comfort Suites®, Quality Inn®,Sleep Inn®, Clarion, Main Stay Suites®, EconoLodge®, and Rodeway Inn®.

• CIMARRON MORTGAGE - Save $150 off closing costswhen you finance your home mortgage throughCimarron Mortgage Company, a Mississippi-basednational lender. *This credit must be requested prior to closing.

• CLEAR VALUE HEARING - Members can receive afree hearing test, free annual retests, freeprogramming and maintenance, free case ofbatteries, and 25% off Starkey digital hearinginstruments. For more information, please call theMember Call Center at 1.888.497.7447 or visit theirweb site at www.clearvaluehearing.com to locate aprovider in your area.

• DELL COMPUTERS - Dell’s Member Purchase Programallows Mississippi Farm Bureau Federationmembers to receive member-only pricing on all

personal PCs from Dell, including:- Up to 30% OFF list prices for select configurations - Members receive additional savings on select*electronics and accessories! *Offer does not apply to the following productscategories: Printers and Ink, Gaming, Batteries andPower. Additional savings apply to select other offers.

• FORD DISCOUNT - Ford Motor Company is pleased tooffer $500 Bonus Cash savings off vehicle MSRPtoward the purchase or lease of any eligible2012/2013/2014 Ford or Lincoln vehicle. With thisvaluable offer, you can enjoy savings on thevehicle of your choice from our exciting newlineup of hard-working and technologically-advanced cars and trucks — including the FordF-150 with its impressive power, fuel efficiencyand best-in-class trailer towing capacity. Takeadvantage of this special $500 offer today byvisiting www.fordspecialoffer.com/farmbureau/ms.

• GRAINGER INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY - Save 10% off industrialproducts. www.grainger.com

• HOME SECURITY - Southern Security Services offersan ADT Home Security System installed at nocharge (36-month monitoring contract required).

• HUGHESNET HIGH SPEED INTERNET - Farm Bureaumembers receive a $99 instant credit when theysign up for HughesNet Internet Service. Discount is available to new subscribers only.

• IDENTITY THEFT CREDIT RESTORATION SERVICES - Identitytheft occurs when a thief uses an individual'spersonal identification information, such as a socialsecurity number, an address, and/or credit and debitcard numbers without permission with the intent ofcommitting fraud or other crimes. That's why Mis-sissippi Farm Bureau Federation has included as apart of your membership this Identity Theft CreditRestoration Service. All eligible* members of thehousehold are covered and best of all - It's Free!*MFBF member, spouse and children under the age of 19, or24 if a full-time student. Must have been a member for at least60 days. Program is not identity theft protection, an insuranceproduct, or credit monitoring.

• MEDICAL ALERT SYSTEM - This discounted systemoffered by Southern Security Systems providestwo-way communications in case of an emergency in the home. A pendant is worn by the memberand, if an emergency arises, all the member

needs to do is press the button and the monitoringservice will speak with the member through thetwo-way communications system. This system re-quires no equipment purchase, no minimumlength contract, and no cancellation fees. For moreinformation, call 1.800.960.9119 or 601.939.9413.

• MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY MAGAZINE – The officialpublication of Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation.It is published bimonthly and spotlights oneparticular area of agriculture each issue. It alsocontains information on agricultural issues and FarmBureau programs.

• MOSSY OAK – MFBF and Mossy Oak have teamedup to offer our members a 10% discount throughthe Mossy Oak online store. This discount does notapply to promotional or sale items.

• PHARMACY DISCOUNT- United Networks of America isoffering MS Farm Bureau members up to 75% offtheir prescriptions at over 614 participatinglocations. Please contact your local county FarmBureau office to receive your free Rx discount cardand start saving.

• RENTAL CAR – Various discounts through HertzAlamo, Avis, Enterprise, and National.

• SCHOLARSHIPS - Mississippi Farm Bureau Federationoffers several scholarships to young people interestedin furthering their education in agriculture. Thesescholarships are offered through the Young Farmers& Ranchers Program and the Women’s Program. Formore information, contact Kirsten Johnson at601.573.4277 or E-mail: [email protected] or ClaraBilbo at 601.977.4245 or E-mail: [email protected]

• THEFT REWARD PROGRAM - Members can offer a $500reward for information leading to the arrest andconviction of anyone committing theft, arson orvandalism against their property.

• WYNDHAM HOTELS - Receive an additional 20% offthe "Best Available Rate" at participating locations.Advanced reservations are required. Offer is subjectto availability at participating locations, and someblackout dates may apply. Wyndham Hotel Group,Inc. is one of the world’s largest lodgingcompanies under the Baymont Inn®, Days Inn®,Hawthorn Suites®, Howard Johnson®, Knights Inn®,Ramada®, Super 8®, Travelodge®, Wyndhamhotels and resorts, and Wingate Inn® brands.


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JULY/AUGUST MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY 3MAY/JUNE

CONTENTS

Features

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

Departments 4 President’s Message 6 Legislative Recap 8 Commodity Update: Horticulture 9 Commodity Update: Poultry 20 Counsel’s Corner 22 Member Benefits Spotlight

About the coverSummer also means beautiful flower gardens and butterflies. This photo of a tiger swallowtail is by Benny Hilton.

10 Summertime in Mississippi

Summer is a busy time of the year for farmers and other Mississippians. In this issue, we visit some of the businesses that depend upon the flowers, fruits and vegetables, row crops, livestock and other agricultural commodities that benefit from Mississippi’s mild climate and plentiful natural resources. Come with us as we learn more.

16 Solve the MysteryThis town is one of the two seats of government for Yalobusha County. Our mystery town grew up around the railroad and agriculture. Read the clues and make your guess.

30 Farm Bureau EventsFarm Bureau volunteer leaders and staff members have been busy since the beginning of the year. See the photo coverage of our state events on pages 30-31 and on pages scattered throughout the magazine.

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRYVolume 89 Number 4

July/August 2013

Mississippi Farm Country(ISSN 1529-9600) magazine is

published bimonthly by theMississippi Farm Bureau® Federation.

Farm Bureau members receive this publication as part of their membership benefit. Periodicals postage is paid at

Jackson, MS and at additional mailing offices.

Postmaster: Send address changes toP. O. Box 1972, Jackson, MS 39215

EDITORIAL and BUSINESS OFFICES6311 Ridgewood Road Jackson, MS 39211

601-977-4153

EDITOR - Glynda Phillips

ADVERTISINGAngela Thompson

1-800-227-8244 ext. 4242

FARM BUREAU OFFICERSPresident – Randy Knight

Vice President – Donald GantVice President – Ted Kendall

Vice President – Reggie MageeTreasurer – Billy Davis

Corporate Secretary – Ilene Sumrall

FARM BUREAU DIRECTORSCarla Taylor, Booneville Lowell Hinton, Corinth

Ronnie Jones, Holly SpringsChris Lively, Clarksdale

Randle Wright, VardamanKelcey Shields, Mantachie

Mike Langley, HoustonKenneth King, Ackerman

Wanda Hill, IsolaJimmy Whitaker, Satartia

Oliver Limerick, ShuqualakVander Walley, Waynesboro

David M. Boyd, SandhillDavid C. Barton, Raymond

Jeff Mullins, MeadvilleMike McCormick, Union Church

Lyle Hubbard, Mt. OliveLarry Jefcoat, Soso

J. B. Brown, PerkinstonLouis J. Breaux IV, Kiln

Betty Mills, WinonaJon Koehler Bibb, Tunica

HONORARY VICE PRESIDENTLouis J. Breaux III

Material in this publication is based on what the editor believes to be reliable information. Neither Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation nor those individuals or organizations contributing to the MFBF publication assume any liability for errors that might go undetected in the publication — this includes statements in articles or advertisements that could lead to erroneous personal or business management decisions.

FARM BUREAU®, FB® and all Farm Bureau logos used in this magazine are registered service marks owned by the American Farm Bureau Federation. They may not be used in any commercial manner without the prior written consent of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Design: Coopwood Communications, Inc.

4 MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY JULY/AUGUST

PRESIdENT’S MESSAgERandy Knight, President

Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation

Our Efficient, Productive Farmers

Mississippi farmers are truly blessed. Our state’s mild climate and plentiful natural resources allow us to successfully grow a little of everything, from row crops, dairy and beef to sweet potatoes, peanuts and farm-raised catfish. We also have access to two outstanding land-grant institutions, where researchers, teachers and Extension personnel work hard to provide us with the information and tools we need to succeed.

I am constantly amazed at how efficient and productive our farms have become in just the last few decades. In 2012, Ameri-can farmers produced 262 percent more food with 2 percent fewer inputs (labor, seeds, feed, fertilizer, etc.), compared to farmers in 1950. This level of efficiency and productivity will remain crucial in the years to come as the world population continues to grow.

