september/october 2011

A Publication of Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation • MSFB.org

FARMM I S S I S S I P P I

COUNTRYSEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011

VOLUME 87 NO. 5

MississippiChildren’s

Museum

Farm Bureau and the

3MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY

CONTENTS

Features1122 THE COUNTRY STORE Fulmer’s General Store near NewAugusta harkens back to a simplertime when the country store served as the hub of a community. Come with us as we pay a visit.

1144 HIGH TUNNEL VEGGIESLee County produce farmer WilliamTucker is well-pleased with his newhigh tunnel greenhouse. Read his story inside.

2222 SOLVE THE MYSTERYWhich Tishomingo County town takesits name from the Chickasaw leaderwho signed the Treaty of Pontotoc?Read the clues and make your guess.

Departments44 President’s Message55 Eminent Domain Initiative

66--77 Commodity Updates 2200 Counsel’s Corner2244 Member Benefits

Spotlight

About the coverA donation from the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation supports ageducation efforts at the Mississippi Children's Museum in Jackson.Read all about this on pages 8-10.

“Our mission is to create an environmentin which Mississippi farmers, ranchers,and Farm Bureau members can have a

better life and make a better living.”

MMIISSSSIISSSSIIPPPPII FFAARRMM CCOOUUNNTTRRYYVolume 87 Number 5

September/October 2011

MMiissssiissssiippppii FFaarrmm CCoouunnttrryy(ISSN 1529-9600) magazine ispublished bimonthly by the

Mississippi Farm Bureau® Federation.

EDITORIAL and BUSINESS OFFICES6311 Ridgewood Road Jackson, MS 39211601-977-4153

EEDDIITTOORR - Glynda Phillips

AADDVVEERRTTIISSIINNGGNational – Paul Hurst – 1-800-397-8908Southeastern U.S. – Angela Thompson

1-800-227-8244 ext. 4242

FFAARRMM BBUURREEAAUU OOFFFFIICCEERRSSPresident – Randy Knight

Vice President – Donald GantVice President – Ted KendallVice President – Reggie Magee

Treasurer – Billy DavisCorporate Secretary – Ilene Sumrall

FFAARRMM BBUURREEAAUU DDIIRREECCTTOORRSSDr. Jim Perkins, IukaMike Graves, Ripley

B.A. Teague, New AlbanyBill Ryan Tabb, Cleveland

Coley L. Bailey, Jr., CoffeevilleNeal Huskison, PontotocJeffrey R. Tabb, WalthallBobby Moody, Louisville

Wanda Hill, IsolaJames Foy, Canton

William Jones, MeridianJames Brewer, ShubutaStanley Williams, Mt. OliveLonnie Fortner, Port GibsonMoody Davis, Brookhaven

Mike McCormick, Union ChurchD.P. O’Quinn, PurvisGerald Moore, Petal

Clifton Hicks, LeakesvilleKen Mallette, VancleaveBetty Mills, Winona

Noble Guedon, Natchez

HHOONNOORRAARRYY VVIICCEE--PPRREESSIIDDEENNTTSSLouis Breaux, David H. Bennett

Warren Oakley

Farm Bureau members receive this publication as part of their membership benefit. Periodicals postageis paid at Jackson, MS and at additional mailing offices.

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

Material in this publication is based on what the editorbelieves to be reliable information. Neither Mississippi FarmBureau Federation nor those individuals or organizationscontributing to the MFBF publication assume any liabilityfor errors that might go undetected in the publication —this includes statements in articles or advertisements thatcould lead to erroneous personal or business managementdecisions.

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

Design: Coopwood Communications, Inc.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBERMISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRY4

Farming is one of America’s most dangerous occupations. Ithink about this in the fall, when stress levels tend to runpretty high. Maybe we are experiencing equipment break-

downs, or we are short on employees and working against a dead-line, or maybe bad weather is threatening the crop that we are try-ing so hard to get out of the field. Whatever the reason, we are ina hurry, and we begin to take shortcuts and make mistakes.

One of the first programs Farm Bureau offered members backin the early 1950s was a Farm Safety Program designed to addresssafety issues related to the farm. Through the years, that programhas grown into what is now known as the Safety Program, whichfocuses not only on farm safety but home safety as well.

When you pay your membership dues each year, you gain accessto the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Safety Program, and itis one of the best in the nation. Here are some of the areas it ad-dresses:

● Farm Safety Survey● Certified CPR● First Aid and Home Safety● Fire Safety ● Chainsaw Safety● Machinery and Shop Safety● ATV Safety● Fatal Vision-Drinking and Driving● Texting and Driving

Three Farm Bureau safety specialists present these programs atschools, clubs and churches across the state. They are John Hub-bard (senior specialist) in North Mississippi, Trey Pope in CentralMississippi, and Chris Shivers in South Mississippi. You can sched-ule one of the programs by contacting your local Farm Bureau of-fice or by calling the state office at 1-800-227-8244, ext. 4242. Inorder to get the date you want, you should call to book your dateat least two months in advance.

Farm Bureau also teaches safety programs to young people at-tending our annual Youth Safety Seminar. This camp, which is de-signed for students who will be entering the 7th-12th grades, offersyouths an opportunity to not only learn about safety but enjoyrecreation and fellowship with new friends from across the state.For more information, contact your county Farm Bureau, or call thestate office.

You might not know this, but ATV Safety in the U.S. originatedin the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Safety Department.

Back in the 1980s, our ATV Safety Program was featured on“20/20,” “CBS Evening News with Dan Rather,” NBC and theCanadian Broadcasting Company.

Also in the early 1980s, we were instrumental in helping formthe ATV Safety Institute. The late Mike Blankenship, who servedas our Safety Department Director for 20 years, was one of the firstchief ATV instructors in the United States. We have produced threeATV videos that are used all over the U.S. and Canada.

Our safety program is without equal, and I want to encourageyou to take advantage of all that it has to offer, including relatedMember Benefits such as reduced prices on a booster seat for chil-dren and a car seat for infants. We also sell deer alerts, SMV de-cals and emblems, pepper shot self defense spray, leather workgloves and safety glasses. If you would like to purchase any of theseitems, contact your county Farm Bureau office, or call the state of-fice.

In conclusion, I will remind Mississippi farmers (myself in-cluded) to slow down this harvest season. Don’t take shortcuts. Theymight save you a little time at the moment, but in the long run, theycould cost you time, money and maybe even your life.

Be careful out there, and have a safe and bountiful harvest season.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Randy Knight, PresidentMississippi Farm Bureau Federation

An ExcellentSafety Program

This issue of our membership magazine featuresinformation concerning eminent domain reform, whichMississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) stronglysupports. Recently, Leland Speed filed suit to keep thepeople’s eminent domain initiative off the ballot, but theCircuit Court dismissed his case and ordered that theinitiative be placed on the ballot.Speed appealed, and the Mississippi Supreme Court

has put the case on a fast track for early decision.Unless the Supreme Court strikes down the initiative, itwill be included on the Nov. 8 ballot.All along, MFBF has said, “Let the people vote.”Please continue to support eminent domain reform

and save our land.

Eminent Domain: Let the People Speak

5MISSISSIPPI FARM COUNTRYSEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

Land Ownership is theAmerican Dream

A SPECIAL MESSAGE

Owning a piece of land is the American dream. It’s what brought ourforefathers to these shores hundreds of years ago, and it is what propelledpioneers westward in search of greener pastures. It is also one of the rea-sons why some 1.5 million immigrants arrive in our country every yearseeking a better life for themselves and their families.

When I step outdoors each morning and catch that first glimpse of thefarmland that has been in my family for generations, I count my bless-ings. I breathe in the early morning country air, listen to the sounds myfarm makes as it is waking up, and say a quiet prayer of thanks.

If you’ve ever owned land, you know how I feel. Land means free-dom. Land is an investment in the futures of our children and grand-children. Land is the single most essential natural resource in a farmer’sefforts to make a living every year. We must never take for granted thefreedom we have to own our own property.

All of this brings up another issue of importance to Farm Bureaumembers: eminent domain reform. Historically, eminent domain hasbeen defined as the government’s right to take land, through fair com-pensation, for public use. In more recent years, that definition has beenexpanded. Eminent domain now gives government the right to take pri-vate property not only for public use but for private development.

That opens up a whole new can of worms.When I remember how hard one Mississippi family fought to hold

onto their ancestral land when big industry wanted to build a plant

there, I feel embarrassed and ashamed. Hardworking citizens shouldnever feel forced to use their hard-earned dollars to fight that type of bat-tle. Defending eminent domain cases is expensive and beyond the meansof most citizens. People of limited resources are at greatest risk of be-coming victims.

But here’s something wonderful about America. We are not afraid tospeak up.

Last fall, Mississippians lifted their voices to say that they are tiredof the nonsense. Approximately 120,000 registered voters signed peti-tions calling for an initiative to be placed on the 2011 ballot that will re-form our eminent domain laws. The initiative prohibits a transfer of landtaken by eminent domain for a period of 10 years before turning it overto a private party.

