The Winston County Cattlemen’s Association has a new board riding herd on the group and several new faces are excited about growing the group in Winston County and getting more persons involved.
Ty Fulton and Corey White are two of the newest board members and both joined the group right out of college. They are both glad to be serving on the board.
“I have been a member for about a year and a half and it has been very good to help learn about being the kind of farmer I want to be,” said Fulton who joined right after college and serving it the collegiate cattlemen’s association. “The group is about finding ways for each member to improve and learn.”
Fulton who raises about 58 cattle noted that the present market is tough for small farmers and is kind of uncertain yet the group helps see ways to grow. Fulton explained he is looking at vertically integration to grow his farming business.
Fulton added that he hopes to get more people involved and develop more community awareness about the organization.
“Hope to get more people involved since it will benefit them and the association,’ said Fulton.
Like Fulton, White joined the group right after college and after his time in the collegiate association. White has been involved in the group for over a year and has a small farm without 25 cattle near Nanih Waiya and Preston.
“I want to play role in the community and the association has a lot of people helping one another,” said White. “People have helped me along the way and I want to help others along their way,” said White.
Brenda Goodin is serving as the first woman vice president of the group and hope to see the group continue to grow and do even more outreach.
“Cows have been part of my entire life,” said Goodin who grew up with her father raising cattle.
When she and her husband, Clarence, took over the farm it was a huge learning curve on raising the cattle and the invitation to be part of the Cattlemen’s Association came at a good time since it brought with it information on cattle farming as well as contacts who understood the challenges of cattle farming.
“It brought a whole lot of good information,” said Goodin. She added, “It helped us learn when starting out and helps us keep up to date now.”
Goodin hopes to help develop more interest in the group especially among women farmers. She also hopes to get more young farmers involved. She believes the more persons involved the more ideas will be shared which will improve the farming business for everyone.
“Hopefully I will learn more myself and make a difference,” said Goodin.
If all goes well, Goodin will take the president’s reigns in 2021.
Mike Robertson is serving as the new president. Robertson knows the organization can be a real benefit to its members.
“The group provides valuable information with its speakers but also between its members,” said Robertson/ “Topics help the farmer’s especially the young guys starting out in the cattle business.
He added, “Hopefully, cattle farming is growing and a lot more young people will get involved in farming and in the organization.”
The November 14 Cattlemen’s Association meeting had about 40 attendees and included a meal and attorney Taylor Tucker was the featured speaker with information on farm estates. Jim McAdory of the MSU Extension introduced the program and highlighted the sponsorship of the event by Winston County Firewsre program. A farm tour about conservation in pasture lands was announced for the new conservation practices at the H.H. Leveck Animal Research event at MSU.
History
The Mississippi Cattlemen's Association was developed by Paul Newell, a former MCES (Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service) leader in animal science, and Charles Whittington, a cattleman from Greenwood, MS. The two men presented their idea at the first annual cattle field day at the Mississippi State College on May 16, 1946. With overwhelming response, the idea was voted on and passed.
At the field day, officers were elected and the Mississippi Cattlemen's Association was established. Charles Whittington was elected president, Walter Swoope was vice president and Paul Newell, secretary. Annual dues were set at three dollars. Amazingly, 250 members joined that very day and the association work began.
The state cattlemen's association represents over 3,800 members presently.