With that in mind, I am proud to announce that Farm Bureau had a very successful year in the Mississippi Legislature. In addition to helping to secure increased funding for the agricul-tural programs at our land-grant institutions, we were able get legislation passed that creates criminal penalties for stealing livestock and requires buyers at stockyards to pay promptly upon purchase of animals. We were also able to close a loophole where foreign fish were being labeled U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish under the Mississippi Country of Origin Labeling law.

I can’t stress enough the importance of our Country of Origin Labeling law. I urge you to take advantage of it by purchasing foods grown right here in America. Your loyalty to our farmers and what they produce – with your wellbeing firmly in mind – not only strengthens our agricultural industry, but when you are not exactly sure how some of these imported products are being grown, it just makes sense.

On the national front, Farm Bureau volunteer leaders and staff stepped up visits to Washington, D.C., when activities related to the 2013 Farm Bill resumed this spring. As I was writ-ing my column in May, both houses of Congress had completed their versions of the bill. The Senate bill had passed out of com-mittee, and the Senate was anticipating taking the bill to a full Senate vote around early June. Similarly, the House was expect-ing to get floor time for a debate on its version this time around.

We may very well have a new Farm Bill by the time you receive your magazine. If not, I will keep you posted as we work to get a piece of legislation that is fair and equitable for

all farmers. You can read about our legislative activities on both the state and national levels in Public Policy Director Samantha Newman’s column on page 6.

Farm Families Cotton Blues, a Hattiesburg restaurant serving locally grown

foods, hosted a luncheon in April benefitting the Farm Families of Mississippi Ag Promotion Campaign. I was there, along with other Farm Bureau staff members and Commissioner of Agri-culture Cindy Hyde-Smith. We had a great time, and the food was delicious. But most importantly, funds were raised to help this very successful and worthy campaign.

The next time you dine at Cotton Blues, make a point of thanking the people who work there for their support of Missis-sippi agriculture.

Also in this issue, we once again spotlight one of our out-standing farm leaders. We beamed the first spotlight on Chester Bradley Jr. of Jasper County. This time around, we visit poultry, cattle and produce farmer Lyle Hubbard of Jeff Davis County, one of our state board members. Lyle is a former Young Farm-ers & Ranchers State Committee chair, and his wife, Sue Ann, an avian veterinarian, is a county women’s chair who helps with the Farm Families of Mississippi Ag Promotion Campaign.

Despite their busy schedules, the Hubbards, who are also the parents of two children, always have time for Farm Bureau, their church and their community. Lyle and Sue Ann are excel-lent examples of the caliber of volunteer leaders we have here at Farm Bureau.

I hope you enjoy reading the Mississippi Farmer Spotlight.

Member BenefitsIn conclusion, I want to remind you that Farm Bureau staff

members and volunteer leaders work hard each year to surface programs that will create an environment in which you can have a better life and make a better living. If you aren’t familiar with all that you gain access to when you pay your membership dues, I encourage you to read about our programs and benefits on pages 2 and 22.

As always, I am eager to hear your ideas regarding what Farm Bureau does for you each and every year. I covet your thoughts, your energy and your prayers.

For the latest beef recipes contact theMississippi Beef Council680 Monroe St. Suite A • Jackson, MS 39202 • (601) 353-4520Sponsored by Mississippi’s Beef Producers through the Beef Checkoff Program

Ingredients:2 boneless beef chuck shoulder steaks, cut 3/4 inch thick (8 to 10 ounces each)1/2 cup prepared sweet barbecue sauce3 tablespoons minced green onion2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro2 medium jalapeño peppers, minced1 cup frozen corn

Instructions:1. Combine barbecue sauce, onion, cilantro and peppers in small bowl. Cover and refrigerate 1/4 cup for salsa. Place beef steaks and remaining barbecue sauce mixture in food-safe plastic bag; turn steaks to coat. Close bag securely and marinate in refrigera-tor 6 hours or as long as overnight, turning occasionally.2. Remove steaks from marinade; discard marinade. Place steaks on grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill, covered, 8 to 12 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill, 9 to 12 minutes) for medium rare (145°F) to medium (160°F) doneness, turning oc-casionally.3. Meanwhile combine corn and reserved 1/4 cup marinade in small bowl; season with salt, as de-sired. Set aside.4. Carve steaks into thin slices; season with salt and pepper, as desired. Serve with corn salsa.

Total Recipe Time: 25 to 30 minutesMarinade Time: 6 hours or overnightMakes 4 servings

Cook’s Tip: To broil, place steaks on rack in broiler pan so surface of beef is 2 to 3 inches from heat. Broil 10 to 13 minutes for medium rare to medium doneness, turning once.

For great BEEF recipes and nutrition information go to:

Nutrition information per serving: 232 calories; 6 g fat (2 g saturated fat; 3 g monounsaturated fat); 8 mg cholesterol; 251 mg sodium; 17 g carbohydrate; 1.2 g fiber; 26 g protein; 3.4 mg niacin; 0.3 mg vitamin B6; 2.5 mcg vitamin B12; 3.5 mg iron; 25.8 mcg selenium; 6.9 mg zinc.

Celebrate Summer!Grilled Southwest Steaks with Spicy Corn Salsa

www.msbeef.org


By Samantha Cawthorn NewmanMFBF Public Policy director

The 2013 Regular Session of the Mississippi Legislature ended April 4, 2013, with a vote on ap-proving the 2014 budget. The session ended three days ahead of the scheduled final day, and lawmak-ers went home early, saving taxpayers money.

The 2014 Regular Session will convene Jan. 7, 2014, for a 90-day term.

The following are significant bills supported by Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation that were passed into law during the 2013 session:

Farm to School – Creates an Interagency Council on Farm to School to help facilitate educational and nutritional information to schools on agriculture and food.

Harvest Permits – Extends the repealer on the har-vest permits issued by the Mississippi Department of Transportation for carrying an additional 4,000 pounds during harvest season.

Sales Tax Exemption – Allows for agriculture to be exempt from a 1.5 percent sales tax on energy. The exemption includes the following operations: poultry, livestock, domestic fish, commercial horti-culture, dairies and irrigation of crops. This law will go into effect July 1, 2014.

Nutrition Labeling – Retains the authority for nutrition labeling and restrictions on raising or growing livestock or crops to the legislative body.

Livestock Theft – Creates criminal penalties for stealing livestock and requires buyers at stockyards to pay promptly upon purchase of the animals. Livestock under this section includes horses, cattle, sheep, swine and other domestic animals for profit.

Cottage Food – Allows for small food operations that are under $20,000 to be exempt from Depart-ment of Health regulations for nonhazardous foods. The foods must be labeled properly, including saying they are unregulated. Nonhazardous foods include baked goods not subject to spoilage, as well as jams, jellies and preserves.

Country of Origin Labeling – Closes a loophole in the Mississippi Country of Origin Labeling law where foreign fish were being labeled U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish.

Appropriations Bills MSU Funding - The success of Mississippi agriculture depends on the research, education and services provided by our land-grant universities. During the 2013 session, Farm Bureau was able to help secure an increase in

funding for the Mississippi State University Divi-sion of Agriculture and Alcorn State University agriculture programs.

National NewsSen. Thad Cochran became the ranking member

on the Senate Agriculture Committee. This is great news for Mississippi farmers, especially with the Farm Bill process still underway.

Farm BillWe are in the process of writing the 2013 Farm

Bill. The Senate has written their version, and it passed from committee. The Senate voted on and passed their version of the Farm Bill in early June. The House is expected to take up their bill in mid-June. Once that is completed, the two chambers can conference the bill, and we will have a completed Farm Bill.

House Agriculture Committee Chair Frank Lu-cas (R-OK) has been outspoken in his support of all commodities and for cutting some of the nutrition programs to meet budget reduction goals. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) is now the Ranking Member on the Senate Agriculture Committee and has been a vocal supporter of programs that work in the South.

What a difference a year can make in the Senate on a Farm Bill. Sen. Cochran did not vote for the Farm Bill in 2012, a move Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation strongly supported.

Estate Tax and Capital GainsWe were successful in establishing a permanent

estate tax exemption at $5 million per person, and it is indexed for inflation, with any unused amount al-lowed to transfer to a spouse. The maximum tax rate will increase to 40 percent (up from 35 percent). The estate and gift tax exemptions are unified.

The capital gains tax’s top rate will be 15 percent for taxpayers making under $400,000 for a single person and $450,000 for a couple.