Opponents will argue that reforming private property laws will sti-fle economic development, but that has not been the case with the 43states that have already passed strong eminent domain laws. If eminentdomain reform hasn’t hindered economic development efforts in these43 states, why on earth would it do so in Mississippi?

Will you join us? When you participate in the November general election, look for Ini-

tiative 31 and vote YES for strong private property laws. Let’s put an endto eminent domain abuse for good.

Hopefully, with God’s help and our own vigilance, those freedomsthat form the bedrock foundation upon which our great nation has pros-pered will remain strong well into the foreseeable future. And all of uswill be proud to call Mississippi our home for many more years to come.

Randy Knight, President, Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation

Tunica County farm leaderRichy Bibb testified in supportof Initiative 31, eminent domainreform, at a public forum inSouthaven hosted byMississippi Secretary of StateDelbert Hosemann. The forum,which looked at the threeinitiatives to be included on theNov. 8 ballot, was held in allareas of the state this summer.Bibb is a past president ofTunica County Farm Bureau.


Here are some interesting facts about Mississippi honey bees:

• A recent study by Cornell University determined that the annual economicvalue of honey bee pollination is $14.7 billion. In Mississippi, the annual pol-lination value is estimated at over $250 million, and may be close to $400 mil-lion. For agriculture, honey bees pollinate fruits, berries, vegetables, cotton,soybeans, peanuts and wild plants.

• Mississippi produces from 1.1 million to 1.5 million pounds of honey annu-ally with an economic wholesale value of $1 million. State beekeepers alsoproduce queens and packaged bees worth more than $750,000. Among states,Mississippi ranks from 23rd to 25th in honey production.

• Mississippi had the highest honey production per colony in the nation for theyears 2006-2008. Beekeepers harvested 98 pounds of honey in 2006, 105pounds in 2007, and 98 pounds in 2008.

• Mississippi beekeeping businesses are family-owned and operated. • Mississippi has between 20,000 and 30,000 colonies during the summer and

80,000 to 100,000 during the winter.• In 2008, the top five queen bee/package-producing counties were Wayne, Lee,

Stone, Hinds and Warren. The top five Mississippi counties in honey pro-duction were Jackson, Tallahatchie, Yazoo, Coahoma and Hinds.

• Colony health is something that is taken very seriously in Mississippi. Ourstate doesn’t have a problem with Colony Collapse Disorder like some otherareas of our nation. But we do have a problem with the hive beetle, which isdevastating to Southern beekeepers and honey houses. Our bees are inspectedfor hive beetles and fire ants when they are taken outside the state. Beekeep-ers say Mississippi needs more research in the area of the hive beetle.

This information is courtesy of Mississippi State University and the MississippiDepartment of Agriculture and Commerce.

COMMODITY UPDATE: APICULTURE

Interest in Beekeeping Growing

Interest in beekeeping has grown sig-nificantly over the last three years. Infact, the number of beekeepers has in-creased nationally by 10 to 15 percent,according to Kim Flottum, editor of BeeCulture magazine. People want to learnabout beekeeping as a hobby, or as a newbusiness, or they are interested in learn-ing the latest techniques to fight off pestsand diseases in their established beecolonies.

Since 2008, 1,700 people have at-tended beekeeping workshops sponsored by Mississippi StateUniversity, Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Sta-tion (MAFES), the Mississippi Department of Agriculture andCommerce (MDAC), and the Mississippi Beekeepers Associa-tion.

“This year, we had 175 attend our one-day course in Jackson,and after we hit 130 at our two-day workshop, we had to turn

some away because of space limitations,”said Harry Fulton, apiculture specialistwith the MDAC Bureau of Plant Industry.“The goal of these short courses is simplyto teach beginner beekeepers and hobbybeekeepers how to manage honey beecolonies to maximize honey productionand, in some cases, just keep them alive.

“Lots of people just want bees to polli-nate their gardens, but it takes proper man-agement to control pests and diseases,

which have just about destroyed the wild honey bee populationduring the last 20 years,” he said. “Without proper knowledge andmanagement, a beekeeper could become frustrated and discour-aged.”

For more information about short courses and other topics ofinterest, visit the Mississippi Beekeepers Association Web site at:http://mshoneybee.org/ and look under Beekeeping News.

Stan Yeagley, MFBF Apiculture Advisory Committee ChairTerry Norwood, MFBF Commodity Coordinator for Apiculture

Yeagley Norwood

As a rice farmer from the Delta, I amoften asked questions about the numer-ous aspects of the rice industry. Ques-tions about production, marketing andeven cooking come from every angle inmost conversations. Through this briefarticle, I thought I would list some of themore frequently asked questions andprovide answers for the benefit of ourreaders.

Is rice actually grown in the U.S.? If so,where?

Answer: Rice is a major commodity pro-duced worldwide and is the primary dietarystaple for over half of the world’s population.Yes, rice is indeed grown in the U.S., to thetune of about 20 billion pounds and about 2.7million acres. U.S. rice farmers produce lessthan 2 percent of the world’s annual rice sup-ply, but are the world’s fourth-largest rice ex-porter, sending roughly half of their annualrice crop to the export market. On the do-mestic consumption side, nearly 85 percent ofthe rice consumed in the U.S. is grown here.It is primarily raised in six states: Arkansas,Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Texas andCalifornia. Arkansas is the largest rice-pro-ducing state, typically with over 1.3 millionacres planted annually, or about half of theU.S. rice crop. Mississippi typically ranksfourth in rice production among the six rice-producing states and makes up about 7 per-cent of the U.S. crop. We grow about 200,000acres or over 1.3 billion pounds of rice everyyear. In Mississippi, rice is grown mostly inthe Delta counties of Bolivar, Sunflower,

Washington, Tunica, Leflore, Tallahatchie andQuitman.

What is the difference between long-,medium-, and short-grain rice?

Answer: Long-grain rice has a long, slen-der kernel, three to four times longer than itswidth. Cooked grains are separate, light andfluffy. It is perfect for pilafs, stir-fry andSouthern favorites like jambalaya andgumbo. Almost all of the rice grown in theU.S. is long-grain rice. Medium- and short-grain rice have a shorter, wider kernel.Cooked grains are more moist and tender, andhave a greater tendency to cling together.Short- and medium-grain rice are goodchoices for dishes that have a creamier char-acteristic, such as risotto and rice puddings,as well as sushi and other Asian dishes.

So what is the difference between whiterice and brown rice?

Answer: White rice has the outer husk re-moved and the layer of bran milled away un-til the grain is white. Brown rice has the outerhusk removed but still retains the bran layers,

which are very high in minerals and vitamins,especially the B-complex group. Because ofthe oil in the bran layer, brown rice has a lim-ited shelf life of about six months. Refrigera-tor or freezer storage is recommended forlonger shelf life. Milled rice – white, par-boiled or pre-cooked – will keep almost in-definitely on the pantry shelf.

How much rice does the average Ameri-can eat annually?

Answer: Americans consume about 26pounds of rice per year, compared to about125-140 pounds annually for most consumersin Asian countries.

Are there other uses for rice?Answer: Yes, rice is used in baby food,

breakfast cereals, snacks, frozen foods, sauces,and even beer. You may be surprised to learnthat the Anheuser-Busch Company is thelargest buyer of rice in the United States usedin the production of beer.

What is “wild rice?” Answer: Wild rice, contrary to the name, is

not actually a member of the rice family, al-though it is a grain-producing grass. Native toNorth America, wild rice can still be foundgrowing wild in certain parts of the country.Most of the “wild rice” you see in stores is ac-tually a distant cousin to real wild rice that iscommercially grown and harvested, just asother rice.

In summary, I hope these brief points havebeen educational for our readers. As we cel-ebrate National Rice Month in September,please support Mississippi rice farmers bybuying rice and adding this healthy, afford-able grain to meals for your family.


Gary FioranelliJustin Ferguson

Gary Fioranelli, MFBF Rice Advisory Committee ChairJustin Ferguson, MFBF Commodity Coordinator for Rice

COMMODITY UPDATE: RICE

Rice - Frequently Asked Questions

Delta Rice Promotions, Inc. will host the 21st Annual Rice Tast-ing Luncheon in Cleveland on Sept. 16, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.,at Delta State University’s Walter Sillers Coliseum. Over 300 ricedishes, prepared by area residents and restaurants, will be featured.Goody bags and door prizes will be given away and exhibits willbe on display.

This year’s luncheon will feature a rice cook-off between threeDelta chefs, Dave Crews, Walt Norwood and David Wright, from

10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tickets are $3 and may be purchased at county Extension of-

fices throughout the Delta, as well as local Farm Bureau offices,and will be available for purchase at the door. Please call 662-843-8371 for more information.

Delta Rice Promotions, Inc. is a group of individuals repre-senting farmers, agri-businesses, farm organizations, and govern-ment agencies.

Annual Rice Tasting Luncheon

&

CChildren can’t believe their eyes when they step inside the Mis-sissippi Children’s Museum in Jackson. Filled with all types of col-orful interactive learning exhibits that are designed to keep kids hap-pily occupied for hours, this great new museum truly lives up to itsmotto as a “destination for imagination and adventure.”

