Video: Small Chickasaw Farmers Unite for Big Effect

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OKOLONA, Miss. (WCBI) — Some small farmers in Chickasaw County are being encouraged to join a cooperative where combined efforts will allow for maximum productivity as their partnership helps products move from farm to the market place.

On his small Chickasaw County farm, 91-year-old chicken, beef cattle, and hay farmer L. C. Gladney is one of 17 members who farm some 27,000 acres of land. At a weekend networking conference, Gladney who motivates and shares his wisdom, is named Farmer of the Year.

“And to be farmer of the year, I guess they call farmer of the year age of the year. Ha, ha, ha,” said L. C. Gladney/ Farmer of The Year.

“Well you can look around here, we got plenty of hay, that means he do plenty of work. He makes me tired. Sometime I be wanting to quit and he be wanting to keep going. And he is almost double my age,” said Odell Bowens/Farmer.

One goal or initiative of these small time entrepreneurs is to join forces to where they have at least ten thousand workable acres together. Smaller farmers having the impact of someone with a big farm.

“Our farmers are loosing land at record numbers, and that’s one of the things we are trying to help to combat,” said Carolyn Jones/MMFA President.

“Little small farmers come together, we could not compete, but we could sort of like modernize things in the, selling it in the market area,” said Odell Bowens.

Not only is this cooperative interested in sharing ideas, use of farm lands, and loaning out equipment to fellow members; another goal is to bring younger people into the farming business.12 year old Kion McPherson and his 8-year-old brother Christopher are learning the ropes by helping their grandfather with the day-to-day operation of the family farm.

“I’d be feeding or be running cows around just messing around with the hay and stuff,” said Kion McPherson/Young Farmer.

“I believe personally, that if we can get them involved in farming we would keep them out of a lot of trouble,” said Odell Bowens.

In this cooperative of mini farms and farmers…those who run them may not have the land, while another may have the equipment. But as they pool their resources there is expected to be potential success that can be left for future generations of farmers.

Partnering with counselors at local schools, a parcel of land donated by area farmers, is allowing youth to plant and maintain a seasonal community garden along Highway 45 in Okolona.

Categories: Local News

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