Farmer and rancher delegates from across Mississippi recently attended the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 100th Annual Convention Business Meeting to adopt policies on key topics that will guide the organization’s work during its centennial year.

“As our organization has done for the last 100 years, grassroots delegates from across the nation came together to express a unified voice on issues vital to the success of our farms, ranches and rural communities,” Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation President Mike McCormick said.

“It was fitting to have President Trump and numerous members

MONTHLYA PUBLICATION OF THE MISSISSIPPI FARM BUREAU® FEDERATION

farm countryFebruary 2019

Members make impact at AFBF ConventionBy Alex LoweryPrint Media Specialist

See CONVENTION, Page 3

Top: MFBF members had the opportunity to hear from President Donald Trump during the 2019 AFBF Convention. Bottom: MFBF President Mike McCormick, along with 13 other members, served as delegates during the 2019 AFBF Convention business session.

February 6 - MSU 4-H Legislative Luncheon

February 7 - Dixie National Sale of Champions

February 7 -13 - Dixie National Rodeo

February 22-24 - YF&R Leadership Conference

February 26 - Ag Day at the Capitol & Board of Directors Meeting

February 27 - FFA Legislative Breakfast

March 1 - 2 - 2019 Mid-South Farm & Gin Show

March 12 - State Women’s Leadership Committee Meeting

March 13 - Women’s Day at the Capitol

March 15 - 19 - AFBF Fusion Conference

April 1 - 3 - Small Farmers Conference

April 11 - Beef & Poultry Expo

April 19 - MFBF Office Closed for Good Friday

April 23 - 24 - Secretaries Conference

Taylor McNair advocates for Mississippi agriculture industry in role as Miss Rodeo America

When a tall, brunette woman, decked in turquoise, a crown and sash walks into a room, speaking with confidence and refinement, it’s hard not to wonder who she is and who she represents.

But upon further conversation, you find out she is none other than Miss Rodeo America Taylor McNair and she represents the sport of rodeo.

After a week-long pageant held in Las Vegas in December Taylor, of Learned, earned the 2019 title of Miss Rodeo America. In her role, Taylor serves as the official ambassador for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, as well as the agriculture industry.

“I absolutely love the sport of rodeo,” Taylor said. “I’m so passionate about it. Ever since I can remember, I was always cheering for cowboys and cowgirls on TV or at local rodeos. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association – (the organization) I have the honor of representing this year – is by far the best (organization) in my book for sure. They are the oldest and the largest rodeo sanctioning body in the world.”

Taylor is expected to travel more

than 100,000 miles and attend more than 100 rodeos during her year-long reign acting as an educator and liaison between the general public

and the people who make up the sport of professional rodeo.

“I want to see rodeo continue for years to come,” Taylor said. “It’s truly made me into the person that I am. I’ve learned so much through the sport and I want to see my kids, their kids, their grandkids, compete in the sport of rodeo, as well.”

Taylor credits her love and interest in horses at a young age for leading down her current life path.

“I grew up on a row crop farm, and for some reason my dad and my mom just had a couple of horses in their pasture. It wasn’t until later in life that I jumped on the rodeo trail and began barrel racing, goat tying, breakaway, and pole bending in high school rodeo.”

Following high school, Taylor moved to Starkville to attend Mississippi State University and pursue a degree in agriculture business with a concentration in policy and law. She competed in barrel racing and goat tying on the rodeo team and as a horsemanship rider on the equestrian team.

To read the full story, visit the Federation’s website at msfb.org/news.

By Alex LoweryPrint Media Specialist

Calendar of Events

of Congress among our attendees as we kicked off our centennial celebration,” McCormick continued. “We continue to face a challenging farm economy and we stand ready to work with Congress and the Trump administration to address the issues important to our farm and ranch families.”