Taking visitors on a journey of learning through the museum, witha very special emphasis on agriculture, is Program Associate KelseyBarnett, pictured at left with visitors to the “Big Red Barn.” Kelseybenefits from a donation from the Mississippi Farm Bureau Feder-ation that supports classroom educational material about agricultureand helps fund a staff-level position devoted to coordinating agri-cultural exhibits and hosting educational seminars and activities forschool groups.

In simple terms, Kelsey spends a lot of time planning and im-plementing fun agricultural activities in coordination with the mu-seum’s different galleries. She uses materials from the MississippiFarm Bureau Federation Ag in the Classroom program to supplementher efforts.

Here are the five galleries and some of their ag-related exhibitsand/or events:

WWoorrlldd aatt WWoorrkkThis gallery focuses on science and technology, offering exhibitsabout forestry, energy and construction. In the area of agriculture,kids learn about the different forestry vocations and species of treesin our state. Kids make leaves by placing paper over metal leaves andrubbing a crayon over the paper. They can also visit the “Big RedBarn,” a great agricultural exhibit. At the barn, children can drive acombine, listen to the sounds of farm animals, and even try milkinga fake cow.

Farm Bureau TheMississippi Children’s MuseumBy Glynda Phillips


EExxpprreessss YYoouurrsseellffThis gallery features self-expression in the form of painting,singing, dancing, and musical instruments. One past agri-cultural craft had kids making potato stamps to learn aboutpotatoes and how they are grown. Children have also madeseed collages to learn about planting and gardening.

EExxpplloorriinngg MMiissssiissssiippppiiThis gallery features a 5,000-square-foot map of Mississippithat kids can climb or walk all over. In the area of agricul-ture, children can learn about the major crops grown in ourstate. The gallery also offers a shrimp boat and a farm-raisedcatfish pond, where children can “fish” for catfish thenweigh them to see if they weigh enough to sell.

WWiilldd AAbboouutt RReeaaddiinnggThis gallery encourages reading, storytelling and writing. It featuresa “Between the Lions” exhibit that is based on the award-winningPBS children’s show that is produced in part by Mississippi PublicBroadcasting. In the area of agriculture, one past program taughtchildren about vowels by relating them to farm animal sounds andother noises on a farm.

HHeeaalltthhyy FFuunnThis gallery encourages exercise, cooking and healthy eating habits.To teach kids about our state’s agricultural commodities, Kelsey de-vised a competitive relay race in which kids delivered the differentfoods needed to make an accurate food pyramid. In this gallery, kidscan also visit a farmers market with its wooden bins filled with plas-tic fruits and vegetables. When they scan a particular fruit or veg-etable, a screen tells them all about it.

Mississippi Children’s Museum

Kayla Young, left, is the daughter

of Keith and CamilleYoung; Ashlyn Thompson

is the daughter of Larry andAngela Thompson, all ofMadison County.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER10

Every Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., special programmingis held to emphasize the different galleries in the museum.Each weekday, storytime is held at 1 p.m. On Wednesdays at 3p.m., anyone at the museum can participate in a “Puppet PlayWorkshop,” where Kelsey helps you make puppets and en-courages puppet shows.

Every Friday at 2:30 p.m., Kelsey coordinates the Farm Bu-reau Spotlight program. The Farm Bureau Spotlight is held ina different gallery each week in order to emphasize the broad-ness of our state’s agricultural industry. Many times, the FarmBureau Spotlight will coincide with the “Letter of the Week” or

a particular theme. On a recent Friday, in the World of Workgallery, kids learned about careers in agriculture from actualfarm kids.

“I like to get as creative as possible,” she said. “I grew uparound the daycare that my mother directs. I have worked indaycares, taught dance, and directed summer camps for years,so I have a great background in working creatively with chil-dren.”

Kelsey is a graduate of Belhaven University with a degreein Arts Administration. Her background is art, music and dance.

In the months since the museum opened in December 2010,Kelsey says over 100,000 people have visited from all over theU.S. That is exciting news, not only for the Mississippi Chil-dren’s Museum but for Farm Bureau and state agriculture.

“Our museum is a fun experience, but we are also seriousabout emphasizing the subjects that kids learn about in school,”she said. “I enjoy talking to parents about what they can do athome to supplement or help with homework. I also very muchenjoy teaching young people about Farm Bureau and Missis-sippi agriculture.”

Kelsey very concisely sums it up this way: “The MississippiChildren’s Museum is a great resource and an education toboth children and parents. It is interactive learning at its best.”

The Mississippi Children’s Museum is located at 2145 High-land Drive just off Lakeland Drive near the Natural Science Mu-seum. Admission is $8 per person, and the hours are Tuesday-Saturday, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, from 1 p.m.-6 p.m.

Steering thecombine at the“Big Red Barn.”

Visiting thefarm-raisedcatfish pond.


Ag in theClassroom

The Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation(MFBF) Ag in the Classroom (AITC) Program tar-gets all grades through available resources, and thecurriculum program focuses on grades K-12.Vol-unteers working with the MFBF Women’s Programdistribute AITC materials to schools across thestate. Volunteers work to incorporate ag informationinto a wide variety of school courses and activities.

Agriculture is not a separate subject that needs tobe sandwiched into an already-crowded curricu-lum. Rather, it is a multidisciplinary field that canbe used to teach core subjects such as science,mathematics, social studies, geography, economics,health and nutrition, history, language arts, and vi-sual arts.

The Ag in the Classroom Program can aid teach-ers who are looking for new methods, materialsand activities to improve their classroom instructionor to make existing courses more interesting. Thisprogram provides an exciting new set of experi-ences for students.

For more information, contact Women’s Pro-gram/AITC Coordinator Clara Bilbo at 1-800-227-8244, ext. 4245.


Avisit to Fulmer’s General Store in New Augusta is like step-ping back to a simpler time when a country store served asthe hub of a rural community, providing the necessities of

farm life and a place where folks could visit, catch up on news, andeven post their mail.

Although Fulmer’s doesn’t offer a post office, you can purchasegroceries, farm supplies and equipment, or browse through hand-made Amish crafts, or simply visit neighbors over a cup of coffeeand a slice of pie. If you time it just right, you can even have lunch.

After lunch, you can sit out on the porch and watch the chick-ens scatter across the yard, or you can wander the grounds of this40-acre working farm nestled beneath the shaded, spaciousbranches of a 30-acre pecan orchard.

A Simpler LifestyleFulmer’s General Store is the realization of a dream

for Ken and Jeanette Fulmer and son Carey. Amidst thehustle and bustle of modern-day life, the store reflectsthe family’s strong traditional values and offers a quietrespite.

“People today are hungry for a simpler way of life,”Jeanette said. “They also want to be self-sufficient,especially with the economy the way it is right now.There is a movement in this country to buy food inbulk, to home school children, and to purchase fromfarmers markets.”

Fulmer’s General Store carries hard-to-find itemsthat can be purchased in bulk, including homemadegranola, natural, preservative-free grains and flours,pickled eggs, dried fruits and vegetables, beans, jellies,honey, and canned goods. You will find fresh Coun-try Girls Creamery dairy products, red rind cheese,homemade butter, old-timey pots and pans, hand-made crafts, and vine-ripened vegetables grown nat-urally right on the farm. Pecans are, quite naturally,

also sold here. The store carries horse-drawn equipment like plows, rakes and

buggies, because the Fulmers are Pioneer Equipment, Inc. dealers.The Fulmers and their employees bake pies, cookies, cakes,

breads and cinnamon rolls six days a week, and their loyal cus-tomers gobble them up. The store also serves soups, salads, sand-wiches and hot lunches Monday through Saturday. The tomato pieis a top-seller. The homemade chicken salad is also a favorite, es-pecially when served with fresh-baked bread

Out on the grounds, antique log houses and a corn crib sit be-neath the branches of the pecan trees. The Fulmers dismantled andmoved the buildings from other locations to lovingly reassemblethem here. The houses are furnished with old-timey items like awood stove, a loom, a wringer washer, a butter churn, a hooked rug,and an iron bed.

Fulmer’s General Store:Step Back in Time

By Glynda Phillips


An herb garden is nestled nearby.Elsewhere on the farm, you will find farmers hard at work, us-

ing big draft horses to pull equipment. On the day of my visit,Carey, a Mississippi State University graduate, demonstrated howhay is raked using draft horses and a rake. He also took me on a tourof the 6-acre vegetable garden that is his pride and joy. The veg-etables are sold in the store and also at farmers markets in Hatties-burg and Laurel.

The farm also boasts dairy goats and one small Jersey cow.

Festival, Field DaysThe Fulmers hold canning classes two nights a month. In addition, each year during the last week in September, they

host a popular 3-day Pecan Festival, where visitors can enjoy old-time music, craft-making demonstrations, arts and crafts booths,food, and just plain fun.

The farm also regularly hosts field days for school children,

where kids can observe farmers milking cows, making soap, dig-ging potatoes, and picking fresh broccoli and cabbage. Kids can alsolook at the farm animals and ride in a horse-drawn buggy.