Summary of the 2013 Legislative Session

Calenderof Events

JuNE 25Corn, Wheat & Feed Grains/

Soybeans Commodity MeetingGrenada County Ext. Building

Grenada

JuNE 26Forestry Commodity Meeting

MFBF BuildingJackson

JuNE 27Peanuts Commodity Meeting

Forrest County Multipurpose Building

Hattiesburg

July 11Cotton Commodity Meeting

Grenada County Ext. BuildingGrenada

July 16Horticulture/Honey bees

Commodity MeetingJones County Junior College

Ellisville

July 17Sweet Potatoes

Commodity MeetingPennick Produce

Vardaman

July 18Equine Commodity Meeting

Mississippi Horse ParkStarkville

July 19Rice Commodity Meeting

Bolivar County Ext. AuditoriumCleveland

July 23Beef Commodity Meeting

MFBF BuildingJackson

AuguSt 1Deadline for FB Ambassador

& Farm Woman of Year Contests

Newman

JULY/AUGUST MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY 7

2013 Ag Day at the Capitol

A special presentation was made to the chairs of the House and Senate ag committees, Rep. Preston Sullivan and Sen. Billy Hudson. These lawmakers and others were on hand to address a large and enthusiastic group of Farm Bureau volunteer leaders and staff.

Each year during Ag Day at the Capitol, Farm Bureau volunteer leaders visit with legislators and thank them for their hard work on behalf of Mississippi agriculture.

Colorful, informative exhibits about agriculture and its importance to our daily lives were displayed in the Capitol rotunda.


COMMOdITY UPdATE: HORTICUlTUREJason Ellzey, MFBF Horticulture Advisory Committee Chair

Kevin Brown, MFBF Commodity Coordinator for Horticulture

Immigration Reform Looms It is an unofficial beginning of summer to enjoy that first farm-

fresh tomato sandwich, slice of cold watermelon and freshly baked blueberry pie. Mississippi farmers harvested over 400 acres of tomatoes and 2,000 acres of blueberries in 2012. Watermelons are planted on more acres than any other vegetable crop in the state.

Too often, Mississippians take these summertime staples for granted. The fruit and vegetable crops produced commercially here are labor-intensive commodities. From planting through harvest, many producers rely on a guest-worker program to ensure that they have adequate available labor. These programs are crucial to producers being able to stay in business rather than losing thousands of dollars worth of crops each year.

The recently unveiled Senate immigration bill, S.744, seeks to provide stability to producers who use and rely on guest workers. This bill has two different titles to work within. The first is a Blue Card Program. Current undocumented farm workers would be eligible to obtain legal status through a Blue Card Program.

• Agricultural workers who can document working in U.S. agriculture for a minimum of 100 workdays or 575 hours in the two years prior to Dec. 31, 2012, are eligible to adjust.

• Agricultural workers who fulfill future Blue Card work requirements in U.S. agriculture, show that they have paid all taxes, have not been convicted of any felony or violent misdemeanor and pay a $400 fine are eligible for a Green Card.

to Be Eligible: • Performed at least five years of agricultural employment for

at least 100 workdays per year during the seven-year period, beginning the date of enactment; or

• Performed at least three years of agricultural employment for at least 150 workdays per year during the five-year period, beginning on the date of enactment.

Title II is an agriculture worker program that would replace H-2A.

Basic Elements:• A new program would be established that has two work

options: 1) a portable, at-will employment-based visa and 2) a contract-based visa program;

• H-2A program would sunset one year after the new visa program is enacted;

• Three-year visa term;

• New visa program is administered by USDA; • Employers must register with the USDA as a Designated

Agricultural Employer (DAE); • Worker would lose status and must depart the U.S. if they were

unemployed for more than 60 consecutive days; and • Contract worker who breaches employment contract must

depart the U.S. before accepting another job with a U.S. employer.

three-Quarter guarantee:

• A contract employer is required to guarantee work for 3/4 of the contract period, with exception for natural disasters, such as freeze, flood and other weather-related destruction of crops.

Domestic Referrals: • An employer will be able to give preference to an H-2A worker

over a domestic worker if the H-2A worker has worked for the employer three out of the past four years.

This is just a brief summary of the proposed changes to the agriculture workers section of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act, S.744. There are still many issues to be ironed out in this bill, but it looks promising to the producers who rely on guest workers to run a viable operation and provide Mississippians with quality produce throughout the summer. Not only fruit and vegetable producers but all farmers across the state will benefit from the proposed changes as they continually search for quality and reliable labor.

For more information, contact me or the Public Policy Depart-ment at (601) 977-4226. Getting involved in the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Summer Horticulture Commodity Advisory Committee Meeting is another good way to stay informed about issues affecting horticultural crops. This year’s meeting will be held at Jones County Junior College on July 16.

Ellzey Brown


COMMOdITY UPdATE: POUlTRY

Poultry Adds Value to Mississippi’s Economy

Mississippi’s poultry industry is an integral part of Mississippi’s economy and is the leading agricultural industry in the state. In 2012, the value of all chicken and broiler products produced totaled $2.5 billion, accounting for 33 percent of the total value of agricultural production during the year. Nationally, Mississippi ranks fifth in both broiler production and total broiler value behind Georgia, Arkansas, North Carolina and Alabama (in that order). Table eggs are also important, with Mississippi’s 2012 value of egg production totaling $208.6 million, placing our state 12th nationally in table egg production value.

According to the most recent agricultural census in 2007, our state has 1,453 broiler operations and 1,925 laying operations. Beyond the farm gate, Mississippi is home to six poultry integrators, which are located in 15 cities in the state. The largest table egg packaging company, Cal-Maine Foods Inc., is located in Hinds County.

The positive economic benefits to Mississippi’s economy go further than farms and processors. For example, inputs for the broiler and layer industries include feed (primarily soybeans and corn), energy for houses, construction of houses and facilities, shipping and transport. In 2009, integrated poultry firms in Mississippi employed more than 28,000 people in

growing, processing, feed manufacturing and hatchery operations. When taken as a whole, more than 55,000 individuals were employed directly and indirectly in the poultry and egg industries.

Approximately $2.156 billion of income was generated as a result of these industries in 2009, $1.196 billion directly and $960 million from other businesses

that feed into or out of the broiler and egg industries. Finally, direct and indirect industries that combine poultry products with other inputs, thus creating added value, collected an additional $2.904 billion.

As with all facets of agriculture, participating in Mississippi’s poultry industry provides a solid foundation for families and communities to grow and flourish. Beyond all of the non-tangible outcomes of farm life, like work ethic, integrity and ingenuity, there are noticeable business and economic gains from this valuable walk of life. The poultry industry has been and remains an integral part of Mississippi’s economic livelihood.

This article was written by Dr. John M. Riley, As-sistant Extension Professor, Mississippi State University Department of Ag Economics. Special thanks to Dr. Ken Hood and Dr. Al Myles for their contribution to some of the facts and figures used here.

Kilgore Rhodes

Jon Kilgore, MFBF Commodity Coordinator for PoultryKyle Rhodes, MFBF Poultry Advisory Committee Chair


By Glynda Phillips

Meanest Bees Make the

The meanest bees make the sweetest honey.Or at least that’s what Frank Garletts of Mississippi

Bees would tell his daughters whenever a bee would sting them as they began helping out with the family honey bee operation. Frank’s humorous saying, which always coaxed a smile, eventually made its way onto the labels of some of the honey products the family sells to devoted customers across the state and nation.

Frank had been keeping honey bees off and on since his Boy Scout days when he decided to get into it in a big-ger, more commercial way. Five years ago, he bought six beehives from a beekeeper in Vaiden and drew in family members to help, including his wife, Tammie, and daugh-ters, Julia and Frances.

His daughters are homeschooled and use the beekeeping and honey product development and marketing aspects of Mississippi Bees in their lessons. The girls even contributed ideas when a neighbor designed the business’ logo, which features a magnolia.


Honey ProductsStarting out, the Garletts family bottled honey and gave it away to

friends. But pretty soon, they began to expand their line and develop it into a business.

“I would read about this person making candles and that person making soap, and it all sounded interesting to me,” Frank said.

Mississippi Bees now offers lip balm; plain and flavored honey; creamed honey; soap with beeswax and honey; beeswax candles; and the Addie line of natural skin care products for both adults and children, which includes oil, ointment and solid lotion bars.

“We are always trying new things,” he said. Mississippi Bees supplies Table 100 restaurant in Flowood and

Parlor Market restaurant in Jackson. You can find the honey and honey-based products at the Mississippi Farmers Market in Jackson, the Livingston Farmers Market in Madison, the Canton Flea Market and other local festivals.

The products are sold at all McDade’s food stores in Jackson, the new Kroger on Highway 51 in Madison, and at lots of gift shops, including gift shops at the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Museum in Jackson, the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science in Jackson and the Pocahontas General Store. You will also find the products online.

Mississippi Bees, by the way, is located in a converted airplane hangar near the family’s home in Flora.

“There’s a big push by consumers to know the farmers who grow their food, and that has helped what we do with our honey,” Frank said. “We advertise in Mississippi magazine, but we are known largely by word of mouth from satisfied customers. We don’t seek out customers. They come to us.”

The Gartletts family owns just under 100 bee hives. Their goal is to have slightly more than that. The hives are scattered across a tri-county area in Rankin, Madison and Hinds counties. They also keep three beehives at Cooper Farms in Morton.