The delegates representing Mississippi this year were Mike McCormick, Donald Gant, Louis Breaux IV, Ted Kendall IV, Bowen Flowers, John Bush, Billy Tabb, Charles Danna, Austin Smith, Dot Cole, Brian Rhodes, Reggie Magee, and Tyler Huerkamp.

Some of the major policies delegates considered included federal milk marketing orders

Gov. Bryant signs Broadband Enabling Act into law

Mississippi’s farmers, ranchers and rural citizens can expect to see more high-speed internet service options soon. The state’s 25 electrical cooperatives can now offer the services after Gov. Phil Bryant signed a law that immediately gives them that legal authority on Wednesday.

“We are thankful to Governor Bryant for signing this bill quickly,” Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation President Mike McCormick said. “Access to high speed internet is crucial for our farmers, ranchers and rural residents to live and do their jobs effectively. This measure will help improve quality of life for many across Mississippi. I was humbled to represent the Mississippi Farm

Bureau Federation during this monumental occasion.”

The law will allow Mississippi’s 25 electric cooperatives to form subsidiaries to offer broadband internet service, removing a ban on the member-owned utilities getting into other businesses.

The law will require a feasibility

study and an annual audit. Cooperatives could invest money, loan money or guarantee loans to affiliates, but the bill says they can’t use revenue from electric sales to subsidize broadband.

To read the full story, visit the Federation’s website at msfb.org/news.

By Alex LoweryPrint Media Specialist

CONVENTIONFrom Page 1

MFBF President Mike McCormick recently watched Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant sign the Broadband Enabling Act into law.

Life Line Screening offers Farm Bureau Members discounted pricing on many Preventative Health Screenings. As a Farm Bureau Member, Life Line

Screening can evaluate your risk for several of the most critical and often undiagnosed healthcare problems. For more information visit www.msfb.org/discounts.

Member Benefit Spotlight

and whole milk policy, trade, cell-based food, rural broadband and standards of identity on United States rice.

To read the full story, visit the Federation’s website at msfb.org/news.

Young Farmers & Ranchers compete in NOLA

Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers & Ranchers award winners did the state proud at the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention in New Orleans.

Achievement Award winners, Tyler and Sarah Huerkamp, Noxubee County farmers, finished fourth nationally, making them the third highest ranking Mississippi winners in history.

“I think us placing fourth makes it easier to promote the Mississippi YF&R program,” Sarah said. “The staff at Mississippi Farm Bureau has taken our YF&R program to the top. We have been nationally recognized for the last four years, and I think that fact provides them and our fellow members with a great tool to get young people involved.”

Mississippi discussion meet winner, Heather Ferrell, reached the final sixteen of the AFBF discussion meet.

The contest is designed for contestants to think quickly and talk about ideas that can be used to promote Farm Bureau. Ferrell, a Scott

County farmer, said she leaned on agriculture experts across the state to gather information she could use in the competition.

“Competing in a contest on a national level is stressful to say the least, but I felt prepared,” Ferrell said. “Mississippi Farm Bureau staff helped me tremendously in preparing for this day. I also utilized the resources of our land-grant university to prepare myself. I worked and talked with anybody I could in the agriculture industry to be knowledgeable for this contest.”

Oktibbeha County Farmers, Matt

and Brandi Karisch, represented the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation in the Excellence in Agriculture contest. They plan to bring back all they learned during the convention so they can help their fellow YF&R members improve their operations.

“Whenever we come to a national event like this, we always try to bring what we learned back to our community,” Brandi said. “Having the opportunity to hear President Trump speak about what he’s trying to do for the agriculture industry is definitely something we will bring back.”

By Jon KalaharCommunications Coordinator

Matt and Brandi Karisch of Oktibbeha County represented Mississippi in the AFBF Excellence in Agriculture contest.

Tyler and Sarah Huerkamp of Noxubee County placed fourth in the AFBF Achievement Award contest.

Heather Ferrell of Scott County advanced to the final sixteen of the AFBF discussion meet.