“The children just love it,” Jeanette said. “They run around andhave fun, and when they board the bus, they fall asleep in 30 sec-onds they are so exhausted.”

Want to Visit?To visit Fulmer’s General Store, simply take 98 East off I-59

South out of Hattiesburg. When you reach New Augusta, stay on98 East and look for the huge Fulmer’s General Store sign on theleft side of the highway. Turn left and go about five miles out intothe country. The store is on the left.

You may call Jeanette at 601-964-8222, or you may visit the Ful-mer’s General Store Facebook page.

Fulmer’s General Store:


William Tucker can sure grow delicioustomatoes … and peas, beans, squash,cantaloupe, watermelon, bell pep-

pers, onions, potatoes and, well, you name it.In the fall, he also grows mustard and turnipgreens.

This longtime Lee County Farm Bureaumember is well known in his area of the statefor quality produce. As a certified Master Gar-dener, he has worked closely with Extension ex-perts and attended numerous vegetable showsthrough the years to ensure that he is doing all hecan do to grow the very best produce possible.

Last October, he installed a 30-foot by 72-foot hightunnel greenhouse. He says he is well pleased with the deci-sion. Here is why.

High Tunnel The high tunnel can benefit large farmers, but it is the small-

acreage farmer, the one who sells directly to market, who stands toreap the most from this unique piece of farming equipment.

The high tunnel is an arched metal structure covered in plasticthat is placed over plants that are grown in the ground. It is designedto help farmers control the environment and extend the number ofweeks crops can be grown in the fall and spring.

Here’s how it works:High tunnel crops are grown through plastic mulch using drip ir-

rigation, so they are kept well-hydratedwhen the weather turns dry and hot. Inthe cooler months, farmers can raisethe plastic sides of the high tunnelduring the day for ventilation thenlower them in the afternoon to re-tain solar heat at night.

The plastic covering on the hightunnel serves to protect plants from

high winds, too much sun, cold snaps,and too much rain. The plastic can also

help reduce insect pressure and diseases.Researchers are studying how the climate of

a high tunnel interacts with insects and diseasesin the South. The high tunnel is wide enough and high

enough to drive a tractor or other piece of equipment through.

See For YourselfI had heard that Tucker’s tomatoes were doing well under his high

tunnel so I visited his farm near Shannon on a recent hot, dry Junemorning. The tomatoes inside the high tunnel were tall, strong andhealthy. They were producing lots of rich, red fruit. The tomatoplants outside the high tunnel looked good but not as good as thesheltered plants. Likewise, his cut flowers (zinnias and sunflowers)and his squash, cucumbers and bell peppers were producing verywell inside the structure.

“I am averaging about 300 to 400 pounds of tomatoes per week

BenefitsProduce FarmerHigh Tunnel

By Glynda Phillips

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

this season in my high tunnel,” said Tucker, who also grows threeacres of vegetables outside the greenhouse.

During my visit, Tucker’s cell phone rang constantly. Customerswere calling to find out when they could come by and purchasehomegrown vegetables, especially tomatoes.

Tucker’s wife Patty and their younger daughter Emily help himharvest the produce and sell it on the farm and at the Tupelo Farm-ers Market, where Tucker has sold his vegetables every Tuesday,Thursday and Saturday for the past 10 years.

His three grandchildren help out, too, when they visit. Grand-son William Tucker (Will), 10, and granddaughters Amber, 12, andKayla, 8, are the children of Tucker’s oldest daughter CamilleScales Young and her husband Keith. Camille worked in the Mis-sissippi Farm Bureau Federation Public Policy Department formany years.

Future PlansTucker comes out early in the morning and late in the evening

to tend to his vegetables and flowers. “I just love this,” he said. “And I enjoy seeing people’s faces

when they purchase my vegetables. The best part is when they comeback and compliment me. It is so satisfying.”

As far as future plans are concerned, Tucker says he will ex-periment with early tomato varieties next season. In addition, hewon’t grow cucumbers and squash in the high tunnel because hewants to free up some room. This season, he grew five rows oftomatoes with 38 to 48 plants per row. He says he will probably

grow fewer plants next season in order to free up even more space. “The high tunnel is great for small vegetable farmers,” he said

in conclusion. “It really helps. And farmers markets are a wonder-ful place for us to sell our produce and for consumers to buy high-quality vegetables at a reasonable price.”

With the high tunnel, Tucker hopes his family and customers willhave tomatoes for Thanksgiving and even Christmas.

“That would be nice,” he said with a smile.You may call William Tucker at 662-322-4124.

Tucker applied for his high tunnel through a USDA-NRCS pilotprogram. USDA paid a percentage of the cost of the structure, andTucker paid the rest. He was also responsible for getting someoneto install it. After it was built, USDA experts came out to inspect itto make sure that it had been constructed properly.

15

Gourds are an easy plant to grow, and the fruit can be crafted intodecorative and useful items. Gourd grower extraordinaire PaulGrubbs of Rankin County says he’s not very good at crafting

gourds, but he sure does enjoy growing them.“I like nothing better than to come down here to the farm after work

and walk my eight to nine acres of gourds and just look at them,” saidthe longtime Rankin County Farm Bureau member. “After I’m fin-ished, I do my chores, and when I’m ready to go home, I look at thegourds again.”

Grubbs grows 12 varieties of gourds. Some of them include Luffas,Kettles, Clubs, Marankas, Tobacco Boxes, African Warties, Bottle-necks, Martins and Bushel Baskets. His most popular gourd is the Mar-tin gourd.

He’s tried growing smaller gourds like the Egg Gourd, but he sayshe doesn’t enjoy them as much. You must also grow and sell more ofthe smaller gourds to make any money.

Grubbs sells his large unfinished gourds for $2 to $7 each, whichhe says is about half what you would expect to pay in the more popu-lar gourd-growing states. He says California is the largest producer ofgourds and yields some really big ones.

One of the biggest gourds Grubbs has ever seen was 36 inches incircumference and was a Bushel Basket gourd grown in Prentiss.

Growing GourdsIf you’d like to try growing gourds, Grubbs says to plant them just

as soon after the last frost as you feel comfortable and sow about fourseeds per hill. He says gourd seeds have a very high germination rate.

When the plants come up, eliminate all but the strongest two per hill,and they will produce well. In a good year, Grubbs can get 12 to 15gourds per plant. It takes about 120 days from the time the gourds comeup until the fruit matures.

“You plant them like watermelon,” he said. “They are in the squashfamily, and there are some varieties you can eat, but they have to bereally young and tender. Most gourds are only suitable for makingthings like birdhouses, utensils, musical instruments and decoration.”

Harvesting gourds is labor intensive since you must do so by hand,but gourds are easy to dry. You separate them according to variety and

let them dry on pallets. They need space aroundthem so the air can get to them, and they dry bet-ter outdoors, but you can also dry them in-doors if you’d like.

Cleaning gourds requires work. Youneed a stainless steel scrubber, dish-washing soap, plenty of water, andlots of elbow grease.

Getting StartedGrubbs says he began growing

gourds seven or eight years ago. “My wife and I attended the Chim-

neyville Crafts Show in Jackson, and weran across a gourd booth that belongedto Mike and Michelle Thompson.We stopped and talked to them,and that’s when I began to getreally interested in this. Thegourds that the Thompsonscraft are really beautiful.”

Another mentor has beenHelen Looman of Yazoo City.Grubbs says her work with geo-metric designs made with wood-burning tools approaches a true artform. Martha Ertle of Bentonia is alsoa mentor. Martha weaves intricate designsin gourds using waxed thread and a needle. Another men-tor is Ken McPhail, who carves 3-dimensional oak trees in gourds us-ing a dremel. Grubbs describes his work as incredible.

Each year, Paul Grubbs hosts a gourd festival on his farm near Shiv-ers. It is generally held the second Saturday in May. If you are inter-ested in attending the festival or learning more about gourds, you arewelcome to call Grubbs at 601-260-4230.

Also, make plans to attend the Mississippi Gourd Festival in Raleighon Sept. 17-18.

GrowingBy Glynda Phillips Gourds

Gourdcrafting is a hobby that Mike and Michelle Thompson ofThompson Farms in Raleigh say they “eased into” in 1998 af-ter planting their first patch of martin gourds. They needed to

find something to do with all of the gourds they had grown. The Thompsons sold some of the gourds to folks for birdhouses and

crafting, but Michelle was interested in learning to paint and woodburngourds. The woodburning aspect also piqued Mike’s interest. Michellechecked out a library book, “The Complete Book of Gourd Craft,” byGinger Summit and Jim Widess, and the Thompsons were soonhooked. Mike’s first major project was cutting and woodburning agourd basket similar to the one on the book’s cover.

Michelle’s first gourdcrafting class was taught by Jana Manning andsponsored by the Smith County Extension Service in 1999. TheThompsons have since taken classes at the Alabama Gourd Show inCullman, Alabama, the Gourd Artists Gathering in Cherokee, NorthCarolina, and the Gourd Gracious Festival in Collinsville, Mississippi.They have taught classes at the latter two events, at the MississippiCraft Center in Ridgeland and in Raleigh.