Beekeeping is primarily a hobby for Frank, who owns several Midas shops with his brother and father

Interested in Keeping Bees?

Frank is a former president of the Central Mississippi Beekeepers Association and a member of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federa-tion Apiculture Advisory Committee. He says if you are interested in learning more about beekeeping, you are welcome to attend the meetings of the Central Mississippi Beekeepers Association held on the third Thursday of each month at the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Museum.

“There is definitely room for more people in this,” he said. “But you can’t just read about it in a book and get started. You must attend workshops, and you must watch other people work with bees.

“Honey bees are fascinating, but you have to learn how to handle them,” he said. “For example, all good beekeepers know to move slowly and calmly around bees. They are also aware that the weather can affect bees. Calm days are easier, while windy or rainy days are not good for working with bees.

“If you are going to bottle honey or make products from honey and beeswax, you must have the proper equipment,” he said. “Beekeepers separate honey from the honeycomb through a spinning process using a honey extractor. We screen the honey into a settling tank, where it sits for a couple of days before we bottle it.”

The color of honey varies seasonally. Honey made from spring flowers is generally lighter, both in color and taste, while honey made from fall flowers is the darkest and tastes the strongest. Frank says that raw honey made from the plants and flowers in your area is supposed to help with your seasonal allergies.

“Raw honey, by the way, never spoils. If it solidifies, you just warm it up,” he said. “You can also place a container of solid honey on the dashboard of your car and let the sun warm it up. That is the perfect temperature.”

Frank teaches second-graders and others about honey bees. He has taught a class at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science and at all of the museum’s summer camps. He has also visited second-grade classrooms in Madison. In addition, he has helped the Farm Families of Mississippi Ag Promotion Campaign.

“This is addictive to me,” he said. “I got an attorney in Canton started in beekeeping, and he called me up to thank me. He said he had no idea how fascinating and relaxing it would be. He loves it.”

For more information about Mississippi Bees, visit www.mississippibees.com. For more beekeeping information, visit www.mshoneybee.org or contact Mississippi State University honey bee specialist Jeff Harris at [email protected] or (662) 325-2976.


MISSISSIPPI FARMER SPOTlIgHT

Poultry, beef and produce farmer Lyle Hubbard of Jeff Davis County built by hand the farmers market near Magee that he and his wife Sue Ann opened in May. Cream of the Crop is the realiza-tion of a dream they’ve shared for many years.

The Hubbards wanted a retail outlet that would allow them to develop a strong one-on-one relationship with their produce cus-tomers, but they also wanted to honor the many generations of farmers in their family who had come before them.

Cream of the CropLyle put a lot of thought and care into constructing the build-

ing that houses Cream of the Crop. He used lumber and trim from an old barn on his place. The plows displayed inside belonged to his granddaddy. A 4-H friend built the counter. Lyle bought some of the old display tables and shelves from a 100-year-old store in Prentiss. He uses his grandmother’s old washstand to hold plants, and he has her old clothes wringer on display.

Each year, Lyle grows 40 acres of produce, including water-melons, cantaloupe, peppers, tomatoes, squash and zucchini.

“I had always sold my produce wholesale, but I wanted a retail outlet,” he explained.

Cream of the Crop sells locally grown produce and value-add-ed products as well as products from across the Southeast, like Louisiana strawberries. You will find hanging baskets of plants, canned goods, raw honey, cheeses, butters, Vardaman sweet pota-toes, farm-fresh milk and goat’s milk soaps. In season, Cream of the Crop will sell Christmas trees and pumpkins.

In addition to the produce operation, Lyle grows six houses of broilers for Tyson Foods, raises stocker calves on a contract basis and runs a few mama cows. He is building a herd of purebred cattle for his children to show through the 4-H program.

BY glYNdA PHIllIPS Lyle Hubbard


Dedicated leadersLyle and Sue Ann have been dedicated Farm Bureau volunteer leaders for over

10 years. Lyle currently sits on the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors and is a past chair of the Young Farmers & Ranchers State Committee. Sue Ann helps with the Farm Families of Mississippi Ag Promotion Campaign and chairs her county’s women’s committee. She works at the Mississippi State University (MSU) College of Veterinary Medicine’s Poultry Research and Diag-nostic Laboratory in Pearl and teaches at the MSU College of Veterinary Medi-cine.

The Hubbards have two children, Mark Jeffrey, 14, and Sabra, 11.“I can’t say enough about Farm Bureau,” Lyle said. “Sue Ann and I feel that

our Farm Bureau membership is a valuable resource. When you join Farm Bu-reau, you gain access to one of the best membership benefits packages in the nation, but you also become a member of the Farm Bureau family, and that is so important.

“Our volunteer leaders network with each other to share ideas and find solu-tions to challenges that affect their lives and livelihoods,” he said. “But of equal importance, through meetings on the local and state levels, we meet people be-sides farmers whose businesses touch agriculture and what we do, like bankers, teachers, lawyers and others. These types of opportunities open doors and help us build better lives for ourselves.”

Stop ByCream of the Crop is located on the frontage road at the overpass on Highway

49 near Magee. The address is 160 Willies Exit Ramp Rd.For more information, call (601) 849-0568.


restaurant

Cotton Blues is a Hattiesburg restaurant that is dedicated to celebrat-ing the South, through good food, live music and a great atmosphere. A special emphasis, of course, is placed on the Southern kitchen.

“Our dishes are scratch-made, and our menu is developed around locally sourced farm-fresh products,” said owner Chris Ortego. “Farmers are great at what they do, but many of them don’t have the time to actively market what they grow to local restaurants and grocery stores. Cotton Blues cares enough about our farmers to solicit their products, and that helps with the process.”

Cotton Blues also cares about its patrons.“Today’s consumers want to know who grows their food, and

Southerners want to celebrate their personal tie to agriculture,” he said. “We incorporate both of those elements into what we offer here at Cotton Blues.”

Ortego says his goal with the restaurant is to not only serve locally

celebratessouththe

By Glynda PhilliPs


grown food but to present it in a different way.“When I was planning this restaurant, I knew that I didn’t want

to change Southern food. I just wanted to serve it in a nice setting and let it really stand out, especially our vegetables,” he said. “I would visit the local farmers markets and the Mississippi Farmers Market in Jackson and see who was there. Then I’d make contacts and phone calls.”

Cotton Blues also offers live music performed by local Southern groups.

The feedback has been extremely good.“We’ve been nominated as Best New Restaurant and Best

Overall Restaurant in the area,” Ortego said. “Our reviews on Urbanspoon have been extremely high as well.”

Farm Families At the time of this interview in mid-April, Ortego and his staff

were looking forward to the upcoming growing season and to a luncheon on April 30 benefitting the Farm Families of Mississippi Ag Promotion Campaign. The special luncheon guest was Com-missioner of Agriculture Cindy Hyde-Smith.

“We are proud to do our part to help promote agriculture and Mississippi’s farm families,” Ortego said. “We are also proud that the Mississippi Restaurant Association is working with local farmers, helping them get their products to restaurants and food shows.”

More InformationOrtego has a long history in the food industry. He began work-

ing in a family-owned business when he was a kid, and he opened Cotton Blues after having worked at Canebrake Country Club for many years.

Executive Chef Antoine Anthony has worked in restaurant

kitchens for more than 30 years. For the last seven years, Antoine was the executive chef at Canebrake Country Club.

Chef Shaun Davis attended Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is known for his classic Southern pies and unique pastry creations. You can purchase a whole pie to bring to your next social or business event. Just call ahead to see what is available and to reserve one for pickup.

Farms that supply Cotton Blues include Eden Tomatoes, Rab-bitman Farms, Eubanks Produce, Country Girl Creamery, Grit Girl, Dominion Farms, Mayhew Syrup and Old Thyme Farms.

Located at 6116 Highway 98 West behind Auto Parts, Cot-ton Blues is open Monday through Sunday, from 11 a.m. until it closes. The restaurant offers a large banquet room that can ac-commodate 40-50 people. The room also has a large TV wired for presentations with your iPad or laptop.

For more information, call (601) 450-0510.

Our dishes are scratch-made, and our menu is developed around locally sourced farm-fresh products.”

Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) President Randy Knight dines with Commissioner of Agriculture Cindy Hyde-Smith and MFBF Region 8 Regional Manager Kevin Brown at the Cotton Blues luncheon benefitting the Farm Families of Mississippi Ag Promotion Campaign.


SolvetheMystery?

Our mystery town is one of the two seats of government for Yalobusha County. Founded in 1834, the town was named for Gen. John Coffee, an Army buddy of Andrew Jackson and one of the Army officers charged with surveying the area. Read the clues and make your guess.

Russell Bailey Home


OOur mystery town grew up around the rail-road and agriculture. Agriculture still makes an important economic contribution, with row crops and lumber being the number-one and number-two commodities. Back in the early years, more cotton was grown in the area, and President James Polk had a plantation near this town.

