George Howard Alford was elected the second president of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation in September 1929. Alford, a Pike County native, attended Mississippi State College and served as the first extension agent in Pike County after graduation.

Alford later moved on to work for the International Harvester Corporation and serve as an editor for Progressive Farmer. He also wrote two books about farming and farm life while becoming a national voice for agriculture during the Great Depression.

He rallied communities, counties and agriculture together as one voice saying, “Let’s get together” as a way to bring more attention to all that farmers do for the nation, also calling for better representation for farmers in Congress and the state legislature.

Alford served as president until July 1931.

Today, the Progress, Mississippi Public Library is named in his honor.