In the fall of 1999, Mike and Michelle participated in the RaleighHeritage Festival, where they sold their homegrown pumpkins andgourds, some of which they had painted and woodburned. In 2001,they attended their first gourd show – the Alabama Gourd Show inCullman.

“It was fantastic,” Michelle said. “I took a class and learned howto coil pine needles onto the rim of a gourd. To begin, I picked out

a tiny jigsaw to cut the top off my gourd to make a bowl. I fell inlove with that little saw.”

Michelle got Mike to come look at the saw and, afterwards,they began searching for one to buy. They found their first

Craftsman MiniTool set at Sears in Jackson, and it in-cluded the mini jigsaw, a router and a sander.

Mike’s favorite part of the crafting is cutting thegourds. He does the chip carving, and they bothwoodburn. Michelle loves to use the powercarver. One of her favorite images for engravingis the dragonfly. She has incorporated her loveof paper crafting into her gourdcrafting, andshe decoupages handwritten, stamped and cutimages to the interior or exterior of gourd bowls.Michelle also enjoys making unique jewelryfrom gourds and pieces of gourds.

“Gourds are versatile and exhibit many of thequalities found in wood,” Mike said. “We enjoy

making functional and decorative items from them,

CCrraaffttiinnggGGoouurrddss

By Glynda Phillips

18

such as dippers, birdhouses, baskets, jewelryand bowls.”

The Thompsons use transparent stains, dyesand inks on the exterior of gourds. They espe-cially like the rich colors produced by leatherdyes.

“Many people comment on the natural ap-pearance of our gourds. You can still see thegourd – it is not overdone,” Michelle said.“The transformation from a plain ol’ dirtygourd to a beautifully handcrafted gourd is notan easy one. Part of the transformation is achore and part is fun – just like life!”

A notable accomplishment for Michelle wascarving the Secretary of State seal onto a gourdfor Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann. Thework turned out great and is on display in hisoffice.

In October of 2002, Julia Daily, who at thetime was market manager of the Greater Bel-haven Market and who is currently the Execu-tive Director of the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mis-sissippi, invited the Thompsons to participate inthe Belhaven Market.

“We met so many nice people and enjoyedgoing,” Michelle said. “We became like a bigfamily. Julia encouraged us in our gourd craft-ing and to apply for the guild.”

Rankin County woodcarver and guild mem-ber, George Berry of Pearl, put a guild appli-cation in their hands and told them to get busy.

“After nudges and encouragement from somany people throughout the years, we finallydecided to ‘get busy’ and apply,” said Michelle.

After a short wait, the Thompsons were ac-cepted as exhibiting members of the Crafts-men’s Guild of Mississippi. They are alsomembers of the American Gourd Society andthe Mississippi Gourd Society.

Mike and Michelle were instrumental in or-ganizing the first annual Mississippi GourdFestival, sponsored by the Mississippi GourdSociety and held at the Smith County Ag Com-plex in Raleigh last September.

“Last year, 500 to 600 people attended, and

we had 15 classes that were filled with about100 students,” Mike said. “We are looking foran even bigger crowd this year because we gotreally good feedback about last year’s festi-val.”

The second annual Mississippi Gourd Fes-tival is scheduled for Sept. 17-18 at the same lo-cation, with early-bird classes on Friday, Sept.16. It’s indoors with air conditioning. Admis-sion is $2 and free for children 12 and under.Mike is the vendor chair and Michelle is theshow chair. Currently, 15 gourdcrafting classesare offered.

Check out the Facebook page for the Mis-sissippi Gourd Society and visit these Web sitesfor more festival information: www.mississip-pigourdsociety.org and http://gourdgracious.homestead.com/gourdfestival.html.

Growing and crafting gourds has become afull-time business for Mike and MichelleThompson. They sell their work primarily atarts and crafts shows within the state and at theMississippi Craft Center in Ridgeland. Youmay phone them at 601-782-9444 or 601-374-0245 or email them at [email protected].

The Thompsons are members of the SmithCounty Farm Bureau.

Gourds


At a statewide meeting on June 21, newagreements were introduced and explained to avery large crowd of about 450 people, all 82counties being represented. Sparkman Audito-rium at the Ag Museum was filled to capacity.

For more than a year, Mississippi Farm Bu-reau Federation (MFBF) has held meetings ofa committee to make recommendations formodernized versions of the county ServiceAgreement between the county Farm Bureausand Farm Bureau insurance companies and theUniform Cooperative Agreement betweenMFBF and the county Farm Bureaus. This lat-

ter agreement had not been substantiallychanged in over 30 years.

This committee was made up of people rep-resenting every aspect of Farm Bureau opera-tions. After much hard work and debate, thecommittee unanimously recommended theadoption of two new agreements: the CountyServices and Facilities Agreement and the Uni-form Membership and Cooperative Agreement.While new, both of these agreements maintainthe basic relationships and the cooperative na-ture of MFBF, county Farm Bureaus, and theseveral Farm Bureau insurance companies op-erating from the offices of county Farm Bu-reaus. Another important purpose of theseagreements was to protect and preserve theFarm Bureau’s tax-exempt status.

These agreements had been approved by

the MFBF Board of Directors and the boards ofdirectors of the Farm Bureau life, casualty andproperty insurance companies. They were pre-viewed at a November 2010 video conference,but the attendance at the statewide meeting farexceeded the preview.

Under the leadership of MFBF President

Randy Knight, much planning was done togive county Farm Bureaus extensive informa-tion about these new agreements, and a set ofsuggested guidelines was offered to assist in theimplementation of the County Services and Fa-cilities Agreement.

A panel consisting of persons from every as-pect of Farm Bureau operations presented theprogram. Panelists included Randy Knight,Sam Scott, Bert Tingle, Jack Williams, MikeBridwell, Michael Aguzzi, Tom McAlpin, andTomer Inbar, an attorney from New York whospecializes in nonprofit and tax exemption fora wide range of clients.

Both agreements were explained from allpoints of view in two sessions that were dividedby a hearty meal. Also, the suggested guidelineswere presented and discussed in the afternoon

session. The floor was opened for questions,and a range of topics was discussed and allquestions were answered. Presentations alsoincluded how to avoid IRS audits and how torespond to one.

The valuable relationship between countyFarm Bureaus and agency managers and agentswas clarified and, hopefully, simplified. The en-tire meeting was on a very positive note and al-lowed for a healthy dialogue, as well as visit-ing with other Farm Bureau friends. Emphasiswas placed on the continued, improved anddocumented promotion of agriculture, which iswhat allows us to be tax-exempt. Additionalways to do this are being studied and programswill be announced throughout this year.

A special guest was Ms. Ellen Steen, theAmerican Farm Bureau General Counsel whohas family and property in Mississippi. In herremarks, she emphasized not only a statewidebut also national importance of the subjectspresented and noted that Mississippi was inthe forefront in these matters.

President Knight closed the meeting andalso reminded everyone of the importance ofgetting Initiative No. 31 for eminent domain re-form passed at the Nov. 8, 2011, general elec-tion.

As General Counsel, I believe that thesenew agreements are vital to the continued suc-cess of Farm Bureau in Mississippi and areimportant to preserve our tax-exempt status. Itrust they will be timely implemented by countyFarm Bureau boards of directors. The Federa-tion and insurance companies are ready to signthem and move forward.

The agreements also remind us that our cen-tury-old roots and heritage are the promotion ofagriculture and rural life, which is perhapsmore important today than ever before.

We are looking forward and moving ahead.

Sam E. Scott is General Counsel for MississippiFarm Bureau Federation and practices law in thelaw firm of Samuel E. Scott, PLLC, in Jackson. Theforegoing information is general in nature and is notintended as nor should be considered specific legaladvice, nor to be considered as MFBF’s position oropinion.

Farm BureauLooks Ahead

COUNSEL’S CORNER

By Sam E. Scott, MFBF General Counsel

Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation President Randy Knight addresses the large crowd gathered atthe Ag Museum in Jackson.


Adams County Farm BureauThursday, Nov. 10, at 9 a.m.

Farm Bureau OfficeNatchez

Alcorn County Farm BureauTuesday, Sept. 20, at 6:30 p.m.

County Extension OfficeBehind the Crossroads Arena

CorinthMeal will be provided.

Bring your favorite dessert.

Amite County Farm BureauThursday, Oct. 13, at 6:30 p.m.

Farm Bureau OfficeLiberty

Attala County Farm BureauThursday, Nov. 10, at 5:30 p.m.

County Extension OfficeKosciusko

The traditional stew will be served.

Chickasaw County Farm Bureau

Thursday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m.Farm Bureau Office

Houston

Choctaw County Farm BureauTuesday, Oct. 18, at 6 p.m.

Choctaw CountyCommunity Center

Ackerman

Claiborne County Farm BureauThursday, Sept. 22, at 1 p.m.

Farm Bureau OfficePort Gibson

Clarke County Farm BureauThursday, Oct. 20, at 6:30 p.m.

Multipurpose BuildingQuitman

RSVP at 601-776-6977

Clay County Farm BureauMonday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m.