In those early years, the population of our mystery town and the surrounding area peaked at around 1,300. That figure remains about the same today. Yalobusha County is one of the oldest coun-ties in the state, and areas of Grenada and Calhoun counties were once a part of it.

In its heyday, our mystery town boasted a hotel, depot, general store, furniture store, drug store, dentist, barber shop, shoe shop, doctor’s office and movie theater. Today, you will find several family-owned businesses, as well as a Dollar Store. A Texas-based plant, Windsor Foods, is located near the town and employs 57 people. The plant makes ready-to-go meals and meals for restaurants.

Our mystery town boasts an historic courthouse that dates back to 1844. In 1859, townspeople decided to place a weather vane atop the courthouse and hired a steeplejack named Alexander Gilli-land from Alabama to do this. Gilliland successfully completed his work and descended to the ground, whereupon, he stumbled over a platform and fell.

It was determined that Gilliland had broken his back, and as he was dying, he made a friend promise that he would be buried standing up. His request was honored, and in the local cemetery, you will find a two-foot-high structure that resembles a brick chim-ney with his tombstone over the top of it. Townspeople today say that this is the only grave of its kind in the nation.

The beautiful downtown Presbyterian Church, 1845, also has an

interesting history. Today, the church houses the Yalobusha County Historical Society, but it once had a large congregation. The church still boasts the original pews, light fixtures and stained glass win-dows as well as an organ dating back to 1921 and a piano dating back to the late 1800s. The church also has a bell that was cast in 1871 by the C.S. Bell bellfoundry of North Hampton, Ohio. The bell was moved downhill from the first church to the present build-ing by ox wagon. These types of bells are noted for their tone and durability, and this particular bell is still rung today on occasion.

In addition to this church, our mystery town boasts many other historic churches. Some of them include Shiloh Primitive Baptist Church, 1835; Hopewell Baptist Church, 1834; New Hope Baptist Church, 1850; and the downtown Methodist and Baptist churches, both dating back to around 1845.

Historic Presbyterian Church


Historic homes include the Russell Bailey Home, which was used as a hospital during the Civil War and has bullet holes in one wall, the Reddick House, the Herron House and the Helen Gay House, which dates back to the 1820s. This town was meant to be destroyed by Union soldiers during the Civil War, but rain, followed by a call for the troops to return to the Mississippi River, caused soldiers to cancel the attack.

Today, the town has a chamber of commerce, town hall, police station and schools. It holds an annual October Celebration the first weekend in October that always enjoys excellent participation. You will find vendors, entertainment and a street dance. Event planners say that the October Celebration this year may include a wildlife exposition. Stay tuned.

Our mystery town is proud of Dist. 33 Rep. Thomas Reynolds, II, who lives in nearby Charleston.

Name this town.

A special thanks to Yalobusha County Historical Society President Mike Worsham and Dave Hovey.

Correct GuessesMail guesses to Solve the Mystery, Mississippi Farm Country,

P. O. Box 1972, Jackson, MS 39215. You may also email your guesses to [email protected]. Please remember to include your name and address on the entry.

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

When all correct guesses have been received, we will randomly draw 20 names. These 20 names will receive a prize and will be placed in the hat twice. At the end of the year, a winner will be drawn from all correct submissions. The winner will receive a Weekend Bed and Breakfast Trip, courtesy of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation.

Families may submit only one entry. Federation staff members and their families are ineligible to participate in this contest.

The deadline for submitting your entry is July 31.May/June

The correct answer for the May/June Solve the Mystery is Laurel.

Yalobusha County Courthouse


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TCOUNSEL’S CORNER

Socks OnA Rooster

By Sam E. Scott, MFBF General Counsel

Though theoretically different, law and politics are Siamese twins. Political engines are fueled and law is influenced by money, power, patronage and publicity, whether we like to admit it or not. Whether labeled corruption or the public interest, they are both familiar Pandora’s boxes tied with different color ribbons.

Political legends, like General McArthur’s old soldiers, never die but just fade away. So it is with the Longs of Louisiana. Huey is the most famous, Earl the most bombastic and Huey’s son, Russell Long, the most enduring, serving in the U.S. Senate almost 40 years. Huey’s career was relatively short for its effectiveness – from 1918 when he was elected railroad commissioner, governor in 1928, and ending in 1935 when, in his first term in the U.S. Senate, he was shot and killed in the new Louisiana State Capitol, which he had championed. His legend is narrated in Harriett Kane’s “Louisiana Hayride” and Robert Penn Warren’s famous novel, “All the King’s Men.”

Earl, the youngest of the large and remarkable Long family, was governor of Louisiana three times and lieutenant governor also. To say he was charismatic is a gross understatement.

For years, Earl was an untiring campaigner for his older brother, Huey, but they had a “falling out” when Earl decided to run against Huey’s candidate for lieutenant governor in 1928. Earl lost, as did most who challenged The Kingfish, but they were reconciled later. The names of all the Longs who have held public office in Louisiana will probably not fit in this article; they are legion. It would be hard to name any comparable political family in any other state.

Earl Long was loved, hated, ridiculed and sensational, famous or infamous, depending on your politics. Stories and anecdotes, true and false, abound, and he was one of a kind. He held himself out as a man of the people and brought about many things to help the less fortunate, which are obscured by his many oddities. He loved common (and uncommon) people, had an insatiable appetite for hard-nosed politics and was an expert and veteran of both. Uncle Earl, as he came to be known, was once described as having the gumption and scrappy dis-position of a tomcat and the stubbornness of a Southern mule. Never having the financial resources of Huey, resulting from the Win or Lose Corporation, which had a million acres of oil leases in Louisiana, or the long-lost Deduct Box, reputed to hold vast sums deducted from state employees’ salaries, Earl represented himself as an average guy who loved to spend time at his “pea patch” home in Winnsboro.

Losing never fazed a Long in politics, and Earl was elected lieutenant governor in 1936, and when the governor resigned as a result of a scandal in 1939, Earl became governor for the first of three times. He presented himself as the man of com-mon folk, promising to use his power to make their lives better, and he often did. Today, one can hardly imagine the rough and tumble world of politics of those days nor how racist they were. Characterized by stump speaking, vituperation, personal insults and frequent charges of corruption, Earl Long was a master of hard-knock politics. During one of his campaigns, he accused one of his opponents of wearing $400 suits, and he said, “A four-hundred-dollar suit on Uncle Earl would look like socks on a rooster.”

Denied election to a full term in 1940 and in 1944, Earl was elected governor in a landslide in 1948 and once again in 1956. It was during this term the supposed scandalous liaison existed between Uncle Earl and the “exotic” dancer Blaze Starr. Legend has it that once, while Governor Long was entertain-ing a foreign ambassador and other dignitaries in the Gover-nor’s Mansion, she slid down the bannister into the midst of a stunned audience. Without missing a beat, the governor said to pay no attention to her, she was his niece and did that all the time – very rooster-like. It was, to say the least, a conversation-stopper.

Plagued by claims of insanity and once even being com-mitted to a state asylum in Mandeville, Uncle Earl persevered amid further extensive scandalous publicity and served out his third term.

With an insatiable appetite for rock-em, sock-em politics, he ran for lieutenant governor again in 1960 and lost, but a few weeks later, he entered the race for the U.S. House of Represen-tatives against the incumbent and won again. In bad health, the campaign had killed him, and he died days after the election.

Once described as “in victory unbearable, insufferable in defeat,” he was one of a kind.

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


Young Farmers & Ranchers 2013 Leadership Conference

A shrimp boil social offered an excellent opportunity to catch up with friends and make new friends from around the state.

Over 400 Deployment Readiness bags, or a year’s supply, were assembled for Keesler Air Force Base.

Excellent programs and participation were enjoyed at the YF&R Leadership Conference.

Conference activities included tours of the Thad Cochran Aquaculture Center in Ocean Springs, the Coastal Research and Extension Center in Biloxi and Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi. A program featuring the Hurricane Hunters at Keesler was also enjoyed (shown here).

Getting the word out about what agriculture providesto all Mississippians is the goal of the Farm Familiesof Mississippi.You can help by purchasing one of these tags for yourvehicle. The cost is $31 per year. Of that, $24 will goto the Farm Families of Mississippi to use in the promotion of agriculture.Tags are now available at your County Tax Collector’s office where you buy your tags. For more info, call Greg Gibson at 601.977.4154.

