House Resolution 66

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE MISSISSIPPI FARM BUREAU FEDERATION UPON THE AUSPICIOUS OCCASION OF ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY.

WHEREAS, 100 years ago, on October 30, 1922, the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, the voice of agriculture for farmers, ranchers and rural Mississippians, was officially chartered in Jackson, Mississippi, and C.L. Neill of Jones County, Mississippi, was elected as the first president; and

WHEREAS, in addition to serving as the voice for agriculture, the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation's mission is to cultivate an environment in which Mississippi farmers, ranchers and Farm Bureau members can enjoy a better life and make a better living; and

WHEREAS, the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, which has always been a grassroots organization, maintains offices in all 82 Mississippi counties so that farmers do not have to travel very far in order to make their voices heard; and

WHEREAS, through the Farm Bureau structure, beginning at the county level and proceeding through the state and national levels, producers annually evaluate the problems of agriculture and rural living and make recommendations to create Farm Bureau policy; and

WHEREAS, because of the great working relationship between the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation and the Mississippi Legislature, the bureau has played a vital role in passing a right-to-farm bill, emergency funding for roads and bridges across the state and broadband Internet access for rural areas; and

WHEREAS, in 2010, the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation began an initiative and referendum campaign to have Initiative 31 put on the 2011 statewide ballot after the organization's leaders and volunteers collected 120,000 signatures; and

WHEREAS, Initiative 31 proposed to amend the Mississippi Constitution to prohibit state and local governments from taking private property by eminent domain and then conveying it to other persons or private businesses for a period of 10 years after the acquisition, and after Initiative 31 was put to a vote before all Mississippians during the 2011 general election, 73 percent of people voted in favor of the measure; and

WHEREAS, the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation recognizes the following 17 Mississippi commodities and works to promote each one: aquaculture, beef, corn, cotton, dairy, equine, forage, forestry, honeybees, horticulture, peanuts, poultry, soybeans, sweet potatoes, swine, rice and wheat; and

WHEREAS, in December 2014, Mike McCormick was elected as the tenth president of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend fine institutions in Mississippi that have left a profound impact on her citizens and continue to serve a positive, vital role in present and future vitality and sustainability of this great Magnolia State:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation upon the auspicious occasion of its 100th anniversary and express best wishes for its continued success and growth in the future.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the President of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, Mr. Mike McCormick, and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.