The 2023 Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation’s Annual Convention’s keynote speaker, Fox News Anchor Kayleigh McEnany ends her speech ringing a Mississippi State University cowbell, a gift from President Mike McCormick recognizing McEnany’s ties to Mississippi as her father played football at MSU in the ‘70s. That ringing bell however, turns out to be a new beginning, a wake-up call to the whole Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation.

“We’re very proud of our leaders that’s gotten us to this point,” said Mike McCormick, MFBF President. “But, it’s very important for us to set the pace for the future.”

In 2023, Mississippi Farm Bureau started new programs to ensure all members will have a voice from the Landmark Leadership Council to a campaign school for members who want to run for office to a plan setting the pace for the years to come.

“It feels like Farm Bureau has just kind of grabbed on to us with President McCormick, the vice presidents, the regional managers,” said Yalobusha County farmer, Coley Bailey. “They’re really pouring into this program and expecting us to do our part.”

This week invigorate members through workshops, guest speakers and fellowship. Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Marylin Wills was driving into her office at the Pentagon the morning of September 11, 2001. Wills shared her story at the Women’s Department Sunday Breakfast.

“It was so easy for me to say I’m no longer going back to the Pentagon,” said retired LT. Colonel Marylin Wills.  “I’m done, but I knew I couldn’t do that because it was something in me to say, no, you’ve got to become resilient, jump right back in it better than you were when you left.”

Former NFL offensive lineman, Jason Brown now farms near Louisburg, North Carolina. Donating much of the food he grows to local food banks.

“We weather the storms, especially in agriculture,” said Jason Brown, First Fruit Farms owner.  “When it rains, it pours.  When it’s dry, there’s drought, so they’re so many unique circumstances that we go through, but we all have to hold on to hope and faith.”

Whether through resilience, faith and hope or just plain hard work, it’s now time to roll up your sleeves, take the next step, making Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation the best it can be.

“It’s going to be just as important to keep recruiting good, very solid, young farmers to keep the organization going,” said Colton McMurry, 2024 Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee Chair.  “That’s the most important part I think of what we’re doing is.”

“We are the generation that needs to take it and push it forward,” said Matthew Poe, Pontotoc County farmer.

Because if we won’t fight for the good of agriculture, then who?

“Everybody can do it if they’ll just find an hour every week. So that’s our goal,” said Betty Mills, State Women’s Leadership Committee Chair. “We can be mentors to these younger people.”

As President Mike McCormick said in his annual address, in 2024, we are reinforcing Farm Bureau so we can continue to serve the agriculture community for years to come.

“To make sure we’re using all the resources our membership provides us to do the right thing, do what they want to get the things accomplished that affects our farmers and ranchers in the best possible way,” said McCormick. “Together, we need to decide how do we set the pace.”