Show Your Support for Agriculture

FFtagRiceAdF2013 1/4/13 4:06 PM Page 1

Member Benefits Help You Have a Better Life

MARCH/APRIL20

Our newest partnership to help Farm Bureau members is with a com-pany called ID Experts. They provide a service that most people will

never need, but if you do need it, you will thankyour lucky stars that you have it available to you.ID theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the

country. And when someone steals your identity, itcan take years to fix all of the problems this cancause you.ID theft takes many forms. Someone could steal your credit card num-

ber or set up a credit card in your name that you don’t know about. Then theycould charge thousands of dollars to that credit card and the card company

thinks it’s you who owes them money.Or how about this? Someone gets your social security number and files an IRS return in your

name and steals your refund. It could be several months before you even discover that it happened.Or this?Adoctor in LosAngeles had her identity stolen by a sophisticated international crime

ring that set up shop in her name and was bilking Medicare out of hundreds of thousands of dol-lars. The government then came knocking at her door wanting the money back.For these reasons and many more, Farm Bureau felt the need to help our members who have

been victims of these types of crimes. This new Member Benefits program will help any FarmBureau member who has been victimized by identity theft get their credit restored to pre-theft sta-tus. And the best part of this program is that it doesn’t cost the member a penny!This free Identity Theft Credit Restoration Program is now avail-

able and will work with you to fix all the problems that come with IDtheft. For more information on this program, check out our Web siteat www.msfb.org or call Member Benefits Coordinator Dedra Luke at601-977-4169.

By Greg Gibson, MFBF Member Services Director

MEMBER BENEFITS SPOTLIGHT

ID Theft CreditRestoration Assistance

The highly successful Farm Families of Mississippi ag image cam-paign began its fourth year on the air in late February. This statewide ef-fort to educate the public about the importance of agriculture will be ex-panding its reach once again this year. The newest TV market will beHattiesburg, which will join with the established markets in Jackson,Biloxi, Greenville, Tupelo and theMississippi Public Broadcasting Net-work.Farm Families of Mississippi has also entered into a partnership

with Eat Jackson, a leader in foodmedia and culinary events production,to be the presenting sponsor of that organization for 2013. Eat Jackson’sfounder, Andy Chapman, said this marketing partnership with FarmFamilies ofMississippi demonstrates a shared commitment to the growthof our state’s economy and makes a strong statement for the mutual im-portance of agriculture and the culinary arts to our state’s long-term suc-cess.“We know farmers work tirelessly every day to make the food they

grow better and more affordable,” said Daryl Burney, who chairs theFarm Families ofMississippi Committee. “That’s whywe are so excitedto tell our stories, answer questions and demonstrate our commitment toproviding healthy choices for everyone. This partnership with Eat Jack-son will help us do that.”To learn more about Eat Jackson, visit www.EatJackson.com

or www.EatYall.com.

Farm Familiesof Mississippi

MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

MSFB_MarApr13_TH.qxd:Layout 1 2/1/13 1:53 PM Page 20

As my mom grew older, her hearing got worse and worse. She wanted to be able to hear better, but she didn’t want to give in and get hearing aids. She also was too self-conscious to keep asking people to repeat themselves so she could understand what they were saying. Consequently, she

didn’t catch a lot of conversations that were going on around her.This went on for years until she finally decided that it was time to get

some hearing aids.It’s too bad that she wasn’t able to take advantage of the discounts that

you as a Farm Bureau member have at your disposal.

Clear Value HearingFarm Bureau has partnered with Clear Value Hearing to help our mem-

bers get discounts on needed hearing equipment. Members can receive a free hearing test, free annual re-tests, free programing and maintenance, a

free case of batteries and 25 percent off Starkey digital hearing instruments. For more information on this exciting benefit, please call the Clear Value Member Call Center

at 1-888-497-7447 or visit their website at www.clearvaluehearing.com to activate your discount membership.

Medical Alert SystemAs we age, the chances of our falling and needing emergency help in our homes becomes

greater and greater. If you or a loved one is alone in your home and something happens that requires immediate attention, it might be hours before anyone realizes that you need help if you can’t get to a phone. An emergency communications system installed in your home can notify emergency personnel and bring help when minutes count.

Farm Bureau and Southern Security Services have teamed up to offer this discounted system that provides two-way communica-tions in case of an emergency in the home. A pendant is worn by the member around the neck or on the wrist, and if an emergency arises, all the member needs to do is press the button and the monitoring service will speak to the member through the two-way communica-tions system. The proper emergency services will be dispatched, and help will be on its way within minutes.

This system requires no equipment purchase, no minimum-length contract, and there are no cancellation fees. For more information, call 1-800-960-9119.

Home SecuritySouthern Security Services also offers Farm Bureau members an

ADT Home Security System installed at no charge with the purchase of a 36-month monitoring contract. Protect your home and family with this home security system designed especially for Farm Bureau members. For more information or details, call 1-800-960-9119.

More BenefitsYour membership in Farm Bureau is packed with value. Through

all of the money-saving programs offered by Farm Bureau, members saved over $900,000 in 2012. For a complete list of all the member benefits available to you, visit our website at www.msfb.org, or call Member Benefits Coordinator Dedra Luke at (601) 977-4169.

By Greg Gibson, MFBF Member Services Director

MEMBER BENEFITS

The Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) Women’s Program encourages women farmers to participate in a new contest this year that is designed to recognize the achievements of women farmers. The contest is called Farm Woman of the Year.

Applications are available at www.msfb.org and must be com-pleted and submitted by Aug. 1. For more information, contact Clara Bilbo at (601) 977-4245.

Farm Woman of the Year


MONTHLY BANK DRAFT NOW AVAILABLEFOR HOMEOWNER’S COVERAGE!Keep your home covered, without ever leaving it.

Today, you can sign up for our Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) program, and make your home policy paymentsautomatically - no more waiting in line, no more hassles with the mail. With EFT, you can also set up 12 easymonthly installments without increasing your premium! Plus you can conveniently synchronize your EFT paymentsfor both your Home and Auto policies.

Enrolling in EFT is simple:• Call your local agent today or• Call the Billing Help Desk at 1.800.345.8579

(Press 2 at the voice prompt)

*Mississippi Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Co. *Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co., Jackson, MS MFBHOEFT5112

YF&R Washington Trip

Each year, retiring members of the Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) State Committee visit Washington, D.C., to meet with lawmakers about agricultural issues and to tour agricultural facilities. Despite the cold and snowy weather, this year’s trip was a great success. Pictured are Garrett and Dawn Carver of Leflore County, Blake and Mari Katherine New of Washington County and Tyler and Sarah Huerkamp of Noxubee County.For more information about the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers & Ranchers Program, call YF&R Coordinator Kirsten Johnson at (601) 977-4277.


Artist Shaped by Farm Life

Artist Pat Walker was shaped by her childhood years on a Mis-sissippi Delta farm. She was born in Walnut in Tippah County but grew up in Rolling Fork in Sharkey County. Her father, Martin E. Walker, was a gentleman farmer and her mother, Lola Wiggs Walker, a poet.

“My dad and I were close, and because farming was our life, I was taught to be attuned with the weather and nature,” she said. “It has been that closeness to nature and the earth’s cycles that has made me so passionate about life and art.”

Pat was introduced to classical examples of oil painting and sculpture at an early age through her parents and teachers.

“The words, ‘I can’t’ were not acceptable to my parents or my teachers at Fielding L. Wright School. I was indoctrinated with, ‘you can do anything if you try!’ Drawing came naturally to me.

I continued to develop this skill throughout my early years, but I also began to paint, using subjects found on our farm.”

Light and DarkPat lives in a century-old house in Rolling Fork that is filled

with fine examples of her own work as well as paintings by other American artists. She believes wholeheartedly in collecting good art and will forgo buying something else for her home in favor of a work of art.

Pat is a representational artist, who enjoys using the chiaroscuro technique favored by Rembrandt. She believes a classical approach to painting gives her an opportunity to apply paint in a vivid, ex-pressive way … a way that accurately describes the artist’s view of the world, both technically and spiritually. It gives her work, which

By Glynda Phillips


includes still lifes, landscapes and portraits, a sense of mystery and emotion.

“My objective is to draw the viewer into the painting with the beauty of light but to leave enough mystery to free the viewer to wander through their imagination. I want to take their breath away,” she said.

Pat works exclusively “alla prima” with oil. She loves the way oil paint feels as it goes on the canvas and the smell of it in the studio. It is a flexible medium that allows the artist to make changes if necessary or desired.

Pat prefers to paint from real life rather than photographs.

Focus, DeterminationPainting has been a lifelong passion, and

Pat has been a serious student her whole life. She has never settled but has chosen to push to learn more and more about the magical process of painting.

“One must continue to challenge the process to become a better painter,” she said.

She has studied with some of the best master painters in America, including David Leffel, Kim English, Dan Gerhartz, Matt Smith, Robert Johnson, Stapleton Kearns, William Kalwick and noted pastel-ist and portrait artist Daniel Greene of New York City.

Obviously, you must possess talent to reach a certain level of artistic excellence,

but Pat believes that passion and determi-nation will outdo genius every time.

“Developing methodical work habits is paramount. You must have a strong work ethic, and this requires devoting yourself to the work,” she said. “You can’t just paint when it’s convenient or when you feel like it. It takes passion and commitment to learn any craft. It’s a journey.

