Andy Gipson has only been on the job a few months, but the Mississippi agriculture commissioner has spent a great deal of time on the road learning about the state’s farm products.
The attorney, pastor and former legislator from Simpson County was in Columbia this week and introduced a new marketing tool called “Genuine Mississippi.”
“We’re going to be rolling in out on July 10. It’s about buying local from Mississippi farmers and supporting local suppliers. We’re going to focus on farmers, timber, anything that is raised, crafted or grown in Mississippi,” he said.
He spoke to the Mississippi Association of Conservation Districts South Area Summer meeting Tuesday at the Marion County BusinessPlex.
Gipson, a farmer since his childhood days, recalled living on the farm while he attended Mississippi College to become an attorney.
“I was building a full herd of Red Limousin cattle while working on a double major in Christian studies and political science,” he said. “I felt God’s call to serve him, but I didn’t go to seminary; I went on to law school. My wife, Leslie and I got married during my third year of law school.”
So Gipson raised trees, cattle and a family on the Simpson County farm and was a practicing attorney until he was elected to represent State House District 77 in 2008. He has served as pastor of Gum Springs Baptist Church in Braxton since 2011.
While Gipson served on the House Agriculture Committee, he really got involved it farm business when called upon to represent the state at a trade summit in India.
“A hurricane threatened Mississippi, and Gov. Phil Bryant said he had to stay at home,” he said. “He asked if I would stand in for him. We discussed the No. 1 problem in India and that is that they don’t have enough land to grow the food they need for their population. I said I could help.”
Just a few short months after the trade summit, U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran announced his retirement. Bryant called Gipson with a problem and a proposal.
“He said he was going to appoint Agriculture Secretary Cindy Hyde-Smith to Cochran’s role and he needed an agriculture secretary,” Gipson said. “He said, ‘Will you take it?’ I told him I had to pray about it and ask my wife. I told the governor that I really wanted to. He gave me a deadline of 8 a.m. the next morning and by 4 p.m. that afternoon I told him I would accept.”
Gipson said agriculture is extremely important in Mississippi.
“Agriculture really does unite us,” he said. “We need good food to eat, we clothing and shelter. We do all of these things in Mississippi.”
The Mississippi Department of Agriculture does everything from inspecting gas pumps and consumer inspections to grocery inspections, he said, and helps enforce regulations.
“We’re also going to focus on international trade,” he said. “International trade is where the growth is. I’m cautiously optimistic for Mississippi farmers.”
And that Indian trade delegation? The group recently visited Mississippi.
“They came to meet with me and we toured Mississippi State, Alcorn State and the research facilities at Stoneville,” he said. “They are looking to learn ways to grow food and are looking for food. We want to help them because it will help us.”
Describing his role, Gipson used the biblical parable of the sower.
“I see my job as throwing those seeds out there,” he said. “Some of them will fall on good soil and grow. You’re going to reap what you sow. My role is sowing those seeds and tending those seeds to benefit Mississippi farmers … never forget the farmers.”
The meeting was hosted by the Marion County Soil and Water Conservation District and drew more than 100 attendees. Among the special guests in the audience were state Sen. Angela Hill and state Reps. Ken Morgan and Bill Pigott, who listened as Gipson spoke about marketing the state’s agricultural products.
Other officials present included District 5 Supervisor Calvin Newsom, who gave the invocation, and District 2 Supervisor Terry Broome, who gave the welcome. Daniel Watts, a local representative in the All-State Choir, sang the National Anthem, and Marion Jordan, Marion County’s Little Miss Hospitality, led the Pledge of Allegiance. The sessions also included lunch, officer elections and awards presentations.
Pictured Above: Mississippi Ag Commissioner Andy Gipson speaks Tuesday to conservation officials at the Marion County BusinessPlex. | Photo by Mark Rogers
