Winston County Self Help Cooperative________________________________

NEWS FLASHWIN

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January 2014 | 1st Edition visit us online @ www.wcshc.com

WINSTON COUNTY SELF HELP COOPERATIVE716 Old Robinson Road • Louisville, MS 39339Phone: 662-779-2400 • Email: winstoncshc@att.net • Web: www.wcshc.com“Saving Rural America”

WCSHC 7th SRAC

Winston County Self Help Cooperative wrangled with old man Winter and convened their 7th Saving Rural America & Youth Conference on Friday January 24, 2014 at the Louisville Coliseum in Louisville, Mississippi. Stiff winds from the north and a temperature below freezing set off alarms on the eve of WCSHC’s 7th SRA Conference according to Jean Harper. “As we congregated on Thursday afternoon, several members expressed significant concerns about impending weather conditions and how it would impact attendance. Cold weather normally trumps participation, however, on this day more than 230 farmers, landowners and students joined forces to help save rural America by extolling WCSHC’s 2014 conference theme of “Strengthening Rural

Communities through Partnerships”. We work collectively and broadly to enhance opportunities in rural Americans through partnerships with various entities. This year’s conference highlighted WCSHC’s vast network with USDA, extension, state agencies, community-based organizations, non-profits and local governments to help rebuild communities, schools, health care facilities, jobs and families.

The 7th Saving Rural America & Youth Conference started 7:30a.m with a live radio broadcast featuring co-op members, local elected officials and conference attendees. Minster Carnette Hudson offered prayer, Will Hill, Mayor of Louisville & Bert Warner, County Supervisor District-one,

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Wilson Murray, Kurt Readus and Frank Taylor

By Frank Taylor

CONNECT WITH US

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By Jen Sellers

delivered words of welcome. Roger Jones, a former employee of Heifer International presentation “Multiplying your Gift” ignited participants and set forth a blissful path for other presenters to follow. Terri Tate of Rural Development explained the 504’s loan and grant program. Farm Service Agency Billy Lipsey highlighted documentation needed to obtain services through USDA as first time users and Doug Naron elaborated on micro, farm ownership, and youth loans. NRCS Kelvin Jackson explained rules and regulations of (EQIP) Environmental Quality Incentive Program. National Center for Appropriate Technology Felicia Bell asked farmers to use their services to find sustainable solutions to reduce poverty and promote healthy communities. Mississippi Association of Cooperatives Ben Burkett focused on marketing locally grown vegetables. Burkett said you should conduct a market analysis before planting crops. Alonzo & Peggy Miller dialogued on returning to Mississippi as Beginning Farmers and services received through USDA & WCSHC. Bill Kitchings of the Mississippi Forestry Commission conversed on certifying your forestlands and understanding the value of certification. Carl James conference attendee of Uneedus, La said he enjoyed the camaraderie and the opportunity to share with individuals of similar interest in managing their natural

resources. This event provided farmers and landowners an inter-personal window to ask service providers pertinent questions to help make relevant farm decisions. Kurt Readus, Mississippi’s State Conservationist and luncheon speaker emphasized NRCS’ role of serving landowner, farmers and others with conservation practices. We offer a plethora of services to benefit our customer base with soil, air, and water issues. I am encouraging you to contact your local office of Natural Resources Conservation Service to learn about other service to protect our ecosystem for future generations.

Winston County Self Help Cooperative and Youth Groups convey thanks to everyone for participating in the 7th Saving Rural America & Youth Conference. Special thanks to Louisville Public Schools and Winston County Head Start Center for allowing their students and staff to participate.

We hope you will return next year and we will see you along the way in rural America.

Click on links below to watch and listenfromthe7thSRAC.

http://www.wcbi.com/wordpress/video-7th-annual-save-rural-america-youth-conference

h t t p : / / w w w . b l o g t a l k r a d i o . c o m /savingruralamerica/2014/01/24/winston-county-self-help-cooperative-7th-saving-rural-america-and-youth-conferen

WCSHC 7th Youth Conference

WCSH Youth Group Leader Jean Harper

On January 24, 2014, Winston County Self Help Cooperative held their 7th Annual Youth Conference. This event was held at the Louisville Coliseum. The four-year-old classes from Winston County Head Start and the 2nd graders from Fair Elementary, participants

of the FoodCorps Mississippi Program, sponsored by Winston County Self Help Cooperative, were able to participate and enjoy the activities that were coordinated by the Co-op Youth Director Ms. Jean Harper.

Jen Sellers is a FoodCorps Mississippi service member who also works with Winston County Self Help Cooperative to help organize lesson plans and activities that involve teaching children about healthy food, engages children in growing school vegetable gardens, and helps connect farmers with the Louisville Public Schools System to help get more local produce into the cafeterias. This falls in line with farm-to-school initiatives across the country.

The mission of the youth conference was connecting kids with agriculture and helping them live healthy lifestyles. Activities included: fruit and vegetable identification,

storytelling, fire safety, agriculture and plant science, Rethink Your Drink, a fitness activity, music art, information on youth diabetes, MSU Department of Health, and My Friend the Forester. It is an important mission of WCSHC to get children interested in farming so we can raise future farmers to Save Rural America.

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Will Hill Mayor of Louisville

WCSHC 7TH SRAC PHOTO GALLERY

Bert Warner Sup D-1 Louisville Roger Jones Ext & HPI

Doug Naron FSA Loan Officer Kelvin Jackson NRCS Sup-D-Con Billy Lipsey FSA Winston Co-CED

Felicia Bell NCAT Ag-Specialist Terri Tate RD Area Specialist Ben Burkett MAC Exc Director

Alonzo Miller AM & PM Farm Peggy Miller AM & PM Farm Wilson Murray NRCS Outreach Specialist

WCSHC 7TH SRAC PHOTO GALLERY CONTINUED

Kurt Readus State Conservationist Bill Kitchings MFC Outreach Forester

WCSHC 7TH YOUTH CONFERENCE PHOTO GALLERY

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WCSHC 7TH YOUTH CONFERENCE PHOTO GALLERY CONTINUED

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WCSHC 7TH YOUTH CONFERENCE PHOTO GALLERY CONTINUED

Editor: WCSHC Team Leader Frank TaylorLayout and Design: www.MarqueusDraper.com