VICKSBURG, Miss. – Farmers, landowners, agricultural professionals and entrepreneurs gathered in Vicksburg Sept. 28-30 for the 35th Annual Small Farmers Conference, which included hands-on training, technical assistance, agricultural technology sessions, networking and the first Agroforestry Exposition.
The Alcorn State University Extension Program and the Mississippi Association of Cooperatives hosted the conference at the Vicksburg Convention Center. This year’s theme was “Emerging Agriculture Leaders, Landowners and Family Farms through Technology, Training and Technical Assistance.”
Dr. Dexter B. Wakefield I, dean and director of Land-Grant Programs; Kedarius Stamply, a graduate student in agronomy; and other attendees listen to a presentation at the first Agroforestry Exposition, part of the 35th Annual Small Farmers Conference in Vicksburg. (Photo by the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences)
The Agroforestry Exposition was developed for small forest landowners, including those who manage smaller tracts of timberland, said Gerald W. Jones, conference co-chair and director of county operations for the Extension Program. It introduced participants to forest farming, sustainable forest management and the integration of trees, crops and livestock. It also connected landowners with technical assistance providers, conservation programs and funding opportunities.
“The idea came about to inform and demonstrate to small forestry landowners who may have small acreage of timber to harvest and the use of equipment for smaller tracts of land,” Jones said. “The exposition was well received as a new addition to the conference.”
Educational sessions, demonstrations and learning sites covered crop and livestock production, forestry, technology, food safety, farm management and business development. Participants also met Extension personnel, researchers, agricultural agencies and other resource providers.
Students from Alcorn State’s College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences presented research displays for farmers, landowners and agricultural professionals.
“The students are the future,” Jones said. “It was very important to have them from the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences showcase their research projects.”
The conference also recognized individuals for service beyond agriculture. Zelmarine Anderson Murphy, a retired educator and community leader, received the Spirit of Courage Award. Murphy, an Alcorn alumna and Vicksburg native, served more than 27 years on the Vicksburg Warren School Board of Trustees. State Rep. Gregory Holloway Sr. received the Distinguished Public Service Award. The conference also recognized military veteran farmers and ranchers.
From left: Dr. Dexter B. Wakefield I, dean and director of Land-Grant Programs; Darnella B. Winston, Small Farmers Conference co-chair; Zelmarine Anderson Murphy, recipient of the Spirit of Courage Award; and Dr. Tracy M. Cook, president of Alcorn State University, pose during the 35th Annual Small Farmers Conference in Vicksburg. (Photo by the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences)
Vicksburg Alderwoman Vickie Bailey said the conference brought people and business to the city.
“Hosting the 35th Annual Small Farmers Conference in Vicksburg was a great opportunity for our city,” Bailey said. “It brought farmers, entrepreneurs, educators and families to Vicksburg while showcasing our Convention Center, businesses, restaurants and historic attractions.”
Bailey said the Women in Business session created connections that could continue after the conference.
“I would love to see these relationships create more opportunities for our Vicksburg Farmers Market, connecting farmers directly with consumers, expanding local markets and keeping more dollars circulating within our community,” Bailey said.
Organizers plan to explore other regions to host the conference and to continue the partnership with the association.
“There are plans to expand the conference,” Jones said. “We will explore other regions to host the conference.”
Jones has been involved with the conference for about 32 years. He said its purpose has not changed: to give farmers and landowners information they can apply at home.
“The overall impact of the conference is that it provides participants with a wealth of resources and information that can be taken back to their respective communities and implemented,” Jones said.
Dr. Dexter B. Wakefield I, dean and director of Land-Grant Programs; Kedarius Stamply, a graduate student in agronomy; and other attendees listen to a presentation at the first Agroforestry Exposition, part of the 35th Annual Small Farmers Conference in Vicksburg. (Photo by the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences)
The Extension Program and the association have partnered for more than three decades to connect small and limited-resource farmers with information, resources and opportunities. The conference began when Dr. Jesse Harness, then Extension administrator at Alcorn State, proposed it to the association. Harness worked with Ben F. Burkett and Melbah M. Smith, leaders in the association and its parent organization, the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund. Both organizations already worked directly with farmers and landowners, Jones said, which made the partnership a practical way to bring education, technology and resources to small farms.
The first conference was a one-day event in the James Bolden Student Union ballroom on Alcorn’s campus. It gave farmers and ranchers a place to train, network, build business relationships and connect with agricultural resources.
By its third year, the conference had moved to Jackson, expanded to two days and added recognition for outstanding farmers. In 2015, organizers began what Jones called the “Conference on the Move,” taking the event to different regions of Mississippi. Host communities have included Natchez, Hattiesburg, Tupelo, Tunica, Philadelphia, Vicksburg and Greenville. Agricultural learning sites and a Women in Business component were added over the years. The conference continued in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic in a hybrid format with limited in-person participation.
