Gipson and MDAC Celebrate National Ag Day
Photo: Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson joined Gov. Tate Reeves as he signed a proclamation declaring March 21, 2023, Ag Day in the state of Mississippi. (Courtesy photo)
Gov. Reeves Signs Proclamation Declaring March 21 as Ag Day in Mississippi
Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson and the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce on Tuesday, March 21 celebrated National Ag Day at the Mississippi State Capitol, featuring two cow milking contests. Gov. Tate Reeves signed a proclamation declaring Ag Day in the state of Mississippi.
“We celebrate National Ag Day and Ag Day in Mississippi today to shine a light on the truth that all of our food comes from the farm,” said Gipson. “It’s important that we support our local farmers. We have fewer farmers today than ever before, but agriculture remains strong and is Mississippi’s largest industry. Every meal that we enjoy began on a farm.”
Local television news reporters Kayla Thompson with WJTV and Morgan Harris with WLBT competed in the first milking contest. Kayla Thompson won the round after milking a total of 1.5 cups of milk from Sophia the cow. The second contest featured Gipson and his wife, Mississippi’s First Lady of Agriculture Leslie Gipson. Leslie Gipson was the overall winner with a total of 3.5 cups also milked from Sophia the cow.
“I must confess I’m not surprised that Leslie beat me fair and square in the milking contest!” said Gipson. The dairy cows are owned by Beason Family Farms of Philadelphia, who also provided complimentary chocolate milk to guests.
After he signed the proclamation, Reeves said, “Mississippi farmers are the backbone of our state’s economy. They’re the reason why the agriculture industry contributed over $9 billion to Mississippi’s economy in 2022. Our state is a global leader in the agriculture industry, and I was proud to proclaim today as Agriculture Day in Mississippi. If you see a farmer, thank them for feeding Mississippi and America.”
National Ag Day was started in 1973 by the Agriculture Council of America as an effort to encourage every American to understand how food and fiber products are produced, to appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant and affordable products, to value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy, and to acknowledge and consider career opportunities in the agriculture, food and fiber industry. To learn more about National Agriculture Day, visit www.agday.org.