“An artist will have miles and miles of canvas behind them as they struggle to reach ever-higher planes with their work. But if you put the necessary time and discipline into learning your craft, when inspiration strikes, the moment is inde-

scribable. I have painted all night when I’ve been touched by this angel of inspired magic. It is so much fun, and I thank God that He made me an artist.”

Being a Christian, Pat also feels that growing in her faith has informed her work.

“One of my mentors once said to me: ‘As the soul grows, so does the art.’ That’s so true. I read and study my Bible. I also read inspirational and motivational books, as well as books about Christian artists like Rembrandt. The influence of the Bible and the Protestant faith on Rembrandt was tremendous.

“Being an artist is sometimes a painful walk be-cause you spend so much time alone and because most people don’t recognize the sacrifice artists make to create beautiful paintings or works of art. It truly is the ‘Road Less Traveled.’”

Pat Walker gallery Pat worked in Bay St. Louis for a time until Hur-

ricane Katrina’s catastrophic visit in 2005. After losing everything, she moved back home to Rolling Fork, where she paints but teaches workshops in Canton, in association with Allison’s Wells, a program of the Canton Convention and Visitors Bureau. She also teaches workshops across the nation and had just returned home from a workshop at the time of her interview.

In October 2012, Pat opened Pat Walker Gallery in Canton, and she is considering opening another gal-lery in Vicksburg. She represents the work of master American artists William Kalwick, Scott Moore, Ann Hardy, Bob Rohm, Stapleton Kearns, Clinton Hobart, Fred Danziger, Fongwei Liu, Frank Baggett, Chuck Davis, Tony Forrest and Pat Walker.

Pat has received awards from the Joan Mitchell Foundation, Inc. in New York City; the Mississippi Arts Commission in Jackson; The Andy Warhol Foun-dation for the Visual Arts in New York City; and the CAC Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans. She was profiled by American Artist magazine and was featured in American Artist Highlights, two presti-gious publications. She was picked by New Yorker magazine as an artist to watch. These are just a few of her many honors.

Pat’s work has been shown in galleries across the Southeast.

An EntrepreneurAfter struggling with psoriasis, which she believes

she picked up while cleaning up after Hurricane Ka-trina, Pat developed a product she now markets nation-ally. Tinkering with an old family recipe, she came up with a cream – further refined for purity by a Memphis chemist – which she says ridded her of the psoriasis and has helped other people with everything from nail fungus and acne to athlete’s foot and rosacea. The product is called “Ok Toots! Rash Eraser,” and you can find more information about it at www.oktoots.net or by visiting Amazon.

“It’s the best darn stuff you will ever try,” she said.For more information about Pat and her work, visit

http://Gallery.PatWalker-workshops.com; http://Artist.PatWalker-Workshops.com; or http://PatWalker-work-shops.com. Contact Pat at [email protected], (662) 873-4003 or (601) 855-0107.

Pat has two sons and seven grandchildren. She is a long-time Sharkey County Farm Bureau member.


Volunteer Metering ProgramThe Mississippi Department of

Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the Delta Sustainable Water Resources Task Force have implemented a Volun-teer Metering Program for agricultural wells in the 18 Delta counties of the al-luvial aquifer. The goal of the Volunteer Metering Program is to have 5 percent of the wells in each Delta county to be

metered by June 2014, with an annual report sent to MDEQ for each succes-sive year. The program also has a goal of an additional 5 percent of wells in each county reporting by January 2016.

MDEQ developed this program in a cooperative effort with producers and the agricultural organizations repre-sented on the Task Force, and we are

supportive of the volunteer metering effort.

If you currently have a flow meter installed, or if you would like to install a flow meter and participate in the Volunteer Metering Program, please contact the Yazoo Water Management District at (662) 686-7712 for informa-tion about becoming a volunteer.

Calhoun County Farm BureauTuesday, Aug. 13, at 7 p.m.

Multpurpose BuildingPittsboro

DeSoto County Farm BureauTuesday, Aug. 20, at 7:30 a.m.

Farm Bureau OfficeHernando

Forrest County Farm BureauTuesday, Sept. 10, at 6 p.m.

Forrest County Extension Office Multipurpose Building

Hattiesburg

Humphreys County Farm BureauTuesday, July 16, at 9 a.m.

Farm Bureau OfficeBelzoni

Itawamba County Farm BureauTuesday, Aug. 13, at 6:30 p.m.

Jamie Whitten CenterFulton

All members are asked to bring a covered dish.

Jefferson County Farm BureauWednesday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m.

Farm Bureau OfficeFayette

Leake County Farm BureauThursday, Sept. 5, at 6:30 p.m.

Farm Bureau OfficeCarthage

lee County Farm BureauSaturday, Aug. 31, at 6 p.m.

North MS Research & Extension CenterVerona

Madison County Farm BureauMonday, Sept. 9, at 10 a.m.

Farm Bureau OfficeCanton

Marshall County Farm BureauThursday, Aug. 1, at 6:30 p.m.

County FairgroundsHolly Springs

Perry County Farm BureauThursday, Aug. 1, at 6:30 p.m.

Catfish WagonRunnelstown

Pontotoc County Farm BureauThursday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m.Pontotoc Community HousePlease bring a covered dish.

Meat, bread and drinks will be provided.Pontotoc

union County Farm BureauThursday, Sept. 5, at 7 p.m.Union County Fairgrounds

Ladies BuildingNew Albany

County Annual Meetings

New Way to Pay Farm Bureau DuesYou can now pay your annual Farm

Bureau membership dues and PIC contributions through electronic funds transfer. Simply sign up for the service

and these funds will be automatically drafted from your bank account each year.

For more information, visit our

website at www.msfb.org or contact a county Farm Bureau office to obtain a form.


Raising backyard chickens has become a popular pastime for a growing number of Mississippians. People either admire the beauty and personalities of certain breeds of birds and want to keep them as pets or they want to grow their own meat and eggs or a little of both.

“Chickens are the cheapest and easiest form of livestock to grow this way, and they don’t take up much room. You can raise chickens on as little as one-half acre of land in a backyard,” said Jessica Wells, an instructor in the Mississippi State University Poultry Science Depart-ment. “Even in cities, we are seeing a lot of this.”

But before you rush out and purchase chicks, consider a few impor-tant facts.

“First, see if your town or city has an ordinance against raising chickens behind your home,” Jessica said. “Most places don’t care about hens, but they might have an ordinance against roosters. If you just want to produce eggs, then you don’t need a rooster. If you are breeding, then you will need one rooster for every 10 hens.”

Wells says she doesn’t see any certain type of breed favored by people, but if you are interested in eggs, the Leghorn is a good laying breed. If beauty and meat production are what you have in mind (in addition to eggs), then Rhode Island Reds, Plymouth Rocks and New Hampshires are the birds for you. These breeds come in different col-ors and are very attractive.

For meat production, Cornish hens have a large amount of breast

RaisingBackyardChickens

By Glynda Phillips

Teagan Morgan checks out some backyard birds.


meat but are not good at laying. For kids, Jessica says the Cochins breed is pretty docile, or any type of Bantam will be small and predominately good just for yard birds that are pretty.

“Decide if you want to hatch your own eggs,” she said. “If you do, you will need special equipment. If you are interested in pur-chasing day-old chicks, you will need to find a reputable source. The Mississippi Poultry Improvement Plan (MPIP) provides grow-ers with a list of certified places to purchase chicks. This list is available from the Mississippi Board of Animal Health.

“If you want to purchase chicks from an out-of-state busi-ness, look for a list from the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP),” she added. “As much fun as it is to buy from flea markets, you can know what chicks you are purchasing and more of their background information on disease control if they are pur-chased from a certified seller. Plus, it is much easier to trace them back to the source if you have problems.”

As your chicks begin to mature, you will need a pen. It will serve as protection on all sides from predators on the ground and in the air. In a backyard setting, chickens need about two square feet of space per bird.

“Baby chicks don’t really need a large, elaborate pen. Some people use Tupperware boxes,” Jessica said. “Just make sure your chicks have a reliable heat source like a heat lamp or a floodlight that will keep their environment around 90 degrees. As for bed-ding, wood pine shavings or anything like that will work, as long as the bedding is not slick.

“You can spend as little as $100 on a decent pen or you can go elaborate,” she said. “You can make pens out of chicken wire purchased from the local co-op. Some people even use chain-link fence.

“Hens also need nest boxes. Four birds will nest per box so you don’t need many boxes. Just make sure the backs of the nesting boxes are made of wood so predators can’t get to the eggs or to the laying hens.”

A lot of people let their chickens out during the day then pen them up at night. The birds will automatically return to roost at night.

“As far as food is concerned, some people feed their chickens table scraps, but I recommend a pre-mixed feed from the co-op or local feed store so you will know what you are getting,” Jessica said. “Feeding chickens is cheap. A 50-pound bag of feed costs ap-proximately $15 and will feed a flock of 20 birds for about a week and a half. Make sure your feed is in a closed container. Spilled feed will attract mice.

