Mississippi farmers established the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation to promote crops grown in Mississippi, including cotton. Before the organization’s official charter filed, members of its leadership team formed the Mississippi Farm Bureau Cotton Association and launched a cotton drive campaign to run October 15, 1922 to December 23, 1922.

The campaign sought to receive a commitment of 200,000 bales of cotton from farmers in counties outside the Delta. With the help of the extension division of the Mississippi A&M (Mississippi State University Extension Service), the American Cotton Growers Exchange (The National Cotton Council of America), a campaign manager and 15 experts, Farm Bureau distributed information about the cooperative opportunity to farmers and businessmen throughout the state, according to an article published in The Brandon News on October 19, 1922.

“Throughout the entire state there is an eagerness on the part of the farmers to sign the contract as soon as possible. They have heard of the splendid success that other farmers are having in selling cotton through the cooperative selling associations, and are no longer willing to be denied this privilege,” the article stated.

On December 24, 2022, the Jackson Daily News published an article stating the campaign secured more than 100,000 bales of cotton, reaching the organization’s quota and deeming it a success. This cotton drive served as one of the first campaigns MFBF forged to fulfil its mission to Mississippi farmers.

Sources: Newspapers.com (Oxford Eagle/The Brandon News/Jackson Daily News)