Farm Bureau OfficeWest Point

Copiah County Farm BureauMonday, Sept. 26, at 6 p.m.

Farm Bureau OfficeHazlehurst

Covington County Farm BureauThursday, Sept. 15, at 7 p.m.Collins Multipurpose Building

Forrest County Farm BureauTuesday, Sept. 13, at 6 p.m.

MSU Extension Office952 Sullivan Road

Hattiesburg

George County Farm BureauMonday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m.

Farm Bureau OfficeLucedale

Hancock County Farm BureauSaturday, Sept. 24, at 4 p.m.

Farm Bureau OfficeKiln

Harrison County Farm BureauSaturday, Oct. 1, at 6 p.m.

BelAire ElementarySchool Cafeteria

Klein RdGulfport

Hinds County Farm BureauMonday, Sept. 26, at 1 p.m.

Farm Bureau OfficeRaymond

Itawamba County Farm BureauTuesday, Sept. 20, at 6:30 p.m.Jamie Whitten Center, FultonAll members are asked to bring

a covered dish.

Jackson County Farm BureauSaturday, Sept. 24, at 4 p.m.East Central Community Center

Highway 614Hurley

Jeff Davis County Farm BureauTuesday, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m.

Farm Bureau OfficePrentiss

Jones County Farm BureauTuesday, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m.

Farm Bureau OfficeLaurel

Kemper County Farm BureauMonday, Sept. 26, at 6 p.m.

County Farmers Market BuildingDeKalb

Lamar County Farm BureauMonday, Sept. 19, at 6 p.m.

Okahola School Road Voting Precinct

Purvis

Lauderdale County Farm BureauTuesday, Oct. 11, at 6 p.m.

Farm Bureau OfficeMeridian

Lawrence County Farm BureauTuesday, Nov. 8, at 8 a.m.

Farm Bureau OfficeMonticello

Leflore County Farm BureauThursday, Nov. 3, at 6:30 p.m.

Crystal GrillGreenwood

Lincoln County Farm BureauTuesday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m.

Farm Bureau OfficeBrookhaven

Madison County Farm BureauMonday, Sept. 12, at 10 a.m.

Farm Bureau OfficeCanton

Marion County Farm BureauThursday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m.Columbia Exposition Center150 Industrial Park Road

Columbia

Monroe County Farm BureauTuesday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m.

Farm Bureau OfficeAberdeen

Montgomery CountyFarm Bureau

Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 6:30 p.m.Farm Bureau Office

Winona

Neshoba County Farm BureauTuesday, Oct. 11, at 6:30 p.m.Neshoba County Coliseum

Philadelphia

Newton County Farm BureauThursday, Oct. 27, at 6:30 p.m.Coastal Plain Experiment Station

51 Coastal Plain RoadNewton

Noxubee County Farm BureauThursday, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m.Noxubee County Civic Center

Macon

Panola County Farm BureauMonday, Sept. 19, at 6:30 p.m.Panola County Extension Bldg.RSVP by Sept. 9 @662-563-5688Meal: $5 per adult & $3 per child

Batesville

Pearl River County Farm BureauSaturday, Oct. 1, at 11 a.m.

First Baptist Church Life Center203 South Main Street

Poplarville

Pontotoc County Farm BureauThursday, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m.Pontotoc Community HousePlease bring a covered dish.

Meat, bread and drinks provided.

Quitman County Farm BureauTuesday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m.Marks Community House

Marks

Rankin County Farm BureauMonday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m.

Farm Bureau OfficeRefreshments will be served.

Brandon

Scott County Farm BureauThursday, Sept. 8, at 6:30 p.m.

Roosevelt State Park,Alfredo Lodge

Tickets are $4 and must bepurchased by Monday, Aug. 29.

Morton

Simpson County Farm BureauTuesday, Sept. 20, at 6:30 p.m.

County Jr. Livestock BarnMendenhall

Smith County Farm BureauThursday, Sept. 29, at 6 p.m.Smith County Ag Complex

Raleigh

Tallahatchie County Farm BureauThursday, Oct. 20, at 6 p.m.

Farm Bureau OfficeCharleston

Tippah County Farm BureauThursday, Sept. 15, at 6 p.m.Tippah County Fairgrounds

Ripley

Tishomingo County Farm BureauThursday, Sept. 15, at 7 p.m.Tishomingo County High School

CafeteriaIuka

Wayne County Farm BureauThursday, Oct. 13, at 6:30 p.m.

Farm Bureau OfficeWaynesboro

Winston County Farm BureauThursday, Sept. 15, at 7 p.m.Winston County Shrine Club3305 Highway 15 South

Louisville

Yazoo County Farm BureauThursday, Nov. 17, at 10 a.m.

Farm Bureau OfficeYazoo City

2011 Annual Meetings


Which Northeast Mississippi town, locatedin the beautiful Appalachian foothills, takesits name from the Chickasaw leader who

signed the Treaty of Pontotoc in the early 1830s? Aneighboring town, Iuka, was named for the chief’sson.

Read the clues and make your guess.This town grew up along the Illinois Central Rail-

road and was formally established as a village in1908. Through the years, it became known for itssprings, which were thought to have healing powers.Andrew Jackson stopped by the area to camp on hisway to fight the Battle of New Orleans. He drank from“Good Springs,” which, thereafter, became known as“Jackson Springs.” The water is used by the town today.

This town boasts 250 residents. Many are de-scendants of the original settlers, but quite afew are newcomers. Mayor James FairlessTennyson says the town appeals to young

families.“Our town is a good place to raise children.

More and more people want to raise their kidsin a small-town atmosphere, so young familiesare moving here,” he said. Mayor Tennyson sayshe wants a “clean, pro-business, friendly envi-

ronment where everybody is treated equal.”Our mystery town offers one school – kindergarten

through eighth grade – that is located on the groundsof the historic Tishomingo Agricultural High School.

Mystery?Solvethe


Correct Guesses

Mail guesses to Solve the Mystery, Missis-sippi Farm Country, P.O. Box 1972, Jackson, MS39215. You may also e-mail your guesses to:[email protected].

Please remember to include your name andaddress on the entry.

Visit our Mississippi Farm Bureau FederationWeb site at: www.msfb.org.

When all correct guesses have been re-ceived, we will randomly draw 20 names.These 20 names will receive a prize and will beplaced in the hat twice.

At the end of the year, a winner will bedrawn from all correct submissions. The winnerwill receive a Weekend Bed and Breakfast Trip,courtesy of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Fed-eration.

Families may submit only one entry. Feder-ation staff members and their families are in-eligible to participate in this contest.

The deadline for submitting your entry isSept. 30.

July/AugustThe correct answer for the July/August Solve

the Mystery is Moorhead.

The town also boasts lots of churches, parksand athletic fields.

Our mystery town has thriving busi-nesses, a library, a medical clinic, and apharmacy. A mercantile shop bearing thetown’s name sells handmade bath soapnamed for the town plus Larry Monteithwoodwork, Southern Candle Company can-dles, and Wilderness pottery.

Our mystery town has access to abundantoutdoor recreational opportunities, includ-ing Tishomingo State Park, the NatchezTrace Parkway, Bay Springs Lake on theTennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, PickwickLake on the Tennessee River, and ColemanState Park.

Crow’s Neck Environmental Center,which focuses on the beautiful flora of thearea, is located west of town. WoodallMountain, the highest elevation in Missis-sippi at 806 feet, can be found between thistown and Iuka.

Our mystery town holds a TownwideYard Sale on the first Saturday in May andOctober; an annual Motorcycle Show and100-Mile Ride on the first Saturday in June;and an annual Street Dance on the Saturdaybefore July 4th. The Community Thanks-giving Service and annual Christmas Pa-

rade are well-attended.A 1916 jazz standard by Spencer

Williams bears the name of this town. Our mystery town boasts a stone quarry

that is owned and operated by Bobbie andClemmie Gresham. Gresham Stone not onlymines the beautiful stone that is famous inthe area, but Bobbie makes items from itthat go all over the Southeast. He craftsbirdbaths, benches, obelisks, turtles, frogsand small crosses, to name a few. He alsodoes woodwork.

“The quarry is a lot of hard work, but Ienjoy meeting lots of interesting people,” hesaid.

For more information, call 662-438-7418.

Farming in this area consists mainly ofrow crops and timber. Historic homes thatpreserve the architecture of a bygone dayare numerous and can be found throughoutthe town. This town was winner of the 2009Mississippi Municipalities League Award:City Spirit for Cities under 10,000.

Name the town.A special thanks to Region 2 Women’s

Chair Kay Perkins, Pam Bates, and Meganand Morgan Perkins (see group photo abovewith Bobbie Gresham at the stone quarry).


New Member Benefits Programs

Clay Foster to Serveas MFBF Field Auditor

Johnson to Coordinate YF&Rand Social Media Programs

This is always a busy but exciting time ofyear. The weather should be cooling off shortly(we hope!), the kids are back in school, and har-vest season is right around the corner.

But there is another reason for Farm Bureaumembers to be excited. We have recently addedtwo new programs to our list of Member Bene-fits that can save you money.

