From the field to the side by side to the front yard, Lowndes County Senator Chuck Younger doesn’t slow down for long. There’s cows to feed, land to check and four grandchildren who demand his attention. Not that Younger minds at all. Now, his oldest grandson, three year old Blake, is old enough to ride along and both love every second.
“Farming was instilled by my father, yes. I can remember when I was real young, eight years old, driving my first tractor, running a Cultipacker with a Ford 641 WorkMaster I believe exactly was what the tractor was,” said Younger.
It’s been nearly ten years since Younger decided to step out from behind his fence rows and take on a new challenge at the State Capitol. An opportunity from happenstance, but also an ambition passed on from his father.
“A couple of my buddies came and they turned it around and asked me, and said why don’t you do it, because my father was in politics,” said Younger. “My sister was in politics. So, I talked to my wife about it and she was okay with it, and the rest is kind of history.”
Today, as chair of the Mississippi Senate’s Agriculture Committee, Younger is proud to represent his district as a farmer and rancher AND the Lowndes County Farm Bureau as a board member.
“Out of all the committees, agriculture was at my heart. You know, it meant a lot to me. I’m doing it my whole life,” said Younger. “I was pleased to fill that spot and I’ve enjoyed it. It gives you hope when you see how much Farm Bureau has done for rural Mississippi and for farmers.”
Younger won’t forget why he’s in Jackson and who put him there. Sure, he represents the people in his district, but also, he’s working for a better future for these little ones.
“To me, it’s the most important thing we’ve got. You know, Mississippi is a rural state and it’s very important to take care of your people back home, whether they’re Republican or Democrat,” said Younger. “You get all kinds of different phone calls with all kinds of different problems and it’s nice to be able to help, and that to me you know, and I’m saying this from the heart, it means a lot when you can help people. It does.”