“He’s just, he’s got a heart for farming, always has had one. I think he gets that probably from his dad, and so it’s important to him. And Farm Bureau’s always been important to him for that reason. He wants to do good things for Farm Bureau.”

That’s how Berk Huskison describes his father Neal. On this day, Neal Huskison is officially retiring as Board President of the Pontotoc County Farm Bureau after 42 years. Service worthy of a celebration, friends, a meal, and some cake. Huskison, recognized with a commemorative plaque, is a man of few words. You get the feeling he’d rather get back to visiting.

“I think the reason I’ve been here so long is because they couldn’t find nobody to take my place,” Huskison said. “It’s been a trip and I’ve enjoyed it, and it’s been a good one.”

But you can’t overlook his contributions to farming in Pontotoc County or the county Farm Bureau at a time in the late 70s when a leader was needed. Huskison stepped up.

“He came into this position and they were in need of some leadership here in the county,” said Terry Norwood, former Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation staff member. “And at that particular time, they didn’t have it and he and another group kind of got together, and they were told that if they would become members and work on the county Farm Bureau that they could help make a difference.”

Norwood remembers Huskison as one who eased tensions for farmers and was always there in good and bad times. MFBF President Mike McCormick believes Huskison was someone who farmers and members alike could trust.

“I think trust is the number one thing that you can say about Mr. Neal, that everybody here admires him and trusts him and takes his advice on marketing their crops or the policy issues for Farm Bureau,” McCormick said. “He has been just a true dedicated volunteer leader for this organization.”

North Mississippi Vice President Donald Gant cherishes their friendship within farming and beyond.

“We just got to talking and, of course, I’m farming, but he’s in the farming business with the elevator and we’d talk about prices and family and different things and even getting older, you know,” Gant said. “But he’s been through some times, and got a great family. I’m proud to know him.”

Huskison said in 42 years he’s seen a lot of changes in farming, but most definitely the advances in farming technology. Still, the best part of Farm Bureau that has not changed? The excellent leadership over the years. Huskison counts Hugh Arant and David Waide as those he looked up to the most.

“Most of the leaders were great people and had a vison for making agriculture, working for agriculture and improving the lot of rural people in Mississippi. You can’t mention them all because it’d take me too long, but people have guided me along the way because I was young when I started. And I learned to appreciate that good leaders mean something. And we’ve had some great leaders in Farm Bureau over the years,” Huskison said.

Now as he steps down, he will still serve on the Pontotoc County board by the way, Huskison encourages more to step up as he did 42 years ago

“Young people are the future, and that’s what we’ve got to look to, to carry on what Farm Bureau has done, Huskison said. “We’ve got some great leaders. We’ve got some great young people in Farm Bureau and we see Farm Families of Mississippi that’s basically the young group. And they’re doing a great job with promoting agriculture, and that’s what we’ve got to do. People to understand what farm families do, farmers do for the country. You don’t eat without farmers.”