First, we have a new prescription drug dis-count program administered through the American Farm Bureau Fed-eration. This new prescription drug card is available to all Farm Bureaumembers but is especially helpful for those with no prescription drugcoverage or insurance. If you do have prescription drug insurance, it canstill be used on any prescription medication not covered by your drugplan.

The Farm Bureau prescription drug card can be used to get discountsof up to 75 percent on most brand-name and generic medications, withaverage savings around 30 percent. It is accepted at over 56,000 phar-macies nationwide and is ready to use immediately.

Because you are a Farm Bureau member, this card is available to youat NO COST! There are no forms to fill out. Simply take your card toa participating pharmacy (listed on the back) with your Rx to qualify fordiscounts on medications. Each family member must have his/her owncard. They come pre-activated for immediate use. Stop by your countyFarm Bureau office and pick up this money-saving card.

Our second new program is with ClearValue Hearing, which is offering a greatplan to those who need hearing aids. Underthis program, Farm Bureau members can re-ceive the following:

• A free initial hearing test and annual retests• Free hearing aid adjustments• Free bi-annual hearing aid maintenance• One courtesy case of batteries

• A statewide network of Professional Audiologists and Specialists• Up to 25 percent actual Member Discount on all Starkey Hearing In-

struments• Special Member Discounts on all Westone Custom Ear Protection

Clear Value offers significant savings & services that are typically notcovered by Medicare and most insurance.

To locate a provider in your area, log on to www.clearvaluehear-ing.com, or call 888-497-7447.

Your membership in Farm Bureau costs you a few dollars each year,but that membership fee allows you to participate in these and manyother Member Benefits programs that can save you hundreds, perhapsthousands, of dollars.

For more information on all of the Farm Bureau Member Benefitsprograms, visit our Web site at www.msfb.org and click on the Mem-ber Benefits link. Or you can call Farm Bureau’s Member Benefits Co-ordinator Dedra Luke at 601-977-4169.

MEMBER BENEFITS SPOTLIGHT

By Greg GibsonMFBF Member Services Director

Clay Foster of Brandon hasbeen hired as a Field Auditor forthe Mississippi Farm BureauFederation (MFBF). He will beworking in the MFBF Account-ing and Building Departmentwith Bert Tingle and Karen East-erling to provide accounting andtax services to the counties.

Clay is a graduate of Missis-sippi State with a degree in Ac-counting and Mississippi Col-lege with a degree in Business Administration.

“Clay is a very well-qualified individual, who will bean asset not only to our department but to the MississippiFarm Bureau Federation as a whole. We are pleased tohave him working with our Farm Bureau members,”said Billy Davis, Director of the MFBF Accountingand Building Department/ MFBF Chief Financial Offi-cer. “Please join me in welcoming Clay into our FarmBureau family.”

Kirsten Johnson has beenhired as the Mississippi FarmBureau Federation YoungFarmers and Ranchers/SocialMedia Coordinator.

Kirsten holds a bachelor’sdegree in Animal Sciencefrom the University of Wis-consin and completed ninehours of graduate-levelcoursework in Human Re-source Education atLouisiana State University. Her mostrecent work history includes AssistantCounty Agent/4-H Youth Development,West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana.

Kirsten has experience as a success-ful grant writer and has been account-able for the oversight and coordinationof various programs, including organ-izing workshops and recruiting, training

and retaining volunteers.She was also responsiblefor the promotion of theparish 4-H programthrough press releases andsocial media outlets likeFacebook and Twitter.

“Several well-qualifiedcandidates were consideredfor this position, but all theway through the process,Kirsten remained at the top

of the list,” said Mississippi Farm Bu-reau Federation President RandyKnight. “We believe she will be an as-set to our Young Farmers and RanchersProgram and to the entire MississippiFarm Bureau Federation staff. I knowyou will join me in welcoming her intoour Farm Bureau family.”

Clay Foster Kirsten Johnson


Patton, Thomas, WelfordJoin Sales Management Team

Sept. 16Rice Luncheon

Delta State UniversityCleveland

Oct. 5-16Mississippi State Fair

Nov. 3State Resolutions Meeting

MFBF BuildingJackson

Nov. 8General Election

Nov. 21-25 National Farm-City

Week

Dec. 3-5 MFBF Annual Meeting

Hilton HotelJackson

Jan. 8-11AFBF Annual MeetingHonolulu, Hawaii

Jan. 23 Winter Commodity Conference


Jan. 24Winter Commodity Conference


Calenderof Events

Barry Patton has beennamed District Sales Man-ager in District III, uponthe retirement of HubertHatfield, effective June 1,2011.

Barry is a graduate ofMississippi State Univer-sity, and is a former FarmBureau agent.

Barry and his wifeAmanda have two boys,Reed, age 10, and Riley, age 7. They attendFirst Baptist Church of Kosciusko.

John Thomas has been named District SalesManager for District IV. He is a graduate of theUniversity of Southern Mississippi and is aformer agency manager.

John and his wife Karen have a son, Britt(wife Sarah); a daughter, Jennie; and twograndsons, Parker and Harrison. John andKaren reside in Brookhaven and attend FaithPresbyterian Church.

Jason Welford has been named DistrictSales Manager in District I, upon the retirement

of Jerrell Dearman, effective July 1, 2011. Jason is a graduate of the University of

Southern Mississippi and is a former agencymanager.

Jason and his wife Kisha have two children,Emma Kate, age 6, and Kade Garrison, age 3.

“Please join me in welcoming Barry, Johnand Jason as members of our Mississippi SalesManagement Team,” said Henry Hamill, SalesManager for Mississippi/Vice President ofSales. “These men bring a wealth of field ex-perience to our staff, and we are excited tohave them.”

Barry Patton John Thomas Jason Welford


Painting

MemoriesRural South

of the

By Glynda Phillips


MM ississippi artist Dot Courson ofPontotoc paints memories … of farm lifeand the rural South, rivers and streams,gardens and woods, fields and barns.“People want a memory presented in a modern way,” she said.

“They want to feel they have been there. They want a sense of place,and they want the painting to look real but not antiquated. They wantto be able to look at a painting and say to themselves, ‘That remindsme’ or ‘I know where that is.’ ”

Courson grew up on farms in Alcorn and Calhoun counties andregularly visited relatives in the Delta. She knows how snowy cot-ton looks bursting from a boll on a cool autumn afternoon or howriver water feels to bare feet on a hot summer day. She understandshow light and shadow play upon a winding country road and howclothes can billow out from a line on a breezy spring morning.

“When my husband and I started dating, he was surprised to dis-cover that I actually knew how to can vegetables,” she said with asmile. “But that’s my background. I know all of that.”

Courson uses oils and a limited color pallet. She says she knewfrom grade school (because she was told by college art professorswho judged a school contest) that she was a natural impressionist.

“I love landscapes better than anything. And anything I paint inthe Delta is a favorite because that’s where I have many childhoodmemories,” she said. “A lot of my scenes are rural pastoral land-scapes. And a lot of my scenes have a looser, more impressionisticfeel. Some of them look better from a distance. You can see how allof the individual strokes of the brush come together to form thewhole.”

It would seem to someone who is not an artist that painting de-tailed scenery requires much time and patience in addition to awhole lot of skill. But Courson says when you love what you are do-ing that never crosses your mind.

“If you have the desire to do this, it just brings you joy,” she said.“This is what I have always wanted to do all of my life, but I neverhad the time to do it full-time until now.”

Courson’s career was in nursing. She possesses a master’s degree

in Nursing/Health Care Administration, and she practiced as a reg-istered nurse. She also taught nursing and worked for a time as anurse administrator. She and Jackie raised three children and haveeight grandchildren. For many years, Dot balanced her career withher family and painted part-time.

Along the way, she took college art courses and studied withrenowned artists across the U.S., including the late Billy Kirk, anoted and respected Mississippi artist whom she considers her truementor. She had an opportunity to meet and visit with American re-alist landscape artist Andrew Wyeth, a memory she treasures.

Now that Jackie is retired and free to accompany her, and nowthat her kids are grown, Courson spends her days painting, travel-ing, and attending art shows and workshops. She also teaches art ona limited basis and holds her own workshops two or three times ayear.

She says her goal is to become a successful full-time artist, andshe approaches it as a business by getting out and marketing herwork. She wants to make art – and not some other field of endeavor– her career.

“I can’t believe how blessed I am,” she said with a smile. “Whenyou are doing what you love, then no matter whether you arewealthy or poor, you are rich.

“I always tell people that I am rich.”

Southern Breeze Gallery in Madison represents Dot Courson’swork and will feature her work in a special show in October. She isalso represented by Caron Gallery and Staggs Interiors, both in Tu-pelo. Dot was recently made a “Signature” member of the WomenPainters of the Southeast (one of three), and she also serves on theboard of directors. This group is made up of some of the Southeast'smost noted women artists. She is a juried member of the Oil Paintersof America, Landscape Artists International, Mississippi Painter’sSociety, Mississippi Oil Painters Association, Women Painters of theSoutheast and American Impressionists Society. She has won nu-merous awards and is listed on the Mississippi Writers, Musiciansand Artists official Web site for “having contributed to the literaryand cultural heritage of Mississippi.” She and Jackie are longtimemembers of Pontotoc County Farm Bureau.

questrian EventHarrison

CountyBenefits

By Glynda Phillips


Few things in life are as gracefulas an equestrian event.