“Chickens also need a water source,” she said. “You can find water drinkers or bell drinkers at the local co-op or any type of farm supply store. It is important to keep them clean of dirt or residue.”

In order to keep pens clean, she says some people simply move them around to different areas of the backyard. But regular mainte-nance is very important.

“You want to keep down the fly population, so clean the pens bimonthly or monthly,” she said.

“As far as health issues go, you might have some disease, but backyard chickens are generally not prone to illness. Just look for nasal discharge or birds that are beginning to look lethargic, which is usually a sign of some type of respiratory infection, and call your county Extension agent or us. You can vaccinate chicks when you buy them. This may cost a little extra, but will be cheaper and worth it in the long run.”

Jessica says hens will begin laying eggs when they are 20 to 25 weeks old. They will lay more over the spring and summer months and will begin to decrease lay in the winter months. If you have an artificial light source, chickens will lay year round. The hens will give maximum lay in the first and second years. After that, their production begins to decline.

“It is important to repopulate every two years if you are inter-ested in egg production,” she said. “If the chickens are pets, then there is the possibility they will live from eight to 10 years.

“A lot of people feel it is easy to raise chickens in the back-yard then they realize, wow, this is work,” she said. “So do your research. See what you are getting into. And feel free to contact the county Extension office or me by email or phone.”

Jessica’s phone number is (662) 325-9087. Her email address is [email protected]. You can also go to the Mississippi State University home page and look up Poultry Science to get contact info.

A new publication, P2768, “Managing the Backyard Flock,” can be found at http://msucares.com. For more information on rais-ing poultry, including 4-H poultry projects, visit http://msucares.com/poultry/consumer. (Photos with this article are courtesy of the MSU Poultry Science Department.)

Chickens are the cheapest and easiest form of livestock to grow this way, and they don’t take up much room.

A chicken coop behind a house within a city


2013 Women’s Leadership & Secretaries’ Conferences

A big crowd and excellent programs were enjoyed during the Women’s Leadership Conference in Jackson.

Food stylist Lee Ann Flemming addressed the Professional Assistants’ Luncheon held during the Secretaries’ Conference. Flemming, who was food stylist on the movie set of “The Help,” talked about her experiences with that movie.

The Silent Auction at the Women’s Leadership Conference was a great success.


2013 Women’s Leadership & Secretaries’ Conferences

Apron collector Carolyn Terry addressed the Secretaries’ Conference. Carolyn owns the Apron Museum at Pineslab Shop in Iuka.

During the Women’s Leadership Conference, state board member Carla Taylor, a graduate of the American Farm Bureau Federation Women’s Communications Boot Camp, talked about effective ways of telling agriculture’s story to the general public. Taylor is Prentiss County Farm Bureau Women’s Chair.

Farm Bureau Ambassador Molly Martin addressed the Women’s Leadership Conference. Earlier that day, she presented a program about agriculture at a local school.

Mississippi artist Kym Garraway created a work of art while talking about her Christian faith at the Secretaries’ Conference.


Baxter Black to Address Convention

Baxter Black will be the keynote speaker at the 92nd Annual Meeting of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation. Black is a cowboy poet, former large animal vet-erinarian and entertainer of the agricultural masses. He has, as he puts it, “a narrow following, but it’s deep!”

For over 25 years, Black has traveled the U.S. and Canada, scattering his wit and left-handed observations to folks look-ing for a bright spot in their day. When asked how many books he has written, he quotes the late Franklin Delano Roosevelt, “Altogether, too many.” Over one million books and audios sold, a weekly column, a weekly radio program, a weekly television program …there’s no place to hide if you live in the country!

Black has even poked his head above the horizon long enough to attract urban followers through National Public Radio, public television, the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Random House and USA Today.

Baxter says his life has been blessed.“I like what I do. I have a great home to

come home to, a couple of good horses, a

few cows, a good dog and friends every-where I go. I’m square with God, and I make a living entertaining people I care about.

“My audience is my inspiration,” he says. “Every cowboy, rancher, vet, farmer, feed salesman, ag teacher, cowman and rodeo hand has a story to tell, and they tell it to me. I Baxterize it and tell it back to ‘em! It doesn’t seem fair, does it?”

If you look around, you’re not more than one or two degrees of separation from his omni-cowboy presence. He’s kinda like a good pair of boots, a faithful cowdog or even the flu. Try him out; he’s contagious!

You can find him in Benson, Arizona, at www.baxterblack.com. He’s the real thing, because, as he says, “You can’t be what you aren’t!”

Baxter Black is sponsored in part by Priefert.

Smithsonian PartnershipThe Smithsonian Institution’s National

Museum of American History, in part-nership with the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), on March 19 launched an Agricultural Innovation and Heritage Ar-chive website. This idea was talked about last summer at the Council of Presidents meeting and again at the 2013 AFBF An-nual Meeting.

Farm Bureau members have the op-portunity to donate objects and stories into the national collection for a new “American Enterprise” exhibit opening in 2015. Farm Bureau is proud of this partnership and excited about our ability to play a role in shaping the exhibit. To visit the website,

type in Agricultural Innovation and Heri-tage Archive.

Farm Bureau NewsAFBF continues to see steady growth in

the subscription database for the FBNews e-newsletter, which now stands at 11,803 subscribers. That’s about 25 percent of the print circulation, so progress still needs to be made. Ad solicitations will go out in April, and revenue is expected to be gener-ated pretty quickly from ad placements in the e-newsletter.

The May 2013 issue was the last issue to be printed. FBNews has been printed continuously since 1921, so this is a mile-stone – one that AFBF needs to cross.

The Fourth Annual Mississippi Gourd Festival will be held Sept. 21-22 at the Smith County Ag Complex in Raleigh. Classes will be held both days, and the bonus early-bird classes will be held Friday afternoon, Sept. 20. Festival hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday.

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

Mississippi Gourd Festival

AFBF Notes


PAPERLESS BILLINGNOW AVAILABLE!

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

Going paperless is simple:• Log on to www.msfbins.com

• Click on the Paperless Billing icon g

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Gov. Phil Bryant signed into law SB2244, which includes sales by producers of honey bees or other products of apiaries in the list of agricultural products exempt from sales tax.


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2013 AFBF Photo Contest The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), in conjunction with the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, has announced the 2013 Farm Bureau Photo Contest. The contest is open to all state and county Farm Bureau members and staff above 18 years of age at the time of entry, including professional photographers. Photo submissions will be used to accurately portray today’s agriculture and safe practices of farmers and ranchers and for future publications and promotions by AFBF and related companies. Photo submissions must exemplify safe practices on the farm or ranch.

The contest will run May 20 through Oct. 15, and photos may be entered in three categories: Sharing the Story; Working on the Farm or Ranch; and My Scenic Farm or Ranch. Monetary prizes will be awarded to the top-three photos from each category. First-place winners will be awarded $100, second-place $75 and third-place $50. New to the contest this year are special $200 awards that may be given to photographers showcasing animal care, safety or the Farm Bureau Proud initiative in their contest submissions. Judges also will select a “Best in Show” winner for the most dynamic photo entered as well as

two runners-up. The Best in Show winner will receive $400, with first runner-up and second runner-up receiving $300 and $250, respectively. Contest winners will be announced Nov. 15 on Farm Bureau’s social media platforms and website. They will be celebrated at the AFBF Annual Convention in January 2014 in San Antonio. For more information on how to register and to view the contest rules and regulations, visit the 2013 Farm Bureau Photo Contest webpage. Questions about the contest may be sent via email to [email protected].


As a Farm Bureau member, you have access to many programs and benefits. To learn more, visit our website at www.msfb.org. Or see the Member Benefits information on pages 2 and 22.

A Publication of Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation • MSFB.org

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Existing Farm Bureau Bank vehicle loans are excluded from this offer. * Rates disclosed as Annual Percentage Rate (APR) and are based on automated payments (ACH) and acquiring one of the following collateral protection products: Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) or Major Mechanical Protection (MMP). Additional discounts do apply for purchasing more than one collateral protection product. Final APR may differ from the loan interest rate due to additional fees, such as a loan documentation fee, which may be applicable. For a $25,050 vehicle loan with a term of 36 months, a 45 day first payment date and a 2.99% APR, the monthly payment will be $727.76. The APR may increase during the term of the loan if automatic payments are discontinued for any reason. To qualify for the disclosed rate, customer must be a Farm Bureau member. Finance charges accrue from origination date of the loan. Rates and financing are limited to vehicle models 2003 and newer. All loans are subject to credit approval, verification, and collateral evaluation. Other rates and financing options are available. Non-member rates may be 1-3% higher than posted rates. Loans for RVs, motorcycles, trailers, ATVs, watercraft and commercial vehicles may be 0.50% higher. This offer is not available in all states and rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Banking services provided by Farm Bureau Bank, FSB.

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