Congratulations to MDAC’s own Davis Edwards, Outreach Coordinator of our Produce Safety Division, for earning his USDA certification as a Licensed Auditor. Edwards is currently assisting with inspections in the Vardaman area, conducting shipping point inspections for sweet potatoes headed out of state. He was previously licensed for peanut inspection and now is also licensed for shipping point inspections, specializing in

sweet potatoes.

Edwards started with MDAC in September 2020 and currently serves as outreach coordinator for the Produce Safety Division where he oversees statewide outreach and education communications with Mississippi

State University Extension Service. He is also qualified to perform

FDA regulatory inspections.

We are proud of our staff and want to recognize Davis Edwards for

this achievement. Well done!

Former Agriculture Commissioner Jim Buck Ross had a vision to create a place that would allow the general public to learn about Mississsippi's agricultural heritage in a tangible and unique way. As a result of his efforts, construction on the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum began in 1978 in Jackson, MS. Over the years, the museum has acquired artifacts and exhibits; a living history farm and Children's Barnyard; an entire crossroads town known as Small Town, Miss.; the Bisland Cotton Gin, America's oldest working cotton gin; a forest study area; and the

National Agriculture Aviation Museum.

Tens of thousands of guests visit the Mississippi Ag Museum every year to experience these hands-on demonstrations and exhibits across the 39-acre grounds. In addition, the museum hosts school field trips and private functions throughout the year, as well as public events like the annual Pumpkin Adventure, Harvest Fest, Homestead for the Holidays,

Easter Event and Spring Farm Days. 

 One such event is the annual Mississippi Pickle Fest. This year, 4,000 visitors attended the fun-filled event which included over 80 vendors, music, games and pickle-related contests. Due to its overwhelming popularity and success, the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum was awarded Mississippi's 2022 Small Festival Event of the Year for

the Mississippi Pickle Fest. 

The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, a branch of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.msagmuseum.org.

The Mississippi Agriculture Youth Council (MAYC), led by the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce's (MDAC) Ag Workforce Education, Outreach and Development Division, is comprised of 12 high school seniors with an interest in agriculture. The goal of the council is to expose the students to a variety of agriculture career fields and teach them how to advocate for various aspects of the agriculture industry.

Throughout their year-long service, council members visit Mississippi agricultural companies and organizations; learn about the legislative process and how it affects the agriculture industry; hold discussions with industry professionals; and hone career-development skills.

Recently, MAYC visited with Lane Milton, Director of MDAC's Genuine MS® Program, at the program's store location inside the Mississippi Farmers Market. Milton shared with the young leaders how the program works and the role the store plays in promoting Genuine MS® members and their products.  

More than 350 Mississippi FFA members representing 30 chapters across the state volunteered as hosts for the Ag Expo during the 2022 Mississippi State Fair. These student volunteers served in several roles while advocating for agriculture and educating the public on Mississippi's largest industry.

FFA members from across the state submitted agricultural mechanics projects for judging at the Mississippi State Fair. Nineteen total projects were submitted, and the winning entries were as follows: 

1.  First Place – picnic table built by Madi Herrington and Michael Walters from Lawrence County FFA Chapter
2. Second Place – cornhole boards built by Gabie and Gracie Thornhill from Lawrence County FFA Chapter
3. Third Place – hay feeder built by Cole Knotts and Dayne Holder from Northeast Jones FFA Chapter.

In addition, South Jones FFA members from Ellisville volunteered and built the new commercial poultry house models representing the Mississippi Poultry Association. Incubated eggs that hatched throughout the fair were provided by the Mississippi Board of Animal Health. The baby chicks were one of the most popular exhibits at the State Fair Ag Expo!

Art and Agriculture students at McLaurin High School contributed photo props for the Mississippi State Fairgrounds for the second year. They constructed and painted a mural to welcome guests to the Mississippi State Fair. They also constructed two sets of bleachers that were used at the Great American Wild West Show during the fair. 

The Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce's Genuine MS® Store is well represented at the annual Mistletoe Marketplace. The 2022 'Let it Snow' event is being held at the Mississippi Trade Mart. The event began Wednesday, November 2, and will run through Saturday, November 5, 2022.

Mistletoe Marketplace is an annual event presented by the Junior League of Jackson organization. General admission will be $15 per person for adults; $5 for children (ages 6-12); and $10 for senior adults (ages 60+). For more information, event schedules and to purchase tickets, visit mistletoemarketplace.com.

Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce's (MDAC) Weights and Measures Division Supervisor Greg Gholston will serve as committee coordinator for the Specifications and Tolerances (S&T) Committee as part of the National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM) at the organization's annual convention. In this capacity, Gholston will provide assistance and guidance to the S&T Committee; assist the chair with preparations for the interim and annual meetings by developing agendas and establishing priorities; and document the final positions of the committee for submission in the NCWM report. 

Gholston began his career at MDAC in 1995 and currently trains staff, assists the division director with day-to-day operations and prepares division reports as statewide supervisor within the Weights and Measures Division. 

Recently, the Mississippi Farmers Market, hosted an inaugural Halloween Extravaganza event!

In addition to the usual variety of farm fresh foods and handcrafted items, this successful event included complimentary popcorn; children’s activities including trick-or-treating and face painting, vendor giveaways; specialty food trucks; and a costume contest for visitors to enjoy. The Genuine MS® Store was also open to the public. 

The Mississippi Farmers Market, a division of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, is located at 929 High Street in Jackson and is open every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Recently, Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson addressed state economic leaders at Mississippi Hobnob hosted by the Mississippi Economic Council. Commissioner Gipson opened his remarks by singing the first verse of “A County Boy Can Survive” by Hank Williams, Jr. He went on to highlight successes and challenges to agriculture and commerce, while providing practical solutions for the future.

Recognizing the importance of agriculture in Mississippi, Commissioner Gipson said, “The backbone of our economy is agriculture, and farmers have been suffering, but they continue to plant and raise the next crop. We need to give our farmers our sincerest thanks. Because of them, we are going to survive,” said Commissioner Gipson.

Commissioner Gipson outlined successes of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) over the past year. In addition, he detailed action taken to address two specific issues that resulted in positive solutions – a new water well system on the State Fairgrounds to ensure critical water needs on the property are continually met and the multi-agency law enforcement cooperation that resulted in a safe Mississippi State Fair. Highlighted MDAC successes included:

• The Mississippi State Fairgrounds hosted a record-breaking Dixie National Livestock Show and Rodeo with record ticket sales and the highest grossing Sale of Junior Champions.
• The new 750-foot deep water well system on the Mississippi State Fairgrounds was completed in February.
• The Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, recently named Small Festival Event of the Year by the Mississippi Tourism Association for its annual Pickle Fest, has successfully returned to hosting in-person field trips.
• The first year of the Ag Youth Council, MDAC’s youth leadership program, was successfully implemented.
• Meat processing capacity has expanded with the opening of new local meat processing facilities in the state.
• MDAC hosted its first international trade training in collaboration with the Southern U.S. Trade Association.
• MDAC hosted its first Mississippi Timber Inbound Trade Mission with buyers from five countries participating. The trade mission resulted in $7 million in timber sales during the week of the event with anticipated future sales in the millions.
• Several new farmers markets have opened with assistance of MDAC, prompted by a renewed interest in famers market.
• Mississippi grain has successfully been shipped by a newly-owned grain elevator in the Delta. Over 8 million bushels of grain have been shipped by rail while Mississippi River traffic was slowed or halted.
• The Mississippi State Fairgrounds held a successful and safe State Fair with attendance reaching near pre-pandemic levels.

Commissioner Gipson went on to address the significant, yet unique, challenges impacting agriculture and commerce....

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