In early March, I spent time watching the 13th An-nual Gulf Coast Winter Classic at the Harrison CountyFairgrounds near Gulfport and enjoyed every minute ofit. The six-week hunter-jumper event showcases somethe finest equine athletes in America, Canada and Mex-ico. Some 1,268 horses competed this year.

The Gulf Coast Winter Classic boasts a total prizemoney purse of $800,000 and benefits HarrisonCounty’s economy by approximately $40-45 millionannually. Last year, the event was awarded the South-east Tourism Society’s Top 20 Winter Event 2010.

“We have people competing for national points andprize money,” said Janet McCarroll, coordinator of theevent. “We are a top-ranking AA-rated U.S. EquestrianFederation Horse Show.

“When our competitors are finished here, they gohome and compete, or they go on to compete in a two-week circuit in Houston and a two-week circuit in At-lanta.”

The Gulf Coast Winter Classic, which does little for-mal advertising, has grown primarily through word ofmouth.

“We try to run a good professional series,” McCar-roll said. “Plus, we have great support from our su-pervisors and local business owners who see that thisbenefits the economy.”

The Gulf Coast Winter Classic offers three all-weather rings and a covered arena with bleachers. Mc-Carroll says it also boasts one of the best grass Grand

Prix fields in North America.As far as future plans go, Harrison County Fair-

grounds plans to build four new barns using the inter-est generated by a $1 million bond. The horse showwill pay to use the barn facilities during its six-weekstint, and the fairgrounds will rent the barns out atother times of the year.

Additional future plans also include expanding theRV Park.

For more information about the Gulf Coast WinterClassic, phone/FAX: (843) 768-5503, or [email protected]. This event is a part ofClassic Company, Ltd., Bob Bell, president.

The Harrison County Tourism Commission recentlyselected McCarroll as the 2010 recipient of the “BillyCreel” Excellence in Tourism Award.

“ ”We have people

competing for nationalpoints and prize money


GraingerBoots and MorePenn’s Restaurant

TSC, Inc.Farm Bureau Safety Depart-

mentMerlene Partridge

Greg Gibson/Farm FamiliesSurplus City USACatering by George

WalkersSpecialty SeedNoel DanielsJason’s Deli

Deviney EquipmentCabot LodgeHilton HotelNewk’s

Broad StreetBravo!

Sal & MookiesMugShots Grill

Biaggi’sSutherlands

Academy SportsChick-fil-a

Sweet Potato SweetsHenry Hamill/Sales Department

The Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) State Committee recently hosted a

Sporting Clay Shoot as the Gary Langley Memorial Scholarship Fundraiser. The

event was held at Luckett Lodge in Brandon on June 25 and was a huge success.

Through participation, sponsorships and donations, the committee will return

$3,199.97 to the scholarship fund. This was the first attempt at hosting a sporting

clay event, and the committee gained

valuable experience that will make

next year’s fundraiser an even bigger

success.

Shooters participated in 4-man

teams, with prizes awarded to the top

three teams and a prize awarded to

the high-scoring individual shooter.

First place in the Team Event went to

Team Waverly, which included Frank

Chenevert, Colby Mason, Scott Rives

and Spencer Palmer. Second Place

went to Mississippi Farm Bureau Insurance, which included Jonathan Hopper, Jerry

Stephens, Ben Treloar and Ricky Hopper. Third place winners were Team Huerkamp,

which included Joe Huerkamp, Tyler Huerkamp, Mackey Watkins and Seth Moore.

The High-Scoring Individual was Frank Chenevert.

We want to thank everyone involved in the success of this event. All of the spon-

sors, participants, Farm Bureau staff and the staff at Luckett Lodge are to be com-

mended for your efforts and dedication to the Young Farmers and Ranchers program.

Without your help, none of this

would have been possible. I would

personally like to thank the YF&R

State Committee for your leader-

ship, dedication and, most impor-

tantly, your attitudes.

The committee’s willingness to

give of their time and efforts as-

sures us that we have strong Farm

Bureau volunteer leaders and a

bright future as an agricultural or-

ganization.

Gary LangleyMemorial Fundraiser

YF&R Clay Shoot Station Sponsorship

YF&R Clay Shoot Door Prizes

Southern Security ServicesDavid and Sandra WaideSouthern Farm Bureau

Adams County Farm BureauDeviney Equipment Rental

Gant FarmsTed and Libby KendallMcClemore Farms

Randy Knight/Knight FarmsHelena Chemical Company,

LelandWatson Quality FordJimmy Sanders, Inc.

Helena Chemical Company,Yazoo City

BASF


Farm Families of Mississippi SummerIntern

MississippiPeanut Festival

The 2011 Farm Families of Mississippicampaign has wound down, and what atremendous success it has been, thanks to themany organizations and businesses that sup-ported this effort with their donations ofmoney, services and time. Survey results re-

flect that this year’s campaign was just as ef-fective in positively influencing consumers’attitudes toward agriculture as last year’s ef-fort.

The 2011 campaign was continued in theJackson metro area and began efforts on theMississippi Gulf Coast. Discussions are un-derway concerning a potential media buy intothe Memphis media market for 2012.

Planning for next year’s campaign is un-derway.

Stay tuned.

Kalyn Wright of Vardaman served a six-week internship this summer with the Mis-sissippi Farm Bureau Federation, spendingtime with each program and learning allabout the organization.

Kalyn will be a senior this fall, major-ing in Public Relations at Mississippi StateUniversity. Her minor is in Agribusiness.

Students interested in the summer in-ternship program should visitwww.msfb.org to download an applicationand instructions for applying.

Mitchell Farms of Collins announcesthat the first annual Mississippi Peanut Fes-tival will be held Oct. 1, the opening day ofthe Mitchell Farms Pumpkin Patch andMaze, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Enjoy arts, crafts, antiques, a car show,live entertainment, yard art, collectibles,etc. All vendors are welcome. Call Jo LynnMitchell at 601-606-0762 to reserve boothspace.


The 10th Annual Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Ag in the ClassroomWorkshops were held in June in Grenada, Collins and Jackson. Partici-pants learned about state commodities through informative speakers, col-orful exhibits and educational hands-on activities. Pictured are scenes fromthe Jackson workshop.

The Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors held their June meeting on thecampus of Mississippi State University. Afterwards, officers, directors and spouses toured campusfacilities. Pictured is the newly-renovated Lloyd-Ricks-Watson Building. Mississippi Farm BureauFederation donated funds for the 30-station computer lab located in the building’s basement.

The 2011 summer commodity meetings enjoyedinformative speakers, great attendance and an activeparticipation in the policy development process.Pictured is a scene from the cotton meeting in Grenada.

Farm Bureau Events


Patsy Prewitt of Washington County, pictured seated at front, received the2011 Teacher Grant Award and received an expense-paid trip to the Na-tional Ag in the Classroom (NAITC) Conference (AITC) in Fort Lauderdale,Florida. She teaches at Weston Ninth Grade Academy in Greenville, work-ing with the Special Education program. Pictured with her at the NAITCConference are Region 7 Women’s Chair Carolyn Turner, Region 4Women’s Chair Jody Bailey, Region 5 Women’s Chair Betty Edwards, andState Women’s Committee Vice Chair Shelby Williams.

Mississippi State Equine Association(MSEA) officials have worked hard tocreate the Mississippi State EquineAssociation Endowed Scholarship toencourage beneficial equine practices.Based in Mississippi State University’sCollege of Agriculture and Life Sciences,the leadership and academic recognitionaward will assist animal science majorswho are pursuing pre-veterinary studies.The organization’s endowment contributionrecently was presented in honor of Terry E.Kiser, retiring head of the Animal and DairySciences Department. Pictured, from left,are James Watts, MSEA ExecutiveDirector; Kiser; James Rasberry, MSEAPresident; and Jud Skelton, College ofAgriculture and Life Sciences DevelopmentDirector.

Members of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers andRanchers State Committee participated in a Media Training Workshop atthe MFBF Building in Jackson recently. Speakers and hands-on sessionshelped farmers learn how to engage with the media, answer interview re-quests, prepare to “tell their story,” and become a unified and effective voicefor agriculture.

Farm Bureau Events


If you are interested in a used federationvehicle, please visit our Web site at

www.msfb.org for more information. Click onthe About Us link, then click the Fleet Vehiclesfor Sale on the drop-down menu, or contactMerlene Partridge at 1-800-227-8244, ext.4233. These vehicles are late model, usuallyone - two years old. NADA retail, wholesale,and loan values are used to calculate price.

FLEET VEHICLESFOR SALE


As a Farm Bureau member, you haveaccess to many programs and benefits.To learn more, visit our Web site atwww.msfb.org. Or see the MemberBenefits information on pages 2 and 24.

september/october 2011

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